Keeping yourself away from any situation to do with them will be a good way to keep yourself pretty much safe. 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. 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. Gangsplay a big part of life here. Honduras partially suspends constitutional rights to tackle gangs, Its a war on the people: El Salvadors mass arrests send thousands into despair, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Gangs kill, disappear, rape, or displace those who resist. Theyre run by private companies, obviously, and aremore expensivethan public buses. The government of Honduras is committed to attracting more tourists. 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 . The UNspecialrapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders in Latin America. In January 2020, the OHCHR released a report saying that the armed forces and military police had used excessiveeven lethalforce in response to the protests that followed the 2017 election. The government relies heavily on the military for public security. Honduras newspaper, TV channel news, online portal news, and magazine sites are getting popularity day by day around the world. 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. FILE - Honduras' President Xiomara Castro addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 20, 2022. A large chunk of thosearrived via cruise ships, however. 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. Share this via Twitter Honduras is exposed to other climate shocks as well. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. 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. However, whilst its quite dangerous, the government is promoting tourism in Honduras. Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committees Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. Police raid a house in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on 8 December. Were not going to lie its pretty sketchy. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. 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. We get it. This rule especially goes at night. You can definitely push your luck by staying in the wrong neighborhood as well. Of 25,000 gang members in 2012, nearly a fifth were children, UNICEF estimated. 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. msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. 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. ; Children and Adolescents - Honduras has the highest youth homicide rate in the world. Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. Share this via Printer, As More Climate Chaos Looms, Slashing Fossil Fuels Is Key. 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. 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. Or gangs attacking Honduran citizens for not paying war tax. Especiallythrough a tour company. Security forces committed abuses while enforcing a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown that President Juan Orlando Hernndez imposed in March. 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. Its better for the environment and ends up being more economical in the long run. Some victims of extortion said that the only thing that has changed is how the money is collected. Violent crime is at its peak in Honduras. 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. We are on the frontlines providing critical aid to crisis-affected people in more than 40 countries, including places on the 2022 Emergency Watchlist. Feb. 21, 2023, at 6:11 p.m. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency for Second Time. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. 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. The question of Is Honduras Safe? will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. 20 Top Safety Tips for Traveling to Honduras. https://t.co/xQGbbyZXXv. It was focused on the security, or lack of security in Honduras. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. Dont expect to discover an undeveloped private island. We can't put up any longer with workers being killed and paying extortion, Lanza said. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Until his life grew increasingly violent. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. Human rights defenders have said they will monitor the measures. Gang violence and organized crime are leading causes of displacement from Honduras. The police chief in Honduras reported 356 fewer homicides between Dec. 6, 2022 and Feb 20, 2023, compared to the period Dec. 6, 2021 to Feb. 20, 2022. Shootings are very common in poorer areas too. In 2018, the government created a special force to fight gangs (Fuerza Nacional Anti Maras y pandillas). This has a pretty good expat community too. Its dangerous there.. 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. These are the safest islands: Once you get off the ferry in Utila you have officially entered an alternate reality. So keep that in mind and have a read of our safety tips for solo female travelers thinking of taking a trip to Honduras. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. Here's a list of 14: 1. This is apretty safe area to visit. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. 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. In September, the OHCHR and IACHR expressed concern regarding the continued spread of the virus in prisons. Its a mix of European, indigenous and Caribbean influence, and youll love it. Donate now to support the IRC's life-changing work in Honduras, across northern Central America, and worldwide. The mission in early December was ostensibly to raid a casa loca, an abandoned home used by gang members. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. 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. 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). There are alsopassenger ferriesif you want to go totheBay Islands. It is not just murder, it's also the shocking numbers of rape, assault, and domestic violence cases, happening with near-total impunity. And people do go. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency against gang crimes like extortion. Nope. So whilst its gettingsafer, its a slow process. People are frisked in Tegucigalpa on 26 November. 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.. The primary drivers of this violence are gangs like the Barrio 18 and MS13, which concentrate their criminal activities in urban areas and recruit young people, many of whom are suffering from widespread economic inequality and a lack of opportunity. Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. 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. Dont hitchhike ortake lifts from strangers , Other ways to meet fellow travelers and. As world leaders met for the United Nations General Assembly, Latin American presidents expressed various concerns about organized crime. As of August, prisons had reported 1,700 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths. Again, thank you! It also documented widespread mistreatment of people detained and arrested during the protests. It has experienced one of the world's highest homicide rates, with multiple forms of violence linked to drug trafficking groups. Honduras recorded 3,496 murders in 2020. It included provisions that appeared aimed at reducing penalties for politicians linked to organized crime, by lowering sentences for corruption and related offenses. This isnt one for first-time backpackers. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. Honduran women face daily struggles. 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. Honduras is one of themurder capitalsof the world. Couple that with 470 miles of (mainly) Caribbean coastline, a load of beaches and tropical islands, as well asMayan ruinsand you got yourself adream destination. Members of the military police of public order patrol a street during a special operation against criminal gangs in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. 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. To Desafio, the Barrio 18 gang in Honduras was everything. Since the end of the last decade, political protection has allowed the traditional drug trafficking groups to flourish. Other ways to share There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. The law also sanctions abortion providers. And Hondurascan be a safe place for solo female travelers, but wed only recommend it after some solo travel experience. Members include officers from the police, the military, and the Attorneys General Office. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. The information present in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, the world is a changeable place, now more than ever. 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. 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. Women in Guatemala: The New Faces of Extortion? 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. You basically pay for safety, but better safe than sorry wed say. That means suncream, sun-hats, and limiting time in the sun. Its not very safe to drive in Honduras. Following domestic and international criticism, the government backtracked and a week later re-established constitutional free speech guarantees. Some are deprived of full legal capacity and are institutionalized in different settings, including psychiatric hospitals. So how do they do it?. So youll likely escape having to pay war tax (or facing the consequences). The storms, among other shocks, led to higher levels of food scarcity while weakening the states capacity to cope with displacement. Radio taxisare always a better option than hailing one off the street. Of the 6,088,590 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. The Supreme Court had upheld Romeros 10-year sentencein January 2020. 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. 18th Street, also known as Calle 18, Barrio 18, Mara 18, or simply La 18 in Central America, is a multi-ethnic (largely Central American and Mexican) transnational criminal organization that started as a street gang in Los Angeles.It is one of the largest transnational criminal gangs in Los Angeles, with 65,000 members between the United States, Mexico, and Central America and is also allied . 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. The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the gangs. HOUSTON Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston, with assistance from ERO Tegucigalpa and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, removed Rufino Garza Monroy, a twice-deported foreign fugitive from the United States on Feb. 24. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. 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. Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. 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 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.. How to tackle it is another issue. Just 18 percent of Hondurans have internet access in their homes and a quarter of homes in rural areas dont have electricity. Nearly 3.3 million people, or one in three Hondurans, were experiencing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity by late 2021. The state of emergency, in place Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. And if youre visiting as part of a tour, then youre likely to stay safe. Also in February, the OAS special rapporteur on freedom of expression called on Honduras to decriminalize defamation and to properly investigate killings of journalists. As of September 2020, the US had yet to begin deporting any third country nationals to Honduras under the agreement. Theres no reason to get mixed up with a gang in Honduras. There are many daily newspapers in Honduras where that constantly provide the latest updated news and information. See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostelsor otherbusinesses. via REUTERS. 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. So, yeah. As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. 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. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. 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 were not going to lie,Honduras doesnt exactly lend itself to solo travel. Hardline policies, meanwhile, are popular because people think that theyre going to work but inevitably the track record is that they havent, said Malone. Two private security officers were charged. Gangs control areas within the same communities,. These. Category 5 hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Honduras in November 2020 and have had enduring impacts on farmersand the public generallyby destroying subsistence farms, killing livestock by the hundreds of thousands and reducing agricultural production. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously get you in trouble. If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. All of these are in Santa Barbara Department, which also sees hijackings aroundTela, La Ceiba, andEl Progresoas well asTrujillo. 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. The coastline of Cedeno, a fishing village in southern Honduras, looks like it was hit by an earthquake - houses, businesses and clubs stand in ruins. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most-watched television news channel for 18 consecutive years. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to twomain gangs:Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) andBarrio 18. Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox. A woman is killed every 23 hours on average, the National Autonomous University of Honduras Violence Observatory reports. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. But Honduras is far from Eden. 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. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. February 18 2022 Receive free Honduras updates We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Honduras news every morning. Honduras Private Sector and Anti-Extortion Police: An Unholy Alliance? But if the peace in the condemning nations were to rupture the way it has in El Salvador and Honduras, we can bet they . (Reporting by Orfa Mejia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Leslie Adler). We are going to be covering a whole lot of topics in this epic Honduras safety guide. In these demonstrations, more than 1,500 were arrested and30 people were killed. Travel smart and make sure your safety and security is your number one priority. Honduran people are friendly and welcoming. The poverty resulting from all this is what youll have to watch out for. But travelers DO take these buses. Tegucigalpa. Of course, being a woman anywhere is going to come with additional risk. Clearly, with the pandemic, that goal wasnt reached, but its not been forgotten either. Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands. Since 2020, the number of Hondurans in need of humanitarian assistance has more than doubled, while food insecurity has increased due to consecutive climate shocks, rising food prices and the economic impacts of COVID-19. There's no avoiding violence in Honduras, even at home. Efforts to reform public-security institutions have stalled. Is Honduras safe for solo female travelers? 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. 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.

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