The government had granted him protective measures in January 2019. From 2011 to 2017, the number of killings in Honduras actually dropped, from 87 per 100,000 to 44. Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands. Seth Sidney Berry / SOPA Images/Sipa USA (Sipa via AP Images), Share this via Facebook Indeed, Honduras is seeing a plague of femicidesa woman is murdered every 36 hours, mostly by an intimate partner. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. But if the peace in the condemning nations were to rupture the way it has in El Salvador and Honduras, we can bet they . Well Public transportation can be alittle trickyin Honduras, and its not always safe. These are the safest islands: Once you get off the ferry in Utila you have officially entered an alternate reality. Dont open the door for anyone, unless youre expecting a visit. Not only that, but thecorruptionin everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. So keep that in mind and have a read of our safety tips for solo female travelers thinking of taking a trip to Honduras. 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 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. (KCAU) The Stanton County Sheriff's Office said that they've cited two men who allegedly killed an American Bald Eagle. It was focused on the security, or lack of security in Honduras. https://t.co/xQGbbyZXXv. Domestic and sexual violence are also widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt. He estimated the companies and drivers have paid an average of about $10 million per month to the gangs in order to operate. 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. Gang wars and fights with the police are common in this city. They practice "war taxing", which is essentially just demanding money from people. Violence against LGBT individuals forces many to leave their homes, fleeing internally or leaving the country to seek asylum. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. This helps keep everyone in poverty. Seeing the world without anyone to answer to, getting to challenge yourself andgrow as a person. 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. 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. More than half of detained men and two-thirds of detained women were in pretrial detention. Public buildings, transportation, and information and communication services open to the public are not fully accessible to people with disabilities. Wed classify it as generally hazardous. Violent crime is at its peak in Honduras. Honduras isnt perfectly safe for tourists, but that doesnt mean that you can travel there or have a good time. While Honduras is not seeing the political armed conflict common in most Watchlist countries this year, criminal gang violence is widespread. We provide cash to help people meet basic needs. The IACHR expressed concern in 2019 regarding the critical levels of impunity and inadequate and insufficient attention to victims of human rights violations. There are many daily newspapers in Honduras where that constantly provide the latest updated news and information. Not really. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. Click here to read the full story: 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison. That means getting used to gangs, violence, and corruption. Excessive use of force by police and deployment of the military in public security operations continued in 2020. We can't put up any longer with workers being killed and paying extortion, Lanza said. There is only anecdotal evidence of the scale of the problem because so few extortion victims report the crime, making a statistical analysis impossible. 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. Investigations were underway at time of writing. The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof. This is when things can get sketchy. A local TV correspondent needed to do a live shot for one of the countrys most-watched news programs. An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! Whilst many people DO live here, it doesnt mean Honduras is safe to live. You should ask locals on the best routes to take to any given place. Security forces committed abuses while enforcing a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown that President Juan Orlando Hernndez imposed in March. Heres how to not get ill whilst trying local delights. The state of emergency, in place Corruption, poor governance, and. 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. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. 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. Theres more nature here than you can shake a stick at. You dont know how clean the persons hands are whos been peeling and chopping the, Dont go TOO in on the food when you first arrive, especially if you get ill from food quite easily. Please donate. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. The former vice president has become the Democratic front-runner with primary victories across the country. We dont want to recommend traveling to the rest of Honduras with your family. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, 60 percent of perpetrators were domestic partners. 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. In December 2018, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found Honduras responsible for failing to investigate Hernndezs death. This has a pretty good expat community too. 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. And if youre visiting as part of a tour, then youre likely to stay safe. Political power brokers also have ties to drug smuggling and have even run trafficking operations themselves. It is important to know that Utila is very much a developed backpacker hotspot. 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. Youll need to be a confident traveler. Copyright International Rescue Committee, 2023. crises in 2022 in Latin America and the Caribbean, top 10 crises the world cant ignore in 2022, calling for stronger international cooperation, 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid, 36% of funding received for 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan, 937,000 disaster-induced displacements in 2020, 3.3 million people facing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in 2022. And Hondurascan be a safe place for solo female travelers, but wed only recommend it after some solo travel experience. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Human rights defenders have said they will monitor the measures. 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. 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. Weve made it pretty clear that Honduras isnt the safest country. Some areas are also safer than others. There are alsopassenger ferriesif you want to go totheBay Islands. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. Again, thank you! So how do they do it?. 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. An illegal immigrant from Honduras was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for the killing of a Florida man in Jacksonville in 2021, prosecutors said. Honduras has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. Then there are quite a lot of gang wars as well. Is your phone eSIM ready? Your laptop deserves a proper pack, and we know a good few! 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 has been through a lot in recent years. The vaccine doses arrived in the Honduran capital on October 4 2021. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. Here's a list of 14: 1. ; Children and Adolescents - Honduras has the highest youth homicide rate in the world. But this article is written for savvy travellers from the perspective of savvy travellers. The poverty resulting from all this is what youll have to watch out for. Close, Is Honduras Safe for Travel? Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. As dusk fell, a helicopter hovered menacingly over a dusty football field where several hundred police officers stood in formation, waiting for the clock to strike six and the imposition of a state of exception partially suspending constitutional guarantees in Honduras. 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. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? But the thing iswomen DO travel alone to Honduras. Members of the military police of public order get ready during a special operation in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. 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). Dont expect to discover an undeveloped private island. 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. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. By MARLON GONZLEZ November 25, 2022. Juan Aguilar, 41, and his wife, Margaret Wilson, 39, both of San Leandro, face charges of kidnapping to commit a sex crime, human trafficking of a minor, forcible rape, and forcible oral copulation. document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), are considered to be largely responsible for Honduras murder rate, and are infamous for extortion and drug peddling. To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. 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. In neighboring El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele requested Congress grant him extraordinary powers after gangs were blamed for 62 killings on March 26, and that emergency decree has been renewed every month since then. msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation Of the 6,088,590 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. So far, the state of exception in Honduras has produced some arrests and forced the gangs and other criminal groups to keep a lower profile. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. 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. So, yeah. 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. It might sound like paradiseBut it isnt. 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. However, More than2 million touristsvisited in 2017. 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. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News Honestly? In 2014, the United Nations reported that 95 percent of cases of sexual violence and femicide in Honduras were never even investigated. 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. ACNUR acoge con satisfaccin la aprobacin de la ley sobre desplazamiento interno en Honduras Format News and Press Release Source. The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the gangs. Read on for more detailed information on how to have a safe trip to Honduras. More information. With those come violenceandpoverty. 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. The measure must still be approved by Congress. That means suncream, sun-hats, and limiting time in the sun. 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. They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. Honduran women face daily struggles. Prolonged droughts have undermined food production, while in October 2021 a wildfire in the Guanaja region affected thousands. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency against gang crimes like extortion. The media and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported several cases of abusive police enforcement of the Covid-19 lockdown. A quarter of women and girls become pregnant before turning 18the second-highest rate in Latin America. Especiallythrough a tour company. Individuals and state agents continute to threaten and attack journalists, press freedom groups report. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously get you in trouble. 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. 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.. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. Its dangerous there.. We need to address these immediate needs too.. Late Thursday, Nov. 24, Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. Violence: Honduras reached a . Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. 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. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Some are deprived of full legal capacity and are institutionalized in different settings, including psychiatric hospitals. In September, two men shot and killed journalist Luis Alonzo Almendares in Comayagua. Extortion in the Northern Triangle is predominantly done from prisons, yet prison populations have been on the rise. There are some safety pointsthat travelers should know for anywhere they travel, but Honduras requires these special considerations. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. Investigating organized crime is an expensive and often risky enterprise. 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.