Forced labor occurred in street vending, domestic service, the transport of illegal drugs and other illicit goods, other criminal activity, and the informal sector. 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. Review OSACs reports, The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for, The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings, c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses, Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees, f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence, a. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Some would-be muggers and gang members keep to a daily schedule, riding city buses from one stop to the next, committing criminal acts with impunity along the way. osac crime and safety report honduras - bagtical.com However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. For more in-depth information, review OSACs Honduras country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. The legal age of consent is 18. Despite being considered the best private hospital in Tegucigalpa, it is not Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited; JCI is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations. Government Human Rights Bodies: A semiautonomous commissioner for human rights, Blanca Izaguirre, served as ombudsperson and investigated complaints of human rights abuses. Title insurance is not widely available in Honduras and approximately 80% of the privately held land in the country is either untitled or improperly titled. Honduras Travel Advisory - United States Department of State NGOs also reported the government did not make sufficient efforts to comply with Inter-American Court of Human Rights rulings, specifically cases related to territorial rights for Garfuna communities. Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. 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. Review OSACs report, All That You Should Leave Behind. Tasked with securing diplomacy and protecting the integrity of U.S. travel documents, the Diplomatic Security Service has the largest global reach of any U.S. federal law enforcement agency, with offices in 29 U.S. cities and in more than 270 locations around the world. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance, For fire and public safety emergencies, dial. OSAC 2022-S-0024, Best Practice Recommendations for Evaluative Forensic DNA Testimony. The government considers rape a crime of public concern, and the state prosecutes suspected rapists even if survivors do not press charges. in the past 12 months, 32% twice, 6% three times, and 3% more than three times. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalizes all forms of rape, including spousal rape. January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police. On January 10, unknown assailants shot and killed transgender activist Thala Rodrguez in her home in Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazn Department. No cases were reported during the year. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations. Air pollution can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems during the dry season due to widespread forest fires and agricultural burning. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. The law prohibits workers from legally striking until direct negotiations and government-accompanied mediation and conciliation have failed. Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The Secretariat of Labor is responsible for enforcing wage, hour, and OSH laws, but it did so inconsistently and ineffectively. Former First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo was found guilty of fraud and misappropriation of public funds during a retrial on March 17. 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. Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. The law requires overtime pay, bans excessive compulsory overtime, limits overtime to four hours a day for a maximum workday of 12 hours, and prohibits the practice of requiring workers to complete work quotas before leaving their place of employment. The law criminalizes discrimination based on race and ethnicity and includes crimes committed against individuals because of race or ethnicity as aggravating circumstances to increase penalties for criminal offenses. The Honduras Medical Center (HMC) is the primary private hospital that the Embassy uses for emergency response and when hospitalization is required. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators, but the failure of the government to collect fines facilitated continued violations. In the 2013 census (most recent data), approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of Indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. The government has also begun implementing a series of police reforms; it has formed groups such as the National Inter-Agency Security Task Force (FUSINA) and the National Anti-Gang Task Force (FNAMP) to combat crime. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. The law establishes an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including access to a court to seek damages for human rights violations. The law prohibits members of the armed forces and police, as well as certain other public employees, from forming labor unions. Some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) expressed concern regarding weak implementation of the law, limited resources available to operate the governments protection mechanism, and insufficient training for new personnel after significant personnel turnover during the 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. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. OSAC is a free service to U.S.-based or incorporated private sector organizations with overseas operations. Some NGOs and political parties reported irregularities, including late delivery of technology needed to transmit results, late opening of the polls, poll workers with varying degrees of preparation and knowledge of the electoral law and processes, and lack of transparency in campaign financing. 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. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. NGOs reported the government did not effectively combat discrimination or promote equal access to government services and employment opportunities. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Is the MS13 in Honduras Expanding its Role in the - InSight Crime U.S. Department of State. 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, , 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. Following anticorruption protests in 2015, President Hernandez signed an agreement with the Organization of American States to form the Mission Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). The most recent national and local elections were held in November 2021. These reporting centers were in addition to the 298 government-operated womens offices one in each municipality that provided a wide array of services, focusing on education, personal finance, health, social and political participation, environmental stewardship, and prevention of gender-based violence. The law grants workers the right to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and strike. They were, however, commensurate with penalties for violating laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices. On April 28, the National Congress repealed the 2014 hourly wage law, thus bringing all employees under the national labor code and eliminating the previous differences in labor benefits between hourly, temporary, and permanent employees. CONAPREV reported 17 violent deaths in prisons as of September. Avoid using. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System, The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a. Contact OSACs, https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/, https://hn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/spsca/, External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein, Travel Advisory: Honduras - Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), Central America Natural Disaster Emergency Planning: OSAC Guidance and Resources.