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Historically, governments have responded with iron-fist security strategies to combat organized crime, enacting tougher legislation and increasing police presence and mass detentions. Not really. According to Hugo Maldonado, president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Honduras, this year has seen 116 femicides and 23 group murders, along with more than 1,356 violent. And taxi driversprobably wont have enough change to cover a big bill, socarry small denominations. Theres alsoLa Ceiba. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. Although there is a law that provides higher penalties for bias-based crimes, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, the Attorney Generals office told Human Rights Watch in September 2020 that no one has been convicted under the law. Get the latest news about the IRC's innovative programs, compelling stories about our clients and how you can make a difference. Share this via Twitter Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. Political power brokers also have ties to drug smuggling and have even run trafficking operations themselves. The IACHR expressed concern in 2019 regarding the critical levels of impunity and inadequate and insufficient attention to victims of human rights violations. Some areas are also safer than others. All of these are in Santa Barbara Department, which also sees hijackings aroundTela, La Ceiba, andEl Progresoas well asTrujillo. While homicide rates have dropped in recent years, Honduras is still the most dangerous country in the region, with 38 homicides per 100,000 people. Every year, more than 100,000 Hondurans are internally displaced, migrate, seek protection abroad, or are deported back to Honduras. Locals have to pay war taxes which keeps the poverty rate high as well. It is not just murder, it's also the shocking numbers of rape, assault, and domestic violence cases, happening with near-total impunity. Around 191,000 people were internally displaced between 2004 and 2018, the Honduran government reported, and more than 75,000 Hondurans sought asylum abroad in 2017. This new donation is in addition to the 81,900 doses of Pfizer . Honduras recorded 3,496 murders in 2020. In September, two men shot and killed journalist Luis Alonzo Almendares in Comayagua. Radio Globo directorDavid Romero, convicted of defamation in 2016, died in prison from Covid-19 in July. Taxis areall over the placein Honduras. On Friday, Jorge Lanza the leader of the bus operators in Honduras, supported the move, saying bus drivers were tired of being threatened and killed for not paying protection money. Do your own research. There are some safety pointsthat travelers should know for anywhere they travel, but Honduras requires these special considerations. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Of course, being a woman anywhere is going to come with additional risk. Excessive use of force by police and deployment of the military in public security operations continued in 2020. Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. We wouldnt recommend members of the LGBTQ+ community to visit Honduras unless theyre prepared to keep any sort of affection behind closed doors. Alongside her husband, Sasha, she co-founded the. Dont eat at tourist traps. Honduras deploys soldiers on anti-crime patrols - 1 hr 50 mins ago TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - The Honduran government has deployed soldiers to perform anti-crime patrols in some of the Central American country's most violent cities, following the massacre of 18 people in a shoe factory this week. Its prettyextreme. There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has been given the unfortunate title of the most dangerous city in the world. So. A collection of moments during and after Barack Obama's presidency. Many Hondurans dont have access toclean waterandmedical care. Since 2017, the government has operated centers to support returned migrants. Note that they are generally safe to visit during the day (with a bit of caution obviously), especially if you have a local guide, but should be fully avoided at night. One example:tajadas(fried plantains, topped with cabbage and served with ground beef). Nope. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. By MARLON GONZLEZ November 25, 2022. Violence in Honduras is usually attributed to gangs and organised crime, but US federal prosecutors have implicated high-level politicians, the military and police in cocaine trafficking to the US . This perception has grown despite a slight reduction in homicides this year, according to preliminary data, and a significant drop over the past decade since Honduras held the ignominious title of the worlds most violent country. msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation Xiomara Castros crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasnt done enough to combat crime. The storms, among other shocks, led to higher levels of food scarcity while weakening the states capacity to cope with displacement. Simple as that. Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Honduras. They face violence from gangs, the national civil police and the military police, members of the public, and their own families, as well as extortion by gangs and discrimination in schools and in the workplace. There are quite a few cute Airbnbs in Honduras, and as long as you stay in one of the safer neighborhoods, wed say that renting an Airbnb is perfectly safe. But the thing iswomen DO travel alone to Honduras. Indeed, Honduras is seeing a plague of femicidesa woman is murdered every 36 hours, mostly by an intimate partner. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. In the streets where insecurity lurks around each corner, many ordinary Hondurans want to see extreme measures human rights be damned and believe that anything short of that is not enough. The government had granted him protective measures in January 2019. We are going to be covering a whole lot of topics in this epic Honduras safety guide. How to tackle it is another issue. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Theyre old U.S. school buses that are poorly maintained,andovercrowded. Your laptop deserves a proper pack, and we know a good few! We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Pastor Daniel Pacheco told Los Angeles Times reporter Kate Linthicum, "I can ask them to leave the gang, but I don't have anything else to offer them. The state of emergency, in place since Dec. 6 in 165 areas of Honduras' largest two cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, has been expanded to 235 of the country's 298 municipalities, the national police said. Almendares had repeatedly received death threats since 2017 in relation to his reporting. 20 Top Safety Tips for Traveling to Honduras. More information. Until his life grew increasingly violent. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. With just 39% of the population fully vaccinated as of December 2021, the health risks associated with the pandemic will remain a concern long into 2022. The criminal justice system regularly fails to hold those responsible for homicides to account. Nearly 3.3 million people, or one in three Hondurans, were experiencing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity by late 2021. There are private coach servicesthat connect cities and towns that are usually moremaintained and more comfortable than the chicken buses. As of September 2020, the US had yet to begin deporting any third country nationals to Honduras under the agreement. Extortion in the Northern Triangle is predominantly done from prisons, yet prison populations have been on the rise. Poor health infrastructure and limited access to sanitation services has contributed to the spread of the virus. if youre visiting Honduras, you will have to avoid this city completely. Along with Honduras, the IRC also identified Haiti and Venezuela as the countries most at risk of experiencing deteriorating humanitarian crises in 2022 in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to a State Department report last year, there are up to 10,000 gang members in Honduras, a country with roughly 8 million people. UNHCR; Posted 22 Dec 2022 Originally published 22 . The new criminal code decriminalized defamation, but retains other crimes of honorincluding insult and slanderwhich have been used to prosecute journalists in the past. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, 60 percent of perpetrators were domestic partners. The IRC serves people and families in vulnerable situations or at increased risk for violence and displacement, including those who are uprooted by violence or returning after seeking safety in other countries. Because of human rights, crime has gone on so long, because human rights defend the criminal, and it shouldnt be like that, she said. If you are a keen diver, Roatan is well worth a visit. Its better for the environment and ends up being more economical in the long run. The Supreme Court, particularly its president, exerts excessive control over the appointment and removal of judges, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported in 2019, and career instability limits judges independence. We are on the frontlines providing critical aid to crisis-affected people in more than 40 countries, including places on the 2022 Emergency Watchlist. Honduras Private Sector and Anti-Extortion Police: An Unholy Alliance? Police presented a comprehensive plan to reform laws and ramp up institutional capacity measures that experts believe could have a positive effect long-term but which were pushed aside by the short-term political decision to declare a state of exception. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. Marvin Damin Castro Molina, who, as part of the Coordination of the Southern Social Environmental Movement for Life, fought mining, agro-industry, and hydroelectric projects, was abducted and found dead in Choluteca in July 2020. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. ThisCentral Americancountry suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with namely corruption, gangs,anddrugs. Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands. Over60% of the populationlive below the poverty line. Women, children, the LGBTQ+ community, and returnees face ever growing conflict and risks, from the effects of climate change to the impacts of COVID-19 and violenceat home and on the streets.. October 4, 2021 The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras is pleased to announce a donation from the government of the United States of 250,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the people of Honduras. President Xiomara Castro, center, with the minister of defense, Jose Manuel Zelaya, and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Jos Jorge Fortn, at a military ceremony in Tegucigalpa on 9 December. Late Thursday, Nov. 24, Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. Our work is costly and high risk. You should ask locals on the best routes to take to any given place. The effort comes amid complaints by business owners, the transportation sector and ordinary Hondurans that extortion by criminals has risen in recent months. Travel smart and make sure your safety and security is your number one priority. Its not 100% safe in Honduras. On average, children living in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are 10 times more likely to be killed than a child who lives in the United States. Shootings are very common in poorer areas too. Honduras is one of themurder capitalsof the world. Hardline policies, meanwhile, are popular because people think that theyre going to work but inevitably the track record is that they havent, said Malone. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Most who can access the internet do so on their phones. As a result, humanitarian needs for food, health, nutrition and protection have increased. But its pretty damn special too. The government neither comprehensively protects the rights of children, including adolescents, nor ensures that they have access to basic services such as education and healthcare, the IACHR reported in 2019. Investigations were underway at time of writing. Between the pandemic, ever-worsening cultural division, and a click-hungry media, it can be hard to maintain what is truth and what is sensationalism. It wont be down to the wire cutting edge info on the most current events, but it is layered in the expertise of veteran travellers. Theres a huge problem with single-use plastics in the Earths water and you dont have any assurance whatsoever that your bottles will be properly disposed of, even if youre careful to sort them in the proper bin. You basically pay for safety, but better safe than sorry wed say. In 2018, the government created a special force to fight gangs (Fuerza Nacional Anti Maras y pandillas). Police were allegedly in the area when private security forces opened fired against several families but did not help the victims, witnesses told the press. Youll most likely get watered-down versions of Honduran food and Western stuff. Prolonged droughts have undermined food production, while in October 2021 a wildfire in the Guanaja region affected thousands. This should not distract, however, from the fact that there are life-threatening problems that residents of Honduras struggle with daily. San Pedro Sula (Spanish pronunciation: [sam pedo sula]) is the capital of Corts Department, Honduras.It is located in the northwest corner of the country in the Sula Valley, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Puerto Corts on the Caribbean Sea.With a population of 671,460 in the central urban area (2020 calculation) and a population of 1,445,598 in its metropolitan area in 2020 . Youll need to be a confident traveler. The island attracts a very different crowd indeed. The new criminal code that came into effect in June 2020 includes new alternative sanctions to detention for some minor crimes that could help reduce the prison population. Whether thats with friends and family back home, or with accommodation staff, or both. And if youre visiting as part of a tour, then youre likely to stay safe. The law also sanctions abortion providers. Check in and let people know your plans. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. The MS13 and Barrio 18 street gangs control urban neighborhoods in the countrys two major cities Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and rural towns close to the border with El Salvador. A Honduran woman and her children manage to cross the remnants of a bridge destroyed by Hurricane Iota. Its not very safe to drive in Honduras. Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Thats mainly to visit islands like Roatan. You can also visit the island through a guided tour, which will add another layer of safety to your trip. The groups most likely to be internally displaced or leave the country are children subjected to forced gang recruitment, professionals and business owners who face extortion, domestic violence survivors, and LGBT people and members of ethnic minorities who face violence and discrimination. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. Her words echo those of Bukele, who has railed against human rights groups, government watchdogs and journalists who have questioned his tactics, saying that they are on the side of the gangs. To make sure youre having a successful trip, weve listed the safest, and the no-go areas below. Sometimes the drivers are assaulted. El Salvador and Honduras have been condemned by the "civilized" world. To reduce overcrowding in response to the pandemic, the legislature approved alternatives to pretrial detention in June and judges released more than 1,600 people. Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. But before arriving, the car stopped and the caravan split. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. These are pretty safe. When the time came, the police departed in caravans to gang-infested neighbourhoods throughout the capital city, as part of an effort to combat an apparent rise in extortion. Journalists, environmental activists,lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals,and people with disabilities are among the groups targeted forviolence. There are taxi ranks in a lot of locations. Iris Argentina lvarez of the Cerro Escondido peasant cooperative, which has been working to recover land currently owned by a sugar company, was killed and three people were injured during a violent and allegedly illegal eviction in Choluteca in April 2020. Rights activists say young men are frequently arrested just based on their age, appearance or whether they live in a gang-dominated slum. Utila is unlike the rest of mainland Honduras in just about every way. Gang violence is a big issue in Honduras. This has a pretty good expat community too. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. Politicians are manipulated by criminals or other politicians. If youre not on a highwayyoull probably need a 44. Get your accommodation to either recommenda good company or just book one for you. Well be answering super important questions including How safe is Honduras right now? and Is it safe to live in Honduras? We also give loads of tips for solo travelers and families. In January 2020, the government shut down the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). Locals drive atcrazy speeds on the highways, there are random toll roads that make the cost high (but if you dont take them, alternative routes are often not paved), and there are animals on the road. Home to the second biggest barrier reef in the world, beaches, and sparkling turquoise sea, as well as a whole host of Mayan ruins, amazing coffee, and the second largest rainforest in the Americas, Honduras is extremely biodiverse: there are 770 bird species alone. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. Testimony provided by drug traffickers and Honduran politicians on trial in the United States have revealed the deep-seated connection between organized crime and the governing National Party. And when it comes to the extreme violence of Honduras, thosevery highfigures come from gang violence. So, yeah. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. San Pedro Sula is the most dangerous city, not just in Honduras, but in the whole world. The coastline of Cedeno, a fishing village in southern Honduras, looks like it was hit by an earthquake - houses, businesses and clubs stand in ruins. Honduras has been through a lot in recent years. This helps keep everyone in poverty. Get a quote below or read our in-depth review! Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The government of Honduras is committed to attracting more tourists. The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof. Police chief Gustavo Sanchez said the decision, based on what he told journalists were good results during December, will allow continued reductions in crime and violence. Established in 2016 by the government and the Organization of American States (OAS), theMACCIHcontributed to the prosecution of 133 people, including congresspeople and senior officials, 14 of whom faced criminal trials. Please support our mission investigating organized crime. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. In April, the office expressed concern regarding accusations of excesive use of force by state security agents enforcing the governments Covid-19 restrictions. Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. International Rescue Committee is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File Photo. Members of the military police of public order get ready during a special operation in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. Extortions generate annual profits of up to $737 million for gangs, nearly 3% of the country's gross domestic product, according to data from Association for a More Just Society, a security-focused non-governmental organization. The men remained missing at time of writing. Also in February, the OAS special rapporteur on freedom of expression called on Honduras to decriminalize defamation and to properly investigate killings of journalists. The Covid-19 pandemic has further limited access to education for many children. The question of Is Honduras Safe? will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. Abortionisillegalin Honduras in all circumstances. A quarter of women and girls become pregnant before turning 18the second-highest rate in Latin America. Members of the military police of public order patrol a street during a special operation against criminal gangs in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. A large chunk of thosearrived via cruise ships, however. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. In October, the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), of which Cceres was president, complained of continued delays and a lack of transparency in the case. It pays totravel smartin Honduras like ANYWHERE in the world. But nongovernmental organizations have tallied several thousand human rights violations and at least 80 in-custody deaths of people arrested during the state of exception. Earlier this year, Honduras appeared set to follow an example set by another neighbor, Nicaragua, whose community-based policing approach was for years hailed for maintaining exceptionally low crime rates and minimal gang presence until the government turned the police into a repressive force against the people amid widespread protests in 2018. Women, children and the LGBTQ+ community are the ones most affected and we have seen the demand for services skyrocket, while the organizations delivering aid need increased resources to be able to staff up to meet the urgent needs, says Meg Galas, director for northern Central America at the IRC. You will have to agree on a pricebefore you get in. But Honduras is far from Eden. Share this via LinkedIn We travel with a filter bottle, the GRAYL GEOPRESS or we just boil the water for a few minutes and store in a refillable water bottle. Hondurans are warm and welcoming people whohave to live day in, day out with the violence in their country. Lanza said that 50 drivers have been killed so far in 2022, and a total of 2,500 have been killed over the last 15 years. After a 2019 wave of gang violence that killed 37 detainees, President Hernndez declared a state of emergency and put prisons under military control. Your little ones get to see the Mesoamerican Reef,thesecond largest barrier reef in the world. In fact, according toInSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. Honduran people are friendly and welcoming. Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime. Thepublic busesconsist ofthe good oldchicken bus. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostelsor otherbusinesses. Or gangs attacking Honduran citizens for not paying war tax. Public buildings, transportation, and information and communication services open to the public are not fully accessible to people with disabilities. Since 2020, the number of Hondurans in need of humanitarian assistance has more than doubled, while food insecurity has increased due to consecutive climate shocks, rising food prices and the economic impacts of COVID-19. This is due to negotiationsbetween criminal groups and the government, and possibly because of economic aid from the US. However, More than2 million touristsvisited in 2017. An audit of government purchases of medical supplies to fight Covid-19 revealed supplies worth tens of millions of dollars had gone missing. Violent crime is at its peak in Honduras. Jesse Watters: Buying mace in Manhattan is almost as hard as getting a gun. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. Gangs kill, disappear, rape, or displace those who resist. Its a country with a big heart. The information present in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, the world is a changeable place, now more than ever. That means suncream, sun-hats, and limiting time in the sun. People here live in pretty supreme poverty 60%of the population living in poverty really isa lot of people. Access to health care services was a concern in Honduras prior to the pandemic, particularly for rural and economically marginalized communities. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. They are taxed by gangs. We are all about smart travel and were here to help you travel smart too. In July, police arrested two men in connection to the 2020 killings of 45 TV reporter Germn Vallecillo Jr. and his cameraman, Jorge Posas, in La Ceiba. The code also includes poorly constructed provisions that could lead to violations of the rights to assemble and protest and an overly broad definition of association to engage in terrorism, which could be used to criminalize and disproportionately punish behaviors that fall far short of what most reasonable observers would consider terrorism. Women in Guatemala: The New Faces of Extortion? Almost 110,000 Hondurans were returned in 2019, mostly from Mexico. But the removal of military officers from an anti-gang taskforce resulted in a messy divorce that temporarily reduced the units already limited capacity opening a window for criminals and before the community policing model could have any effect, the political pressure to take decisive action against extortion boiled over. See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories. Enjoy your travels! Since June, 2021 the United States has shared 6,088,590 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Honduras - free of cost. Women - Honduras has the fifth-highest rate of violence against women in the world. LGBTpeople in Honduras are frequently the targets of violence and discrimination, according to Human Rights Watch research. The state of emergency, in place These are the things to avoid in Honduras: Avoid looking wealthy or like a tourist Avoid the beaches after dark Dont use ATMs at night Stay away from drugs. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. During the first month of the measures, 39 criminal gangs were destroyed and 652 people were arrested, while 43 kilos of cocaine and thousands of grams and rocks of crack were seized, the police said.