This is apretty safe area to visit. 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. 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. One example:tajadas(fried plantains, topped with cabbage and served with ground beef). The Belize Under-19 Women's National Team (U-19 BWNT) is travelling to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Friday, March 3 to compete in the 2023 Central American Football Union (UNCAF) FIFA Forward Under . Reaching primary sources and getting the real story involve extensive fieldwork. Honduran women face daily struggles. Radio Globo directorDavid Romero, convicted of defamation in 2016, died in prison from Covid-19 in July. Classes were broadcast on television, radio, and online, in some cases with assignments sent via Whatsapp. EIN number 13-5660870. 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 . Women in Honduras face high levels of gender-based violence. Clearly, with the pandemic, that goal wasnt reached, but its not been forgotten either. Extortion in the Northern Triangle is predominantly done from prisons, yet prison populations have been on the rise. Gender-based violence in Honduras is also among the highest in the region and has increased during the pandemic. Juan Orlando Hernndez extolled his achievements as. 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. 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. 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. Gangs control areas within the same communities,. 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 And Hondurascan be a safe place for solo female travelers, but wed only recommend it after some solo travel experience. Anyone else would do well with a trusted tour group. And people do go. The government of Honduras is committed to attracting more tourists. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. Look and see where locals are eating. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. In fact, according toInSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. Our work is costly and high risk. Seeing the world without anyone to answer to, getting to challenge yourself andgrow as a person. generally, if youre visiting with a guided tour, you should be fine. 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. Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. But if youre thinking about it, here are some tips. 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. Individuals and state agents continute to threaten and attack journalists, press freedom groups report. At the same time, we need to acknowledge that it will take time for systems to change, but families across Honduras cannot waitthey have immediate needs to be safe and secure. 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. In these demonstrations, more than 1,500 were arrested and30 people were killed. Poverty, violence, and insecurity are the main reasons for the high crime rate. On theCaribbean coast, there are plenty of delicious dishes to sample, with tortillasand things likerefried beansserved up with every meal. But Honduras is far from Eden. 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. Yery Noel Medina Ulloa of Honduras pleaded guilty . They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. Heres what you need to know about the growing crisis in Honduras. Gang wars and fights with the police are common in this city. Read on for more detailed information on how to have a safe trip to Honduras. Honduras is one of themurder capitalsof the world. Simple as that. 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. You can also visit the island through a guided tour, which will add another layer of safety to your trip. That said, the development that has taken place has not totally sucked the island dry of its charm. Theres a lot to learn about Honduras that goes beyond gangs and beaches. There are definitely a fair few pros to solo travel. 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. Members of the military police of public order patrol a street during a special operation against criminal gangs in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. The media and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported several cases of abusive police enforcement of the Covid-19 lockdown. More than half of detained men and two-thirds of detained women were in pretrial detention. 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. 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. The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the 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. This should not distract, however, from the fact that there are life-threatening problems that residents of Honduras struggle with daily. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostelsor otherbusinesses. Some areas are also safer than others. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. 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. So when it comes to safetyin Honduras, we think youllgenerallybe fine, especially in the Bay Islands. Support focuses primarily on reintegration into the labor market, rather than assistance for people who fled seeking international protection. Efforts to reform public-security institutions have stalled. They practice war taxing, which is essentially just demanding money from people. According to the U.N., Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the world. 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. At nighttime, you should really get a taxi. 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. 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. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Theres no reason to get mixed up with a gang in Honduras. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. Journalists, environmental activists,lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals,and people with disabilities are among the groups targeted forviolence. Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. The UNspecialrapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders in Latin America. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. It can be a super enriching experience. The IACHR expressed concern in 2019 regarding the critical levels of impunity and inadequate and insufficient attention to victims of human rights violations. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Since the end of the last decade, political protection has allowed the traditional drug trafficking groups to flourish. 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. Chances are it wasnt cooked with too much care. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) One day after six Honduran environmental activists were convicted for alleged actions against a mining operation, the Supreme Court's Constitutional Chamber unanimously sided with the defendants on two long-standing appeals and threw out their case late Thursday. Donate now to support the IRC's life-changing work in Honduras, across northern Central America, and worldwide. A Honduran woman and her children manage to cross the remnants of a bridge destroyed by Hurricane Iota. 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. That means getting used to gangs, violence, and corruption. 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. In September, the OHCHR and IACHR expressed concern regarding the continued spread of the virus in prisons. 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 what you had, you know, after the coup, while the U.S. did cut assistance, it was very. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands. Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. This isnt one for first-time backpackers. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in . 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. 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. The question of Is Honduras Safe? will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. 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. The new criminal code decriminalized defamation, but retains other crimes of honorincluding insult and slanderwhich have been used to prosecute journalists in the past. Politicians are manipulated by criminals or other politicians. Honduras isnt exactly what wed callsafe. 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. Gang violence is a big issue in Honduras. So how do they do it?. But its clear that extortion is occurring in areas where it didnt in the past, and there is no disagreement, among experts or others, on the gravity of the problem. Taxis areall over the placein Honduras. Following domestic and international criticism, the government backtracked and a week later re-established constitutional free speech guarantees. Honduras | Today's latest from Al Jazeera Honduras Peru pulls ambassador from Honduras amid regional criticism Peru has struggled with diplomatic isolation as left-wing. As world leaders met for the United Nations General Assembly, Latin American presidents expressed various concerns about organized crime. On average, children living in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are 10 times more likely to be killed than a child who lives in the United States. And if youre visiting as part of a tour, then youre likely to stay safe. Share this via LinkedIn But if you meet the local ladies andlearn about their livesyoure going to have a VERY enriching experience on your hands. From 2011 to 2017, the number of killings in Honduras actually dropped, from 87 per 100,000 to 44. It was focused on the security, or lack of security in Honduras. You can definitely push your luck by staying in the wrong neighborhood as well. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Chances are, if you are arriving via a cruise ship, you will be safe. Get your accommodation to either recommenda good company or just book one for you. We do our best to advise but this info may already be out of date. 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. You basically pay for safety, but better safe than sorry wed say. Again, thank you! Its not very safe to drive in Honduras. Its a wild world out there. Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. It also documented widespread mistreatment of people detained and arrested during the protests. Impunity for human rights abuses, violent crime, and corruption remains the norm, even as the prison population has mushroomed. A woman is killed every 23 hours on average, the National Autonomous University of Honduras Violence Observatory reports. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. City busestravel around the cities and towns themselves. 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. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. TEGUCIGALPA, Jan 7 (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. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. But you wont be (in a Honduran gang, that is). Honduras hasn't specified exactly what the state of emergency would entail, but normally such measures temporarily suspend normal rules regulating arrests and searches; sometime limits on freedom of speech and assembly are implemented as well. He estimated the companies and drivers have paid an average of about $10 million per month to the gangs in order to operate. 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. Theyve been doing it since 2002 protecting, connecting, and inspiring independent travellers just like you. Its a mix of European, indigenous and Caribbean influence, and youll love it. But the removal of military officers from an anti-gang taskforce resulted in a messy divorce that temporarily reduced the units already limited capacity opening a window for criminals and before the community policing model could have any effect, the political pressure to take decisive action against extortion boiled over. There are taxi ranks in a lot of locations. A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic booooring. Well Public transportation can be alittle trickyin Honduras, and its not always safe. Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. 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. If youre not on a highwayyoull probably need a 44. Share this via Telegram Please donate. FILE PHOTO: Police raid a house after Honduras' President Xiomara Castro (not pictured) mobilised . 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. In January 2020, the government shut down the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). A large chunk of thosearrived via cruise ships, however. 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. This includes 2,838,450 Pfizer doses and 3,250,140 Moderna doses. Youll need to be a confident traveler. Travel smart and make sure your safety and security is your number one priority. And this area is great for children. 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. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. Honduras declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops. These. Honduras is one of the most important drug trafficking operation centers between South America and Mexico. 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. 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. via REUTERS. It suspends some Constitutional rights and gives police more powers to arrest and hold suspects. Thats mainly to visit islands like Roatan. Indeed, Honduras is seeing a plague of femicidesa woman is murdered every 36 hours, mostly by an intimate partner. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. In addition, gang recruitment of minors has contributed to the increasing numbers of families and unaccompanied children leaving Honduras for Mexico, some planning to travel onward to the U.S.. Jesse Watters: Buying mace in Manhattan is almost as hard as getting a gun. How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube 0:00 / 11:46 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. With those come violenceandpoverty. It was Zelaya's intention to seek a second term that coup leaders. Otherwise, thanks for your ear and stay safe! Two private security officers were charged. Of course, being a woman anywhere is going to come with additional risk. People do it. As of August, prisons had reported 1,700 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths. 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. Honduran soldiers wearing facemasks guard the entrance to the city of San Pedro Sula during the coronavirus crisis on April 17, 2020. Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. World Nomads mission is to support and encourage travellers to explore their boundaries. So, yeah. According to a State Department report last year, there are up to 10,000 gang members in Honduras, a country with roughly 8 million people. 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. Enjoy your travels! Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. 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. These are the things to avoid in Honduras: Avoid looking wealthy or like a tourist Avoid the beaches after dark Dont use ATMs at night Stay away from drugs. October 4, 2021 The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras is pleased to announce a donation from the government of the United States of 250,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the people of Honduras. 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. Violent crime is at its peak in Honduras. Security experts are divided on how much the perception is the result of sensationalist media coverage, a real rise, a little of both or simply the continued expansion of a problem that has metastasized for two decades. Living in Honduras means youll have to adjust your life to the way of life here. Honduras isnt perfectly safe for tourists, but that doesnt mean that you can travel there or have a good time. led to the detention of more than 2% of its adult population. 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. 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. Share this via Printer, As More Climate Chaos Looms, Slashing Fossil Fuels Is Key. Corruption, crime, and gang activity inhibits the ability to conduct business activities freely and dissuades entrepreneurs from establishing new businesses. These are pretty safe. Judges continue to face interference, including political pressure, threats, and harassment, from the executive branch, private actors with connections to government, and organized crime. Dont expect to discover an undeveloped private island. Honduras recorded 3,496 murders in 2020. Some victims of extortion said that the only thing that has changed is how the money is collected. It has experienced one of the world's highest homicide rates, with multiple forms of violence linked to drug trafficking groups. We are all about smart travel and were here to help you travel smart too. There is only anecdotal evidence of the scale of the problem because so few extortion victims report the crime, making a statistical analysis impossible. 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. UNHCR; Posted 22 Dec 2022 Originally published 22 . Wed say only experienced, intrepid travelers should tackle this one alone. The government had granted him protective measures in January 2019. Corruption, poor governance, and. The men remained missing at time of writing. Honduras is exposed to other climate shocks as well. This new donation is in addition to the 81,900 doses of Pfizer . Youre connected. In 2018, the government created a special force to fight gangs (Fuerza Nacional Anti Maras y pandillas). You can catch a ferry from the mainland atLa Ceibato eitherUtilaorRoatan. 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. If you use our guide, do your own research, and practise common sense, you will have a safe trip to Honduras. Over60% of the populationlive below the poverty line. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in Scott County. Public buildings, transportation, and information and communication services open to the public are not fully accessible to people with disabilities. The new code also includes alternatives to detention for low-level crimes, including partial prison sentences and penalties that allow for conditional release. In Honduras, the types of danger include, but are not limited to, violent gang activity, trafficking, rape, street crime and armed robbery. 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. Police raid a house in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on 8 December. 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. So. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18.
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