In 2012 Honduras had the highest murder rate in its history. Contact Information for Available Hospitals/Clinics. In 2015 around $18 million dollars went to the Honduran police and military. The document was compiled from various Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.. The Honduran government is in the process of modernizing some of the main transportation road networks to four-lane highways, which can lead to increased travel times due to ongoing construction. Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate health coverage while in Honduras. As a result, there is no longer free travel between Honduras and Nicaragua. SETCO received funds for Contra supply operations from the Contra accounts established by Oliver North.”. That said, it’ll be cities where most crime occurs. Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns. There is minimal risk from terrorism in Tegucigalpa. [11] Another reporter, Nahúm Elí Palacios Arteaga, was also assassinated in March 2010. Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) have homicide rates higher than the national average, as do several Honduran departments (a geographic designation similar to U.S. States) including, Atlántida, Colón, Cortés, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and. Honduras has a long history of sustaining damage due to powerful tropical storms and hurricanes. Fire Department Ambulance is fully equipped with emergency medical supplies and medical staff. Honduras murder/homicide rate for 2015 was 57.50, a 14.05% decline from 2014. Would you like to continue with this session or log out? In contrast with Nicaragua where each EAP contributes with $497.[23]. This is a common practice for most automobile accidents where personal injury occurs, and for cases in which someone is accused of a criminal act. There have been approximately nine significant tropical storms/hurricanes since 1995 that have affected Honduras. Honduras has had the highest violent crime > murder rate per million people since 2008. In October 2018, a thief stole the mobile phone, personal documents, and a backpack of a USAID implementing partner. Homicide is the death of a person purposefully inflicted by another person (it excludes suicides) outside of a state of war. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. In 2018, several incidents involved Embassy employees robbed, assaulted, or kidnapped while using city taxis and collective taxis. The government lacks resources to investigate and prosecute cases; police often lack vehicles/fuel to respond to calls for assistance. The fear and insecurity, created by violence, that exists among the Honduran population has also been an obstacle for organizations focused on crime prevention because there is barely any active or social participation to support these organizations. Violent crime is rampant in Honduras. In recent years only 4% of homicides have ended in a conviction. In addition to complying with local laws, companies involved in natural resource extraction or energy generation should ensure they fully consult with communities in accordance with international standards. Honduras has had the highest violent crime > murders per million people since 2008. The main reason for the concentrated violence is that these are the cities where the majority of Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 members live. [12] The CIA took "a close and friendly interest" in the coup as Paz, unlike Melgar, was a keen supporter of Nicaragua's Anastasio Somoza Debayle. Please see the State Department resource for international insurance. [27] The perpetrators left a note not only claiming opposition to the death penalty, a major campaign issue in the upcoming presidential election and a large component of Mano Dura, but also promising more violence, warning that "people should take advantage of this Christmas, because the next one will be worse. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2014 was 66.90, a 9.96% decline from 2013. Shows how much people think the problem in their community are property crimes (home broken, car theft, etc. Bureau of Diplomatic Security The police, along with the Ministry of Defense’s Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. There are no legal cases involving instances of terrorism affecting U.S. citizens or facilities brought before the Honduran judicial system, and no reports of judicial developments that would have a negative impact on U.S. counterterrorism efforts. While hurricanes are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure is a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. Therefore these are the places that carry the most risk. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. There is often a spike in skimming in December and June, when the working population receive Christmas and mid-year bonuses in the form of one extra month’s salary. In 2018, a child died in the crossfire during a bus robbery when an armed passenger engaged the robbers with a firearm. While hurricanes are a concern, much of the damage to infrastructure is a result of the ensuing flooding and rock/mudslides. Another tactic has been creating centers that promote vocational training, these institutions provide mentors to Hondurans, teaches them skills to become barbers, electricians or bakers and then helps them to find jobs. The U.S. Embassy has restricted U.S. government personnel travel to the Gracias a Dios Department in eastern Honduras due to credible threat information against U.S citizens. Lead was eliminated in 1996. This is a common practice for most automobile accidents where personal injury occurs, and for cases in which someone is accused of a criminal act. Despite a downward trend in recent years, the murder rate remains among the highest in the world. In 2018, the police report a 30% reduction in the numbers of murders related to land disputes because of interagency task force efforts. While no separate safety or crime statistics are kept for Roatan, an abundance of evidence strongly suggests that Roatan is a world apart from its mainland connection to Honduras. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s Report. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. [24] Prison overcrowding has in some ways made it easier for gangs to function because in many prisons there are not enough guards to safely monitor the prisoners. Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) have homicide rates higher than the national average, as do several Honduran departments (a geographic designation similar to U.S. States) including Atlántida, Colón, Cortés, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and Yoro. [8] Journalist David Meza was assassinated in March 2010; he investigated drug trafficking within Honduras and, according to the El Tiempo newspaper, received death threats in 2010. [25] In fact, the Mano Dura laws have had some unintended consequences. Honduras also offers process patent protection. Read the entire Travel Advisory. [24] Transnational gang relations have grown tremendously since the implementation of these laws, as evidenced by Mara Salvatrucha's extensive reach, spanning through the United States and even reaching cities in Canada. Traffic signs, even on major highways, are often inadequate; streets in major cities are often unmarked. HONDURAS 2019 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Honduras is a constitutional, multiparty republic. [24] Tattoos are significant to gangs because they mark each member as property, just as graffiti marks a group's territory in the context of cities. [2], Honduras is considered a major drug route to the US. In the past, the reason behind Central Americans traveling to the U.S. was merely economic. Honduras decided in late 2018, based on reciprocity, to institute the same reporting requirement. Regulations favor first registration over first use; numerous cases have arisen due to “squatting” on established trademarks, which the legitimate holder must either purchase or contest in court. "[15] The Rosenthals have an extensive fortune worth $690 million which they have amassed through their management of Grupo Continental, a massive conglomerate of businesses which includes the Banco Continental, a meat packing plant, and an alligator skin export company, among others. "Homicide rate in Honduras from 2014 to 2019 (in number of homicides per 100,000 inhabitants)." This program, run by Creative Associates International, has proven to be successful; 77% of the children that attend this program do not get involved in crime or substance abuse after going through it. South Africa has a notably … Due to the remote nature of these areas, the government’s ability to respond to violence or other problems is often very limited, as is access to medical facilities. Most demonstrations are concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. The ACS Unit cannot recommend a particular individual or location and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. Violent crime is rampant in Honduras. [18] Jaime Rosenthal, at 79 years old is currently under house arrest in San Pedro Sula, Honduras awaiting trial in the United States. Gang presence, in Honduras is common where territory is controlled by members of rival gangs, the most powerful being the Mara Salvatrucha and the Barrio 18. Criminal investigation is severely hampered by limited funding, a lack of high-tech investigative tools, corrupt officers, and poor police education. Kidnapping figures are likely lower than reality, as families of kidnapping victims often pay ransoms without reporting these crimes to police out of fear of retribution. [5] Murder rate decrease has been attributed to different reasons such as negotiations and agreements between criminal groups and government action,[6] economic aid given by United States Agency for International Development to fund crime prevention programs[7] and to the Mano Dura Laws. In July 2018, a thief stole the mobile phone of a USAID implementing partner visiting a project. Information about crime in Roatan, Honduras. Historically, Honduras has had a weak police force. If traffic signals are working, drivers often ignore them. In August 2018, a thief stole cash from a USAID implementing partner, damaging a computer in the course of the robbery. The U.S. has sent $200 million dollars[22] in aid to Honduras since 2009. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organization’s, 169 Convention, which requires free, prior notice and informed consent from indigenous communities before any development projects can begin; the government has not yet approved a law regulating this process. According to the CPTRT (Center for Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and their Relatives) in 2004, there were 1,272 prison guards to attend to 10,300 inmates, which gives each guard the impossible task of tending to 8 inmates. Data protection lasts five years. Do not use collective taxis, which are small buses that pick up multiple riders. Another reason the Mano Dura policies have struggled to accomplish their goals is that the prison system in Honduras is not built to accommodate the increased volume of incarcerated individuals. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. [12] When the US Drug Enforcement Administration set up its first office in Tegucigalpa in 1981, its resident agent "rapidly came to the accurate conclusion that the entire Honduran government was deeply involved in the drug trade."[13]. There was a 6.2% increase in homicides compared to the previous year. U.S. Department of State. The ambulance does not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment; it functions solely as transport to hospitals. The vast majority of cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have still be reports of armed robbery and carjacking. Members of the LGBTI community have reported violent assaults due to gender identity and sexual orientation. Counterfeit Honduran lempiras (currency) are common, especially in the 100 and 500 denominations. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. ", "What's Behind Honduras' 30% Drop in Murder Rates? This targeted violence is the reason behind the rise in youth migration in the past years.[4]. However, the San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. The limited capacity of the government to enforce international standards related to natural resource exploitation has resulted in higher levels of conflict in the extractive and electrical generation industries. Armed robberies, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune from these attacks. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. In 1988 Matta-Ballesteros was taken from his home in Tegucigalpa by United States Marshals, sent to the United States for trial, and convicted of the kidnap and assassination of Enrique Camarena, as well as other charges. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victim’s family member. In addition, given the relative security of their position in prison, they can safely organize and plan their criminal strategies. Honduras is one of the world’s deadliest places to be a woman — a 2015 survey ranked it in the top five countries, with El Salvador and Syria. The Pan American Convention (1917), to which Honduras is a party, protects “notorious" or well-known trademarks. Statista. the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatán). Travelers should be aware, however, that the assistance the Embassy can provide is limited to making sure U.S. citizens are not treated differently from local detainees, and providing them with a list of local attorneys. During 2018, there was one case involving the kidnapping of a U.S. dual national reported to the police. Kidnappings declined by 82% since 2013, from 92 in 2013 to 14 in 2018, and 12 in 2019. Roads have poor lighting and markings. The 18th Street and MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gangs are the most active and powerful. Armed robberies, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune from these attacks. U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa, Avenida La Paz, U.S. citizens who live in or who are visiting Honduras should register with the, External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights, https://www.facebook.com/embajadahonduras/. Port agencies have worked to improve taxi service to/from ports. The threat of violent crime, including in neighborhoods where many U.S. citizens live or work, leads to the curtailment of some normal outdoor activities. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel to the country due to crime. The government places specially trained police forces in areas tourists frequent (e.g. [29], Kevin Drum points out that Honduras had the highest concentration of lead per gallon of gasoline in the world in the early 1990s. Hospital Honduras Medical Center: (504) 2280-1500 / ER: 2280-1201, Hospital Viera: (504) 2237-7136 or (504) 2237-3160, (504) 2238-0736, (504) 2238-0697, Hospital Centro Medico: (504) 2225-0028, (504) 2225-4060 / (504) 2225-4117, DIME: (504) 2239-9628/30 or (504) 2239-2598, Health insurance is an important consideration. U.S. citizens who live in or who are visiting Honduras should register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Offers additional information on self-driving, review OSAC ’ s Report enjoy lower levels of impunity in the country households! 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