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. We are going to be covering a whole lot of topics in this epic Honduras safety guide. ThisCentral Americancountry suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with namely corruption, gangs,anddrugs. This isnt one for first-time backpackers. Of 25,000 gang members in 2012, nearly a fifth were children, UNICEF estimated. Its a wild world out there. In April, the office expressed concern regarding accusations of excesive use of force by state security agents enforcing the governments Covid-19 restrictions. Honduras major drug trafficking groups like the Cachiros and the Valles have largely been dismantled with the arrest and extradition of top leaders, but vestiges of these clans continue to operate. Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. 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. There is limited data on the effectiveness of the program in Honduras. FromLimonestoLa Union, fromGualacotoSan Esteban,and fromLa EsperanzatoGraciasThese routes can bedangerous. I agree with Bukele and I want the same here. Since 2017, the government has operated centers to support returned migrants. Despite recent educational advances, around a third of children aged 3-17 did not attend school in 2018, according to the most recent survey by the National Statistics Institute. 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. Newton County Sheriff's Office was involved with . Honduras has been through a lot in recent years. The story 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison was published by the Associated Press on 2022-07-04 18:29:24. 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. A quarter of women and girls become pregnant before turning 18the second-highest rate in Latin America. The first 2,000 inmates were transferred to El Salvador's new mega-prison for hardcore gangbangers. 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. By BRENT MAZE. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in . Abuses by security forces, including alleged collusion with criminal organizations, and weak state institutions, have contributed to the persistence of gang violence. Honduras isnt perfectly safe for tourists, but that doesnt mean that you can travel there or have a good time. 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. Following domestic and international criticism, the government backtracked and a week later re-established constitutional free speech guarantees. In these demonstrations, more than 1,500 were arrested and30 people were killed. Almendares had repeatedly received death threats since 2017 in relation to his reporting. There are 37 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, and all 18 provinces are. Until his life grew increasingly violent. In El Salvador, a Thin Line Between Community Policing and Vigilantism. Its a massive issue. In July 2020, gunmen in police uniforms abducted five indigenous Garifuna men in Triunfo de la Cruz, where communities are claiming ancestral land from drug traffickers and developers. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. It is important to know that Utila is very much a developed backpacker hotspot. Honestly? So youll likely escape having to pay war tax (or facing the consequences). Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. This includes 2,838,450 Pfizer doses and 3,250,140 Moderna doses. Violence: Honduras reached a . 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. It was a show: a show of force following the example set by the hardline policies of neighbouring El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele has led a controversial crackdown on gangs that has led to the detention of more than 2% of its adult population. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. Rights activists say young men are frequently arrested just based on their age, appearance or whether they live in a gang-dominated slum. 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 But if the peace in the condemning nations were to rupture the way it has in El Salvador and Honduras, we can bet they . 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. There are probably more sketchy areas in Honduras than there are safe ones. Some areas are also safer than others. Look and see where locals are eating. Transgender woman activist killed in Honduras 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. The Covid-19 pandemic has further limited access to education for many children. msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation 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. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, 60 percent of perpetrators were domestic partners. 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.. Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. Donate now to support the IRC's life-changing work in Honduras, across northern Central America, and worldwide. 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. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. So, yeah. World Nomads mission is to support and encourage travellers to explore their boundaries. This is essentially anunsafecountry. Our work is costly and high risk. Its not very safe to drive in Honduras. 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. Enjoy your travels! Theres alsoLa Ceiba. Allegations that senior politicians had been benefiting financially from the drug trade contributed to the unrest. 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 . As of September 2020, the US had yet to begin deporting any third country nationals to Honduras under the agreement. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. ; Children and Adolescents - Honduras has the highest youth homicide rate in the world. We wouldnt recommend members of the LGBTQ+ community to visit Honduras unless theyre prepared to keep any sort of affection behind closed doors. 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. Alongside her husband, Sasha, she co-founded the. In the 2010s, Honduras' homicide rate skyrocketed, peaking in 2011 and slowly declining since. Keeping yourself away from any situation to do with them will be a good way to keep yourself pretty much safe. The inauguration of Xiomara Castro, elected Hondurass first female president, is scheduled for January 27 with U.S. vice president Kamala Harris, King Felipe VI of Spain and other world leaders slated to attend. Indeed, Honduras is seeing a plague of femicidesa woman is murdered every 36 hours, mostly by an intimate partner. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Biodiversity is a huge part of Honduras. 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. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, poor sanitation, beatings, intra-gang violence, and detainee killings are endemic in prisons. Locals have to pay war taxes which keeps the poverty rate high as well. The food in Honduras is super tasty. 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. There's no avoiding violence in Honduras, even at home. 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. Every year, more than 100,000 Hondurans are internally displaced, migrate, seek protection abroad, or are deported back to Honduras. 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. Historically, governments have responded with iron-fist security strategies to combat organized crime, enacting tougher legislation and increasing police presence and mass detentions. 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. For Varela, who said she had never been a victim of extortion, but heard a lot about it as of late, human rights are just an obstacle. That measure has proved popular among the public in El Salvador, and has resulted in the arrest of more than 56,000 people for alleged gang ties. The effort comes amid complaints by business owners, the transportation sector and ordinary Hondurans that extortion by criminals has risen in recent months. Violence against LGBT individuals forces many to leave their homes, fleeing internally or leaving the country to seek asylum. LGBTpeople in Honduras are frequently the targets of violence and discrimination, according to Human Rights Watch research. 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. So. The government bans emergency contraception, known as the morningafter pill, which can prevent pregnancy after rape, unprotected sex, or contraceptive failure. Do your own research. Heres what you need to know about the growing crisis in Honduras. via REUTERS. 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. As the camera rolled, the police began stopping vehicles passing by in the background, running ID cards and frisking occupants. Members of the military police of public order patrol a street during a special operation against criminal gangs in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. 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.. Make sure to check the reviews from previous travellers to check for any problems during their stay. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. Independent travel is going to require A LOT of being careful. They practice "war taxing", which is essentially just demanding money from people. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News All rights reserved. Theres no reason to get mixed up with a gang in Honduras. Sometimes the drivers are assaulted. If youdo get one in the street, ensure that you tell the taxi driver that you dont want to share the taxi. 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. However, whilst its quite dangerous, the government is promoting tourism in Honduras. 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. Security Minister Oscar Alvarez says police have identified two suspects among the five attackers . Political power brokers also have ties to drug smuggling and have even run trafficking operations themselves. It is not just murder, it's also the shocking numbers of rape, assault, and domestic violence cases, happening with near-total impunity. Thats why we listed the no-go areas in Honduras below. REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File PhotoReuters. While Honduras is not seeing the political armed conflict common in most Watchlist countries this year, criminal gang violence is widespread. Honduras. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. Honduras declared the state of exception for 30 days in 162 neighborhoods, some politicians have already called for it to be extended in duration and territory. 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. Share this via Twitter The government relies heavily on the military for public security. Not only that, but thecorruptionin everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. Living in Honduras means youll have to adjust your life to the way of life here. There have been protests due tocontested election results in late 2017. Dont drink the water without treating, and steer clear of ice cubes,too. These. Honduras is one of the murder capitals of the world. Between 2005 and 2019, 34 percent of women who were 20-24 years old had married when they were 15-19, the UN Population Fund reported in 2020. There is an expat community inTrujillo. Theres a lot to learn about Honduras that goes beyond gangs and beaches. For your trip to Honduras, our handy guide has you covered. 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. The storms, among other shocks, led to higher levels of food scarcity while weakening the states capacity to cope with displacement. Share this via Telegram We provide cash to help people meet basic needs. Read on for more detailed information on how to have a safe trip to Honduras. This is an issue that has not been taken seriously by the Honduran state.. Trump, who is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, announced a slate of futuristic new policies in a campaign video Friday. In Honduras, the types of danger include, but are not limited to, violent gang activity, trafficking, rape, street crime and armed robbery. The island attracts a very different crowd indeed. Other ways to share Domestic and sexual violence are also widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt. It provided a family, a sense of belonging. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. 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. Utila is unlike the rest of mainland Honduras in just about every way. Wed classify it as generally hazardous. One good thing I can say about Roatan is that the dive sites are excellent around the island. Womenand girls who terminate pregnancies face prison sentences of up to six years. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. Share this via Reddit Youll need to be a confident traveler. Anyone else would do well with a trusted tour group. We dont want to recommend traveling to the rest of Honduras with your family. I wouldnt dare to say that [extortion] has skyrocketed because it has been so high for many years, said Leticia Salomn, a sociologist and researcher with the Documentation Center of Honduras. Get a quote below or read our in-depth review! If we didnt have Bukeles example, we could probably look for some control and security responses based on strengthening institutions.. Hondurashas endorsed the World Health OrganizationsSolidarity Call to Action for the Covid-19 Technology Access Pool, an initiative to realize equitable global access to COVID-19 health technologies through pooling of knowledge, intellectual property and data., Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people in close to 100 countries worldwide, spotlighting abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice, Human Rights Watch is a 501(C)(3)nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-2875808, Freedom of Expression, Association, and Assembly, Attacks on Lawyers, Human Rights Defenders, and Environmental Activists, Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Violence Against Women, Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced People, Bidens Challenge: Redeeming a US Role for Human Rights, Addressing the Climate Crisis in Times of Pandemic, From Flight Logs to Homeschooling, Human Rights Watch Grapples with Covids Challenges, As Online Gender-Based Violence Booms, Governments Drag Their Feet, The Other Pandemic: Fighting Inequality as We Beat Back Covid, Poverty, Pandemic, Police Violence: Ongoing Crises Demand the US Address Pervasive Racism. Xiomara Castros crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasnt done enough to combat crime. Hardline policies, meanwhile, are popular because people think that theyre going to work but inevitably the track record is that they havent, said Malone. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. A study by the National Violence Observatory of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) placed the country as the most violent territory in Central America, with a homicide rate of 38.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. With all the threats of violence, theres alow number of tourists, so oddly you can really have anauthentic experiencehere while getting to know Honduran women, too. Read the entire Travel Advisory. More than half of detained men and two-thirds of detained women were in pretrial detention. A large chunk of thosearrived via cruise ships, however. The streets of major cities like Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are gripped by crime and conflict. As expected, the video went viral and the local newspapers made sure they put this trusted news source on their front page. generally, if youre visiting with a guided tour, you should be fine. Seeing the world without anyone to answer to, getting to challenge yourself andgrow as a person. Human rights defenders have said they will monitor the measures. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. Theyre old U.S. school buses that are poorly maintained,andovercrowded. Corruption, poor governance, and. Sat Navs might not always tell you the best route. Its a country with a big heart. With all of its branches of government and its armed forces plagued by corruption, Honduras has evolved into a transit nation in which criminal groups, protected by the political system, have developed the capacity to produce cocaine hydrochloride in local laboratories. There are private coach servicesthat connect cities and towns that are usually moremaintained and more comfortable than the chicken buses. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. This should not distract, however, from the fact that there are life-threatening problems that residents of Honduras struggle with daily. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. Investigations were underway at time of writing. 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. Youll be able to travel around here with relative ease. The flavors, spices and. This helps keep everyone in poverty. Women in Honduras face high levels of gender-based violence. Often, people with disabilities are threatened and subjected to extortion by criminal gangs. In June, the OHCHR and IACHR jointly expressed concern that the new penal code disproportionately restricts freedoms of speech, press, and association and fails to criminalize torture committed by third parties acting on behalf of state agents. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the gangs. SafetyWing is convenient, cheap, and trouble-free Insurance was never this easy! A local TV correspondent needed to do a live shot for one of the countrys most-watched news programs. As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. 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. There are alsopassenger ferriesif you want to go totheBay Islands. In 2014, the United Nations reported that 95 percent of cases of sexual violence and femicide in Honduras were never even investigated. The new criminal code decriminalized defamation, but retains other crimes of honorincluding insult and slanderwhich have been used to prosecute journalists in the past. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. How to tackle it is another issue. Politicians are manipulated by criminals or other politicians.