Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. But traveling there is possible, of course. Dont eat at tourist traps. 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. 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. A collection of moments during and after Barack Obama's presidency. 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. Lanza said drivers had been asking for a crackdown for years. International Rescue Committee is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Is Honduras safe for solo female travelers? The data was compiled by Citizen Council for Public Security, Justice, and Peace, a Mexican. And Honduras has been struggling to build representative democracy, to fight corruption and crime. There are some safety pointsthat travelers should know for anywhere they travel, but Honduras requires these special considerations. Honduras declares state of emergency against gang crime Youre connected. In April, Public Order Military Police (PMOP) officers severely beat three brothers and shot two of themone fatallyfor allegedly violating a curfew in El Paraso in order to sell bread. 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. An audit of government purchases of medical supplies to fight Covid-19 revealed supplies worth tens of millions of dollars had gone missing. World Report 2021: Honduras | Human Rights Watch Extortion and Sexual Violence: Womens Unspoken Suffering, Loan Sharking Grows in Costa Rica by Piggybacking on Drug Trafficking, Extortion of Guatemalas Red Buses: Where Gang and Elite Criminal Interests Meet, The Lucky Kingpin: How Chepe Diablo Has (So Far) Ridiculed Justice, Guatemala's Mafia State and the Case of Mauricio Lpez Bonilla, University Deans and Guatemalas Convoluted Road to a New Attorney General, GameChangers 2022: Drug Bonanza Amid Prohibition Challenges in 2023, Honduras' State of Exception May Set Worrying Precedent, Why Money Launderers in Honduras May Be Getting Away With It, Military Arsenals Provide Convenient Source of Weapons for Latin American Gangs, Extortion in Northern Triangle Worth Over $1 Billion Annually: Report, Latin American Leaders Voice Security Concerns At United Nations General Assembly. Newton County Sheriff's Office was involved with . Meanwhile, as Guatemalas electoral season heats up ahead of next years presidential election, some candidates have signaled that if elected, they would also implement hardline policies. Youll also have to take care that your children dont stay in the sun fortoo long. The first 2,000 inmates were transferred to El Salvador's new mega-prison for hardcore gangbangers. Naturally, youre going to be wondering, Is Honduras safe? That is why we have created this insiders guide looking at the safety of travelers in Honduras. "Life Has Become Unlivable in Honduras": How Corruption & Drug Trade It may have improved it actually. And people do go. After irregularities and delays, the trial of David Castillo, one of the men accused of planning the 2016 killing of environmental activist Berta Cceres, began in September 2020. By BRENT MAZE. The government relies heavily on the military for public security. They practice war taxing, which is essentially just demanding money from people. Chances are it wasnt cooked with too much care. I believe that [Bukeles] leadership is increasing, because the tendency of the Bukele government is to become Central American, and to exercise leadership in all of Central America, said Moreno. Death threats and gang violence forcing more families to - ReliefWeb How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube 0:00 / 11:46 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. You can too. Subscribe. . Or gangs attacking Honduran citizens for not paying war tax. Hondurass prison population has doubled over the past decade, partly due to a 2013 reform that greatly expanded the use of mandatory pre-trial detention. A 25-year-old migrant who posed as a minor to illegally cross the border was sentenced to 60 years for killing the father of four who took him in. We are all about smart travel and were here to help you travel smart too. Our work is costly and high risk. Download Historical Data. 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. 20 Top Safety Tips for Traveling to Honduras. Already vulnerable people in Honduras live in an evolving humanitarian crisis, says IRC protection coordinator Zuleyma Chahin. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in Scott County. In September, two men shot and killed journalist Luis Alonzo Almendares in Comayagua. Theyre old U.S. school buses that are poorly maintained,andovercrowded. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously get you in trouble. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid Ex-Honduras president's arrest puts US war on drugs into focus Corruption, crime, and gang activity inhibits the ability to conduct business activities freely and dissuades entrepreneurs from establishing new businesses. In 2013, Honduras reformed the penal code to recognize femicide as a crime. Security Minister Oscar Alvarez says police have identified two suspects among the five attackers . At the same time, traveling alone can be stressful, boring, lonely, anddangerous in varying quantities. In November 2020, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights heard the case of Vicky Hernndez, a trans woman allegedly extrajudicially executed in 2009. FILE PHOTO: A member of Honduras' DIPAMPCO (Police Anti Maras and Gangs Against Organised Crime Directorate) stands guard as other DIPAMPCO members frisk people while doing rounds in a low-income neighbourhood, after President Xiomara Castro declared a national security emergency implementing a new plan to combat a rising number of cases of extortion by violent criminal groups operating across the country, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras November 26, 2022. Honduras may sound scary, but if you take into account the advice of locals, plan ahead, and use your common sense,Honduras will open up to you as a solo female traveler. Tegucigalpa. Taxis areall over the placein Honduras. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Its not a good idea to go out to bars and clubs by yourself. Violent crime is at its peak in Honduras. In February 2020, it called on El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico to protect the rights of migrants and refugees to leave their country of origin, noting that asylum applications from Central America and Mexico grew 50-fold from 2012 to 2018. Public buildings, transportation, and information and communication services open to the public are not fully accessible to people with disabilities. 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. Honduras. In April, the office expressed concern regarding accusations of excesive use of force by state security agents enforcing the governments Covid-19 restrictions. Other ways to share How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube Youll get the, If youve got no locals to ask, just use your eyes. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. 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. That said, the governmentclaimsthere has been a 52%decreasein violent crime over the past five years. Get your accommodation to either recommenda good company or just book one for you. There are definitely a fair few pros to solo travel. As of September 2020, the US had yet to begin deporting any third country nationals to Honduras under the agreement. Certain routes that these take have been the target ofarmed attacks. Honduras, in general, is open and welcoming to children. Its also a nice place since the ferry toUtilaruns from here, making it easy to escape to the tropical paradise of theBay Islandswhenever you feel like it. Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. Homicides in Honduras | Association for a More Just Society There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. 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. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional The government had granted him protective measures in January 2019. Every dollar supports our mission. Dangers of Travel to Honduras | USA Today For example, theBay Islandsaresaferthan the mainland. Honduras isnt a gay-friendly country, however, there are some movements that are going in the right direction. Gangs control areas within the same communities,. Activist groups, like the Grupo Prisma, have formed that educate and inform the general public as well as fight the current rules against homosexual relationships. Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands. If you use our guide, do your own research, and practise common sense, you will have a safe trip to Honduras. 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. You will have to agree on a pricebefore you get in. Politicians are manipulated by criminals or other politicians. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostelsor otherbusinesses. In December 2018, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found Honduras responsible for failing to investigate Hernndezs death. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. In June 2020, a new criminal code came into effect. Belize's U-19 Women's National Team travels to Honduras on Friday to 'Impossible to escape': El Salvador unveils new mega-prison Close, Is Honduras Safe for Travel? Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). A law prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting childrentook effect in 2019. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - The Honduran government on Saturday extended a state of emergency declaration for 45 days, expanding it to additional areas of the country in an effort to fight criminal gangs amid high levels of violence. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency Meant to Fight Crime, FILE PHOTO: A member of Honduras' DIPAMPCO (Police Anti Maras and Gangs Against Organised Crime Directorate) stands guard as other DIPAMPCO members frisk people while doing rounds in a low-income neighbourhood, after President Xiomara Castro declared a national security emergency implementing a new plan to combat a rising number of cases of extortion by violent criminal groups operating across the country, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras November 26, 2022. ThisCentral Americancountry suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with namely corruption, gangs,anddrugs. People are frisked in Tegucigalpa on 26 November. The measure must still be approved by Congress. 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. El Salvador and Honduras's response to chaos We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. If we didnt have Bukeles example, we could probably look for some control and security responses based on strengthening institutions.. One good thing I can say about Roatan is that the dive sites are excellent around the island. Seth Sidney Berry / SOPA Images/Sipa USA (Sipa via AP Images), Share this via Facebook But if youre thinking about it, here are some tips. Women in Guatemala: The New Faces of Extortion? Of course, being a woman anywhere is going to come with additional risk. Traveling around the country is a more complicated matter. Often, people with disabilities are threatened and subjected to extortion by criminal gangs. Excessive use of force by police and deployment of the military in public security operations continued in 2020. Theres more nature here than you can shake a stick at. Is your phone eSIM ready? Especiallythrough a tour company. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide and armed robbery, is common. Its a massive issue. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency for Second Time Alongside her husband, Sasha, she co-founded the. There are probably more sketchy areas in Honduras than there are safe ones. Poverty, violence, and insecurity are the main reasons for the high crime rate. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Inside Honduras' most dangerous gangs - YouTube Utila is unlike the rest of mainland Honduras in just about every way. Read more about the top 10 crises the world cant ignore in 2022, learn how the IRC selected these countries, and download the full 2022 Emergency Watchlist report for data citations and profiles of all 20 crisis countries on the IRC's list. Xiomara should hurry up and go after all those gang members, said Isidora Varela, 70, at her market stand in downtown Tegucigalpa. The country has the second-highest rate of femicidedefined as the killing of a woman by a man because of her genderin Latin America, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean reports. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. But Honduras is far from Eden. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. Following domestic and international criticism, the government backtracked and a week later re-established constitutional free speech guarantees. We also provide critical, up-to-date information and support from trained moderators through CuntaNos, a digital platform that is part of the Global Signpost project. There is no exact number of the exodus, but according to the United States Customs and Border Protection Service, in 2020, they arrested 40,091 Hondurans, who were trying to enter the United States irregularly and until September 2021, this amount increased to 98,554 Honduran arrests, more than double the previous year. The question of Is Honduras Safe? will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. The streets of major cities like Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are gripped by crime and conflict. Gang wars and fights with the police are common in this city. And what you had, you know, after the coup, while the U.S. did cut assistance, it was very. As VP Kamala Harris prepares to visit #Honduras for the presidential inauguration, we call for international cooperation and funding to respond to the humanitarian crisis displacing thousands in the country. Honduras - Organized Crime News - InSight Crime Dont drink the water without treating, and steer clear of ice cubes,too. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. So backpacking Honduras isnt always just a breeze. Honduras is exposed to other climate shocks as well. Access to health care services was a concern in Honduras prior to the pandemic, particularly for rural and economically marginalized communities. 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. Corruption, poor governance, and. Honduras declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops. The UNspecialrapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders in Latin America. Since 2017, the government has operated centers to support returned migrants. Wed,03/01/23-8:24AM, 1,088 Reads 16,082 Statewide. Officials flew Garza, a 48-year-old . Honduras Private Sector and Anti-Extortion Police: An Unholy Alliance? Dont expect to discover an undeveloped private island. So no. The government has set up roadblocks, deployed security forces, and used violence to prevent people from leaving the country. Honduras - United States Department of State Former president of Honduras makes initial appearance in US - CNN Trump, who is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, announced a slate of futuristic new policies in a campaign video Friday. Its not 100% safe in Honduras. There is an expat community inTrujillo. Honduras Honduras declares war against gangs - and for control of popular narrative Xiomara Castro's crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasn't done. Investigating organized crime is an expensive and often risky enterprise. 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. It may not exactly be classed as safe, but Honduras shouldnt be ignored. In March 2020, the government declared a state of emergency in response to the pandemic, imposing a lockdown and restricting movement and freedom of expression. Share this via LinkedIn There are high levels of crime in Honduras. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Its just better to have a local driver drive you around. Classes were broadcast on television, radio, and online, in some cases with assignments sent via Whatsapp. A woman is killed every 23 hours on average, the National Autonomous University of Honduras Violence Observatory reports. However, if you decide to travel independently, youll face quite a few challenges. 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.. So. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, 60 percent of perpetrators were domestic partners. Honduras has been through a lot in recent years. The government bans emergency contraception, known as the morningafter pill, which can prevent pregnancy after rape, unprotected sex, or contraceptive failure. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Honduras is one of the most important drug trafficking operation centers between South America and Mexico. Honduras: The fear of kidnapping does not stop the exodus from a And if youre visiting as part of a tour, then youre likely to stay safe. According to the U.N., Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the world. Since 2010, 42. Despite some similarities, the security situation in El Salvador is different from Honduras, which has a much larger territory, higher population, greater poverty and a more diverse set of criminal groups. Women in Honduras face high levels of gender-based violence. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. Its better for the environment and ends up being more economical in the long run. Since 2012, the Honduran police have implemented a program sponsored by the US Department of State called Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) which aims to discourage youth crime and gang recruitment. Gangs attacking other gangs. 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. Officials were called out to the main Wood Duck Recreation Area at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday to investigate a suspicious vehicle, a ccording to a release from the Sheriff's Office. There is limited data on the effectiveness of the program in Honduras. 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. Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Honduras. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. ; Children and Adolescents - Honduras has the highest youth homicide rate in the world. The state of emergency, in place 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. When more cameras arrived, men were forced to take off their shirts so the police could inspect them for gang tattoos in front of the bright lights. 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison | Breaking News App by Shore Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. And there are roads that have higher levels ofattacks,including carjacking. Wed classify it as generally hazardous. 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. Many women are choosing to flee the violence in their communities. Gender-based violence in Honduras is also among the highest in the region and has increased during the pandemic. Your laptop deserves a proper pack, and we know a good few! An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! 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.
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