Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. Improvements: On March 10, the armed forces officially transferred control of the National Prison Institute to the National Police as part of a government initiative to demilitarize prisons. The murder trial of police officer Jarol Rolando Perdomo Sarmiento concluded on October 17. The law requires an employer to begin collective bargaining once workers establish a union, and it specifies that if more than one union exists at a company, the employer must negotiate with the largest. There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. Review the State Departments webpage on security for. Nearly 46 percent of incarcerated individuals were in pretrial detention. See the Department of States International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/. See the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. As of September, CONAPREV reported the countrys detention center for high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security, including police and military officials, held 29 individuals. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. Organized-crime organizations, such as drug traffickers and local and transnational gangs including MS-13 and the 18th Street gang, committed killings, extortion, kidnappings, human trafficking, and intimidation of police, prosecutors, journalists, women, and human rights defenders. Nicaragua used to be part of the CA-4 agreement, but in late 2017 began requiring travelers to register their travel purpose and destination online seven days in advance. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. The United Nations reported the adolescent birth rate was 89 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. Occupational Safety and Health: Occupational safety and health (OSH) standards are appropriate for the main industries in the country, and OSH experts actively identified unsafe conditions, including lack of personal protective equipment against COVID-19, in addition to responding to workers OSH complaints. They had limited representation in the national government and consequently little direct input into decisions affecting their lands, cultures, traditions, and the allocation of natural resources. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Inspectors have the authority to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions. There were several reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System, The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. As of August, CONADEH received 25 reports of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Nevertheless, discrimination against LGBTQI+ persons throughout society persisted. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. To be considered, comments must be placed in the OSAC Comment Form and sent to comments@nist.gov by 11:59 p.m. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. NGOs reported the government did not effectively combat discrimination or promote equal access to government services and employment opportunities. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. The most recent national and local elections were held in November 2021. Some companies also delayed appointing or failed to appoint representatives for required Secretariat of Labor-led mediation, a practice that prolonged the mediation process and impeded the right to strike. There were no reports of this law being used to limit womens employment. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. The Honduran government is modernizing some of the main transportation road networks to four-lane highways, which can lead to increased travel times because of ongoing construction. Review the State Departments webpage on security for travelers with disabilities. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Red Cross ambulance: 911, (504) 2227-7474 or (504) 2227-7575. These conditions contributed to an unstable, dangerous environment in the penitentiary system. Workers had difficulty exercising the rights to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining. Roads have poor lighting and markings. On January 9, unknown assailants killed Pablo Hernndez in San Marcos de Caiqun, Lempira Department. There was no information available on any major industrial accidents. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Review OSACs report, The limited capacity of the government to enforce international standards related to natural resource exploitation has resulted in higher levels of conflict in the extractive and electrical generation industries. NGOs reported gangs engaged in corrective rape of lesbian or transgender individuals. The National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH) reported two arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces as of August. While the risk from crime in Honduras remains a concern, most U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Honduras are unaffected by violence and visit for tourism or humanitarian aid work without incident. By law, workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing continued employment. 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. LGBTQI+ rights groups asserted that government agencies and private employers engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. On October 17, the Public Ministry charged four unit officials for their involvement in Prezs killing. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape, including spousal rape. On May 1, unknown assailants killed Alonso Salgado, a former member of the neighborhood council of the Ro Tinto Garfuna community and a member of the Garfuna rights organization OFRANEH, in Tela, Atlntida Department. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. Nonetheless, many prisoners remained in custody after completing their full sentences, and sometimes even after an acquittal, because officials failed to process their releases expeditiously. Long periods of pretrial detention remained common, with many pretrial detainees held with convicted prisoners. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupn, Lenca, Maya-Chort, and Nahua. Abusive Physical Conditions: Prisoners suffered from severe overcrowding, malnutrition, lack of adequate sanitation and medical care, and, in some prisons, lack of adequate ventilation and lighting. Before you travel, consider the following resources: The contents of this (U) report in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, Review OSACs reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? The government provided survivors of sexual violence access to other health-care services, such as psychological and social support as well as testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. Major urban centers and drug trafficking routes experienced the highest rates of violence. DOS Trafficking in Persons Report - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. According to government estimates, children with disabilities attended school at a lower rate than the general population. The government has a police investigative unit dedicated to investigating violent crimes against the LGBTI+ and other vulnerable communities, composed of Public Ministry prosecutors, members of ATIC (prosecutors investigative agency), and the Honduran National Police; however, it has limited resources and functions primarily in the major urban areas. The law provides a maximum sentence of three years in prison for disobeying a restraining order connected with the crime of violence against a woman. Honduras Is the Most Violent Country in Central America The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported that authorities at times failed to enforce these requirements effectively. Criminal groups, such as drug traffickers and local and transnational gangs including MS-13 and the 18th Street gang, committed killings, extortion, kidnappings, human trafficking, and intimidation of police, prosecutors, journalists, women, human rights defenders, and others. . This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. Although the law prohibits such practices, government officials received complaints and investigated alleged abuses by members of the security forces on the streets and in detention centers. The Institute for National Statistics put net enrollment for primary school at 77 percent in 2021, but the National Center for Social Sector Information stated that in 2020, 43 percent of persons with disabilities received no formal education. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Most of these attacks involved gang members demanding extortion payments. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. Roatn and the Bay Islands are geographically separate from the mainland and experience lower crime rates even when compared with other Caribbean islands. Several anonymous social media sites, possibly linked to political parties, criticized journalists (as well as activists and civil society organizations) who were critical of the government or of opposition party policies. On March 1, the National Congress repealed the Law for the Classification of Public Documents Related to National Security and Defense, better known as the Secrets Law. Review OSACs report, Kidnapping: The Basics. Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. Violators face penalties of one to three years in prison and possible suspension of their professional licenses, but the government did not effectively enforce the law. The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment. On September 16, the cabinet approved an executive decree to create a General Directorate of Information and Press under the Ministry of Strategic Planning. The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. drivers licenses, vehicle registration). Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. Penalties for violations of OSH law were commensurate with penalties for similar crimes but rarely applied against violators and rarely collected. Review the State Departments webpage on security for, Honduran law requires access to buildings for persons with disabilities; however, there are limited facilities for individuals with disabilities. The limited capacity of the government to enforce international standards related to natural resource exploitation has resulted in higher levels of conflict in the extractive and electrical generation industries. However, kidnapping figures are likely lower than reality, as families of kidnapping victims often pay ransoms without reporting these crimes to police out of fear of retribution. Powerful special interests, including criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. 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. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. Child Abuse: The law establishes prison sentences of up to two and one-half years for child abuse. Since 2012, the Honduran government signed agreements with Transparency International, the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative, and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. If a victims physical injuries do not reach the severity required to categorize the violence as a criminal act, the legal penalty for a first offense is a sentence of one to three months of community service. There are claims of widespread corruption in land sales, deed filing, and dispute resolution, including claims against attorneys, real estate companies, judges, and local officials. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid The CA-4 agreement among El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras allows for the inspection-free movement of citizens among these countries, reducing overall inspection at land crossings. In 2019 (most recent data), 94 percent of births were attended by skilled health-care personnel; however, NGOs reported significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. The web site offers its visitors the latest in safety and security-related information, public announcements, warden messages, travel advisories, significant anniversary dates, terrorist groups profiles, country crime and safety reports, special topic reports, foreign press reports, and much more. Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions of freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ matters or events. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has since added him to the agency's Top 10 Most Wanted List, offering up to $100,000 for information leading to his arrest. Honduras: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report | Freedom House Prisoners suffered from gross overcrowding; insufficient access to food, water, and medical supplies; violence; and alleged abuse by prison officials. how to horizontally center a div in bootstrap. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. 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. Many activists report that crimes committed against the LGBTI+ community go unpunished. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally asBarrio Seguros; these are generally safer areas in which to reside because of their heightened security measures. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. Honduras - Organized Crime News - InSight Crime The law places restrictions on these rights, such as requiring that a recognized trade union represent at least 30 workers, prohibiting foreign nationals from holding union offices, and requiring that union officials work in the same substantive area of the business as the workers they represent. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. Although its specialists occasionally cannot provide the U.S. standard of care, the hospital and diagnostic departments do have the capability to provide most medical procedures. On July 4, alleged members of the 18th Street gang killed six fellow gang members at the El Pozo maximum security prison in Ilama, Santa Brbara Department. The center, administered by the National Prison Institute, was on a military installation and received some support services from the military. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. Pretrial Detention: Judicial inefficiency, corruption, and insufficient resources delayed proceedings in the criminal justice system, and lengthy pretrial detention was a serious problem. Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. 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. Credible observers noted problems in trial procedures, such as a lack of admissible evidence (i.e., prosecution failed to submit sufficient evidence of guilt), judicial corruption, witness intimidation, and an ineffective witness protection program. A significant percentage of vehicles are in disrepair, underpowered, beyond their lifecycle, and would not meet U.S. road safety standards. The law requires police to inform persons of the grounds for their arrest and bring detainees before a competent judicial authority within 24 hours. Discrimination: The law criminalizes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity characteristics and includes crimes committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity as aggravating circumstances to increase penalties for criminal offenses. The court acquitted him of charges of violating official duties and fraud, but the Public Ministry appealed the ruling on July 25. However, protesters will also block, key intercity transportation routes and intracity intersections with burning tires, rocks and other debris, to include the roads leading to the international airports in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and the CA-5 and CA-11 highways. The Secretariat of Labor may levy a fine against companies that fail to pay social security obligations, but the amount was not sufficient to deter violations. -threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Some passengers opt to travel armed when using public transportation, which sometimes results in armed confrontations where innocent bystanders are injured or killed in the crossfire. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. The law permits strikes by workers in export-processing zones and free zones for companies that provide services to industrial parks, but it requires that strikes not impede the operations of other factories in such parks. Displaced Children: Civil society organizations reported that common causes of forced displacement for youth included death threats for failure to pay extortion, attempted recruitment by gangs, witnessing criminal activity by gangs or criminal groups, domestic violence, attempted kidnappings, family members involvement in drug dealing, victimization by traffickers, rape (including commercial sexual exploitation by gangs), discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, sexual harassment, and discrimination for having a chronic medical condition.
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