Widespread poverty and unemployment, along with significant street gang and drug trafficking activity, have contributed to the extremely high crime rate. UNODC works on the development of standards for national crime and criminal justice information systems and for the conduct of victimization surveys. Review the State Departments webpage on security for travelers with disabilities. 0. DOS Trafficking in Persons Report - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019. Violent crime is a serious issue in the entire country, with crimes such as kidnappings, rape, assaults, and murders. There is often a spike in skimming in December and June, when the working population receive Christmas and mid-year bonuses in the form of one extra months salary. We have also confirmed reports of armed robbers traveling in private cars targeting pedestrians on isolated streets. Dial 911 for emergency or call (504) 2232-4092. While there are no areas in major urban cities free of violent crime, notably dangerous locations in Tegucigalpa include the areas surrounding Suyapa Cathedral, downtown Comayagela, downtown Tegucigalpa, and neighborhoods in the outskirts of the city that are generally controlled by gangs. Copyright 2023 United Nations Sustainable Development Group. Natalia Lozano is a Honduran lawyer, working in the fields of human, women's, LGBT, and youth rights as the Honduran National Coordinator of Right Here Right Now. Traffickers exploit Honduran adults and children in forced labor in street vending, forced begging, domestic service, drug trafficking, and the informal sector in their own country, as well as forced labor in other countries, particularly Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States. Amend the penal code to ensure the penalties prescribed for trafficking crimes are commensurate with the penalties prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. While hurricane winds are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure comes as a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. San Pedro Sula is not a safe place to travel, with a high crime rate. There have been multiple incidents of gang members destroying city buses and taxis, and reports that gang members rob, assault, rape, kidnap, or murder passengers. Medical care is limited. ", expressed the UN Resident Coordinator in Honduras, Alice Shackelford, on Twitter. The government adapted its training and awareness-raising activities targeting groups at high risk of trafficking and potential first responders to online platforms, reaching a broader geographic range of stakeholders. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. Some victims provided testimony through pre-recorded interviews in secure Gesell chambers or, due to the pandemic, video calls. Counterfeit medicines are available in pulperas (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in Farmacias del Ahorro. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Historically, corruption has been pervasive in government procurement, issuance of government permits, customs, real estate transactions (particularly land title transfers), performance requirements, and the regulatory system. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. According to the Global Peace Index, the island of Roatan, as a part of Honduras, shares its ranking of 123 out of 163 countries analyzed. These efforts included identifying more victims of labor trafficking, including children forced to commit unlawful acts, and increasing funding for the Inter-institutional Commission to Combat Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (CICESCT). El Salvador is not dangerous for travelers as violence has declined to its lowest level in over 30 years. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). When possible, travel in groups. Caption: Honduras has the highest femicide rates in Latin America. The government allocated insufficient funds for implementation of the plan and relevant agencies relied on additional support from foreign donors to implement its activities. The government also enacted a new penal code provision that brought the definition of trafficking in line with the definition under international law. The campaign includes a docuseries in which the testimonies of women survivors, like Rosa Mara, are central to raise awareness among the Honduran population on zero tolerance of all forms ofviolenceagainstwomenand girls. Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. This report of the Central America Monitor aims to define a baseline for the indicators related to reducing violence and combatting organized crime in Honduras. The Mexico 2017 Crime and Safety Report for Mexico City by the US Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) indicates that crimes such as armed robberies, kidnappings, car thefts, credit card fraud and residential theft are "daily concerns" (US 24 Feb. 2017). The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. There are few U.S.- educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. The rainy season usually runs May-November. In 2011, a Canadian citizen was killed in a similar incident. According to a November 2019 study entitled Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility for the Central District and Comayaguela, 48% of passengers reported having been assaulted one time in the past 12 months while traveling on a Rapidito, 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. Review OSACs report, Surviving a Protest. Municipalities With the Highest Number of Homicides, 600 500 400 478 300 410 200 100 251 112 101 100 94 69 61 56 54 54 54 53 50 45 41 40 37 35 0, January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police, Honduran Municipalities With Highest Percentage of Homicides 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0%, Honduran Municipalities With Highest Percentage of Homicides. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency. The government conducted law enforcement operations targeting irregular migration and increased border enforcement, leading to 160 arrests for smuggling crimes that increased migrants vulnerability to trafficking. A significant percentage of vehicles are in disrepair, underpowered, beyond their lifecycle, and would not meet U.S. road safety standards. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. Index; Crime Index: 51.16: Safety Index: 48.84: Crime rates in Roatan, Honduras. The government cooperated with the Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico to investigate trafficking cases and detain suspects. the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatn). NGOs reported authorities did not properly identify children forced to engage in illegal activities by criminal groups, reporting that the government may have inappropriately treated such children as criminals instead of victims. CICESCT reported using online training platforms to educate stakeholders on the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on trafficking trends and how to adapt. In 2012, a U.S. citizen reported that his boat was boarded and his passengers were the victims of an armed robbery while sailing in Honduran waters near Puerto Cortes, three miles north of Punta Sal. Honduras Crime Rate & Statistics 1990-2023, Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was, Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was, Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was, Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was. Civil society continues to advocate for this law to be passed and the United Nations has joined in these efforts. The Basilica of Suyapa in Tegucigalpa, also known as Suyapa Church or Cathedral, is an important religious site and popular tourist destination. Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha. CICESCT maintained a public website and launched social media accounts to share information on human trafficking with the public. Authorities convicted two government officials, one on pimping charges and one for paid sexual relations, for their involvement in sex trafficking crimes in 2017. Young males working in pairs, often riding motorcycles, are perpetrating many of the armed robberies in Honduras urban areas. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. Major cities (e.g. Instruct the driver not to pick up other passengers, agree on the fare before you depart, and have small bills available for payment, as taxi drivers often do not make change. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels, and there have also been armed robberies along the road to Copan. Traffickers particularly target LGBTQI+ Hondurans, migrants, IDPs, persons with disabilities, children in child labor, children whose parents have migrated, and individuals living in areas controlled by organized criminal groups. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year. In October 2019, a thief stole the side view mirrors from a U.S. employees personally owned vehicle while it was parked on a side street near the Embassy. Contact OSACs Latin America team with any questions or to join. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Honduran police generally do not speak English. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Read more about the coordinated response to COVID-19. Spurred by anger with the government over accusations of public corruption, allegations of involvement in narcotics trafficking, and efforts to pass controversial education reform, protests and demonstrations were near-daily occurrences at times during 2019. They practice "war taxing", which is essentially just demanding money from people. Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. In past years, several U.S. citizens have been murdered in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba shortly after arriving in the country. The new amendments to the penal code lowered the penalties for trafficking crimes, resulting in penalties that were not commensurate with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. The women who have lost their lives violently this year are women who can no longer contribute to the economy and development of Honduras", she regretted. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us. As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Honduras, and traffickers exploit victims from Honduras abroad. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Yes, despite all the historical crime and violence, which don't affect tourists, El Salvador is safe to visit in 2023. Pilar Lagos, Allan Chan, and PaulVanDeCarrfrom the Development Coordination Office (DCO) provided editorial support. My decision was to die." The law on safe houses, which has been stalled in the National Congress since 2018, aims to recognize and fund safe houses to provide care for survivors of multiple forms of violence, ensuring. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. Chicago, for example, has a per capita murder rate of 24 per 100,000. The Government of Honduras does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Counterfeit Honduran lempiras (currency) are common, especially in the 100 and 500 denominations. in Choluteca: the cities of Apacilagua, Orocuina and San Isidro. Level of crime: 66.67: High: Crime increasing in the past 3 years: 78.57: . During July 2019 alone, the cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa recorded 11 attacks leaving 15 people dead, mostly taxi drivers and bus drivers. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. The U.S. Embassy has restricted U.S. government personnel travel to the Gracias a Dios Department in eastern Honduras because of credible threat information against U.S citizens. Among the 45 Cuban medical professionals the government contracted to assist during the pandemic, some may have been forced to work by the Cuban government. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. Since 2010, Honduras has had one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world, ranging between 59 and 86 per 100,000 according to the U.S. Department of State. The last two years have shone an unflattering light . Should a U.S. citizen be kidnapped, local authorities and the U.S. Embassy should be contacted immediately. This team continued to operate during the pandemic despite restrictions on movement and inadequate funding for personal protective equipment. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well- known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. Although reports of kidnappings have dropped considerably in recent years, they continue to affect both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. Of November 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 crimes are carried out by acting., 2022, in Uvalde, Texas in Action - Honduras /a > Qatar iverson house . Criminals expanded the use of social network platforms to recruit victims, often with false promises of employment, and continued to target vulnerable populations. According to InSight Crime, the crime rate has decreased by 26%, which is what the Honduran government is aiming to work on if they expect more visitors per year. Due to the remote nature of these areas, the governments ability to respond to violence or other problems is often very limited, as is access to medical facilities. Incidents of piracy off the coast of Honduras can occur. "Two years ago, I came asking for help at a time when I couldn't take it anymore, to the extent that I intended to attempt against my life, with no hope for anything. Credit card skimming is common.
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