This helps keep everyone in poverty. This year a crew member of a cruise ship was murdered on Roatan and that combined with the mainland of the country being used by cartels as part of the drug pipeline to the U.S., plus the current immigration crisis on the U.S. border all together add up to bad press for the country of Honduras. The Supreme Court had upheld Romeros 10-year sentencein January 2020. And Honduras has been struggling to build representative democracy, to fight corruption and crime. Visiting Honduras right now is as safe as it ever was:not very. The most extensive database on organized crime in the Americas. 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.. The UNspecialrapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders in Latin America. Donate now to support the IRC's life-changing work in Honduras, across northern Central America, and worldwide. Honestly? That said, the development that has taken place has not totally sucked the island dry of its charm. That said, the governmentclaimsthere has been a 52%decreasein violent crime over the past five years. Download Historical Data. You can catch a ferry from the mainland atLa Ceibato eitherUtilaorRoatan. Everyone from children to adults are recruited. Prisons saw significant Covid-19 outbreaks. Gang violence is a big issue in Honduras. Honduras isnt different from lots of other great backpacking countries in that youre never absolutely safe from food-borne illness. These are pretty safe. Honduras News - Daily News About Honduras Of the 6,088,590 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. Access to health care services was a concern in Honduras prior to the pandemic, particularly for rural and economically marginalized communities. Safety and security - Honduras travel advice - GOV.UK This Central American country actually has one of the highest murder rates in the world. They practice war taxing, which is essentially just demanding money from people. This includes 2,838,450 Pfizer doses and 3,250,140 Moderna doses. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. Police reforms are most successful when theyre coupled with investments in social services and cross-cutting investments to address some of the root causes like poverty and exclusion that can cause crime in the first place, said Mary Malone, a professor at the University of New Hampshire who has studied policing in Central America. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. Honduras, the narco-state that illustrates U.S. contradictions Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. Travel smart and make sure your safety and security is your number one priority. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. Gangs exercise territorial control over neighborhoods and extort residents throughout the country. Almost 110,000 Hondurans were returned in 2019, mostly from Mexico. Youll need to be a confident traveler. There is an expat community inTrujillo. In December 2018, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found Honduras responsible for failing to investigate Hernndezs death. 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. Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. And watch out for bad road conditions after heavy rain. 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. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. Honduras may have one of the highest murder rates in the world, and as a solo female traveler, that doesnt sound very inviting as a destination. Whilst many people DO live here, it doesnt mean Honduras is safe to live. 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. The criminal justice system regularly fails to hold those responsible for homicides to account. It pays totravel smartin Honduras like ANYWHERE in the world. In November 2020, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights heard the case of Vicky Hernndez, a trans woman allegedly extrajudicially executed in 2009. STANTON COUNTY, Neb. The Gordon Ramsay Honduras Video Just last week the BBC affiliated chef published a video of Honduras. They practice "war taxing", which is essentially just demanding money from people. Schools were closed from March onward due to the Covid-19 pandemic. International Rescue Committee is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Check in and let people know your plans. Its not very safe to drive in Honduras. Sat Navs might not always tell you the best route. This isnt one for first-time backpackers. So long as violence in Honduras continues without impunity, major displacement will persist in 2022. Read on for more detailed information on how to have a safe trip to Honduras. Honduras has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. 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. "Today at dawn, in a single operation, we transferred the first 2,000 gang . The IRC is calling for stronger international cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis that displaces hundreds of thousands from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala every year. We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. We dont want to recommend traveling to the rest of Honduras with your family. Gangsplay a big part of life here. It may have improved it actually. (Insider Tips), https://www.facebook.com/gratefulgypsies/, https://www.instagram.com/gratefulgypsies/, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn5T0r4o5KV4qoyQyR7Buww, https://www.pinterest.com/gratefulgypsies/, Traveller, teacher, writer, and bonafide music lover, Rachel Lee is a Tennessee-born human with a passion for movement. We are going to be covering a whole lot of topics in this epic Honduras safety guide. As a result, humanitarian needs for food, health, nutrition and protection have increased. Other ways to share Homicides in Honduras | Association for a More Just Society Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. Expat retirees, yachties, families with kids, and cruise ship tourists make up a large majority of the demographic found on Roatan at any given time. Youre connected. Nope. Impunity for human rights abuses, violent crime, and corruption remains the norm, even as the prison population has mushroomed. There are probably more sketchy areas in Honduras than there are safe ones. 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. And taxi driversprobably wont have enough change to cover a big bill, socarry small denominations. A quarter of women and girls become pregnant before turning 18the second-highest rate in Latin America. FILE - Honduras' President Xiomara Castro addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 20, 2022. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency for Second Time Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. If we didnt have Bukeles example, we could probably look for some control and security responses based on strengthening institutions.. It can get SUPER hot in Honduras. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Some victims of extortion said that the only thing that has changed is how the money is collected. The government bans emergency contraception, known as the morningafter pill, which can prevent pregnancy after rape, unprotected sex, or contraceptive failure. However, if you decide to travel independently, youll face quite a few challenges. 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. Almendares had repeatedly received death threats since 2017 in relation to his reporting. Women, children and the LGBTQ+ community are the ones most affected and we have seen the demand for services skyrocket It is essential to address the root causes of forced migration, a strategy that the current U.S. administration is adopting. Will Honduras Win The Fight Against Corruption? - Forbes FILE PHOTO: Police raid a house after Honduras' President Xiomara Castro (not pictured) mobilised . The first 2,000 inmates were transferred to El Salvador's new mega-prison for hardcore gangbangers. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. City busestravel around the cities and towns themselves. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously get you in trouble. In Honduras, one of the most violent countries in the world, 60 percent of deaths are attributed to organized crime. Then there are quite a lot of gang wars as well. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Just in case, thats No quiero compartir el taxi.. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. Two private security officers were charged. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. Your little ones get to see the Mesoamerican Reef,thesecond largest barrier reef in the world. Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Were not going to lie its pretty sketchy. LGBTpeople in Honduras are frequently the targets of violence and discrimination, according to Human Rights Watch research. The measure, part of leftist President Xiomara Castro's crackdown on gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, suspends some constitutional rights and allows security forces to detain people who they consider associated with or have committed crimes. The police chief in Honduras reported 356 fewer homicides between Dec. 6, 2022 and Feb 20, 2023, compared to the period Dec. 6, 2021 to Feb. 20, 2022. Bukeles example resonates in societies with a fragile institutional framework and with a tendency towards populism and authoritarianism, said Ismael Moreno, a human rights defender. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. His security-at-all costs approach, and the reductions in violence and crime that have come with it, have found a captive audience in Honduras, but caused consternation among civil society, and closed down discussion of other options. 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. Most dangerous city: San Pedro Sula, Honduras - Boston.com How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube 0:00 / 11:46 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. Classes were broadcast on television, radio, and online, in some cases with assignments sent via Whatsapp. Some are deprived of full legal capacity and are institutionalized in different settings, including psychiatric hospitals. We provide specialized support for survivors of gender-based violence; create safe spaces for women, youth and the LGBTQ+ community; and also offer psychosocial counseling and social work support. A ferry also runs betweenTrujilloandGuanaja. It was Zelaya's intention to seek a second term that coup leaders. The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid Heres what you need to know about the growing crisis in Honduras. Take theBay Islands,for example. Gangsters killed Maria's sister in Honduras. A note on the door told In Honduras, steps were taken to demilitarize public security forces and a community policing model was announced, with the hope being that the measures would increase public trust in an institution that has historically been dogged by corruption and infiltrated by the very same organized crime groups it is supposed to combat. Dont eat at tourist traps. On theCaribbean coast, there are plenty of delicious dishes to sample, with tortillasand things likerefried beansserved up with every meal. That means suncream, sun-hats, and limiting time in the sun. Yery Noel Medina Ulloa of Honduras pleaded guilty . Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency Meant to Fight Crime Women in Honduras face high levels of gender-based violence. Honduras Crime Rate & Statistics 1990-2023 | MacroTrends At least 86 journalists were killed from 2001 through July 2020, the Honduran College of Journalists reported, and 92 percent of those killings remain unpunished. ACNUR acoge con satisfaccin la aprobacin de la ley sobre desplazamiento interno en Honduras Format News and Press Release Source. Please support our mission investigating organized crime. Close to 1 million migrants fled Honduras for the U.S. border over the eight-year tenure of former President Juan Orlando Hernndez, now facing drug trafficking charges after being arrested. In El Salvador, a Thin Line Between Community Policing and Vigilantism. The government relies heavily on the military for public security. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. 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. Migrant posing as minor who killed father of four that took him in gets And theyre generally safe. 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. The media and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported several cases of abusive police enforcement of the Covid-19 lockdown. In 2014, the United Nations reported that 95 percent of cases of sexual violence and femicide in Honduras were never even investigated. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most-watched television news channel for 18 consecutive years. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. 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. Dont hitchhike ortake lifts from strangers , Other ways to meet fellow travelers and. Womenand girls who terminate pregnancies face prison sentences of up to six years. The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof. We wouldnt recommend members of the LGBTQ+ community to visit Honduras unless theyre prepared to keep any sort of affection behind closed doors. Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committees Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. The new code also includes alternatives to detention for low-level crimes, including partial prison sentences and penalties that allow for conditional release. 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 . Allegations that senior politicians had been benefiting financially from the drug trade contributed to the unrest. It suspends some Constitutional rights and gives police more powers to arrest and hold suspects. Human rights defenders have said they will monitor the measures. A . As the camera rolled, the police began stopping vehicles passing by in the background, running ID cards and frisking occupants. However, whilst its quite dangerous, the government is promoting tourism in Honduras. Abuses by security forces, including alleged collusion with criminal organizations, and weak state institutions, have contributed to the persistence of gang violence. A study published in April reported that nearly half of teachers in rural areas had not been able to contact the majority of their students. If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. CNN Juan Orlando Hernndez, the former president of Honduras, appeared virtually for his initial US court appearance Friday on federal drug trafficking and firearms possession charges.. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. San Pedro Sula is the most dangerous city, not just in Honduras, but in the whole world. Seeing the world without anyone to answer to, getting to challenge yourself andgrow as a person. Absent students, murdered teachers: Gang violence permeates Honduras Excessive use of force by police and deployment of the military in public security operations continued in 2020. It might sound like paradiseBut it isnt. El Salvador and Honduras have been condemned by the "civilized" world. Theyre fairly easy to use, but be aware of the risks. Investigations were underway at time of writing. You will have to agree on a pricebefore you get in. Click here to read the full story: 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison. In September, two men shot and killed journalist Luis Alonzo Almendares in Comayagua. crime Mayor and Retired Honduras National Police Sub-Commissioner Arrested for Organized Crime Involvement By Hector Martinez on February 24, 2016 crime, extortion, gangs, mara, MaraSalvatrucha, ms13, MS18, murder, narcotics, OrganizedCrime, salvatrucha General Honduras News, Headline News That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we dont believe are up to scratch. The U.S. government estimates that approximately 4% of all cocaine shipments from South America passed through Honduras by air or sea in 2019 of cocaine, equivalent to a U.S. street value of over $11.5 billion at current rates. On 24 November, Hondurass leftwing president, Xiomara Castro, declared war on extortion a very real problem that causes economic stagnation, fuels violence and forces countless Hondurans to flee the country. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. Violence against LGBT individuals forces many to leave their homes, fleeing internally or leaving the country to seek asylum. 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. Sometimes the drivers are assaulted. Honduras is one of the Western Hemisphere's deadliest countries for journalists, with security forces representing their biggest threat, Reporters Without Borders noted in 2021. Of course, you can book a local tour that can look after your safety during your trip, but make sure your research leaves you feeling absolutely confident in the reliability of the tour you choose. Heres how to not get ill whilst trying local delights. Women in Guatemala: The New Faces of Extortion? 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. The mission in early December was ostensibly to raid a casa loca, an abandoned home used by gang members. 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. One good thing I can say about Roatan is that the dive sites are excellent around the island. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, 60 percent of perpetrators were domestic partners. Honduras declares state of emergency against gang crime 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. Wed classify it as generally hazardous. Since 2010, 42. They are taxed by gangs. Most who can access the internet do so on their phones. The new criminal code decriminalized defamation, but retains other crimes of honorincluding insult and slanderwhich have been used to prosecute journalists in the past.