Onum is a values-driven SEO agency dedicated. Review OSACs reports, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices. The government is implementing similar programs for other locations (e.g. Administration: The judicial system is legally responsible for monitoring prison conditions and providing for the rights of prisoners. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you. Anticorruption efforts remained an area of concern, as did the governments ability to protect justice-sector officials, such as prosecutors and judges. Observers noted several significant improvements in transparency procedures, including electoral reforms, an updated voter registry and new national identification cards, and new technology that included a biometric verification system and a preliminary results transmission system. The Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights handled cases involving charges of human rights abuses by government officials. Roads have poor lighting and markings. -threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. 20 Jun 2007. Reflector Series The armed forces, which report to the Secretariat of Defense, are responsible for external security but also exercise some domestic security responsibilities in support of the national police and other civilian authorities. Persons with disabilities, indigenous and Afro-descendant persons, LGBTQI+ persons, and persons with HIV or AIDS also faced discrimination in employment and occupation (see section 6). Reach the local police anywhere in Honduras by dialing 911. The government places specially trained police forces in areas tourists frequent (e.g. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Media members and NGOs stated the press self-censored due to fear of retaliation from organized criminal groups or corrupt government officials. Organized criminal groups, such as drug traffickers and local and transnational gangs including MS-13 and the 18th Street gang, committed killings, extortion, kidnappings, human trafficking, and intimidation of police, prosecutors, journalists, women, human rights defenders, and others. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. Several anonymous social media sites, possibly linked to political parties, criticized journalists (as well as activists and civil society organizations) who were critical of the government or opposition party policies. WebPRIM is a new grid based magazine/newspaper inspired theme from Themes Kingdom A small design studio working hard to bring you some of the best wp themes available online. On April 27, the Public Ministry filed an indictment against police officer Jarol Rolando Perdomo Sarmiento for the February 6 murder of Keyla Martinez in La Esperanza, Intibuca Department. Counterfeit medicines are available in, (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported in, Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras. Police seized more than $400,000 in cash during the raid that led to his arrest and that of five other alleged associates. 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. Inconsistent, retroactive implementation of provisions of the revised code led to logjams in the legal system and impunity for some of the accused. The constitution prohibits practicing clergy from running for office or participating in political campaigns. Powerful special interests, including organized criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. The law also requires that public-sector workers involved in the refining, transportation, and distribution of petroleum products submit their grievances to the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security (STSS) before striking. The Secretariat of Human Rights provided training to security forces to reinforce respect for human rights. However, protesters will also block, key intercity transportation routes and intracity intersections with burning tires, rocks and other debris, to include the roads leading to the international airports in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and the CA-5 and CA-11 highways. The government had a nascent system to provide legal protection to refugees. In addition women experienced delays in accessing justice due to police who failed to process complaints in a timely manner or judicial system officials who deferred scheduling hearings. Employers frequently refused to comply with STSS orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. The government cooperated with UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations that provide protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern. Since 2010, nine U.S. citizens have been reported as victims of rape or sexual assault in Honduras, signaling an increasing trend in these types of crimes. The U.S. Department of States Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) keeps Diplomatic Security Service representatives connected with private-sector Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahka, Pech, Tolupan, Lenca, Maya-Chorti, and Nahua. 25 Feb/23. The San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels. On October 7, in a special session held during the Francisco Morazan national holiday, the National Congress passed a change to the penal code expanding the definition of encroachment (trespassing) by designating streets and parks as protected spaces and redefining groups of protesters to include as few as two persons. These conditions contributed to an unstable, dangerous environment in the penitentiary system. Honduras International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1899; however, same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. In-country Movement: There were areas where authorities could not assure freedom of movement because of criminal activity and a lack of significant government presence. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. 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. Some NGOs reported irregularities, including late delivery of technology needed to transmit results, late opening of the polls, poll workers with varying degrees of preparation and knowledge of the electoral law and processes, and lack of transparency in campaign financing. WebHonduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report U.S. Embassy Contact Information U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa Avenida La Paz , Tegucigalpa Hours of Operation: Monday Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. According to UNDP data, informal workers played a large role in nearly every industry, including agriculture and fishing; mining; manufacturing; utilities; construction; wholesale retail, hotels, and restaurants; transport and storage; and personal services. The number of inspections increased significantly as the STSS resumed normal inspections, suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The law prohibits illicit association, defined as gatherings by persons bearing arms, explosive devices, or dangerous objects with the purpose of committing a crime, and prescribes prison terms of two to four years and a moderate fine for anyone who convokes or directs an illicit meeting or demonstration. Two U.S. citizens reported incidents of rape or sexual assault between January and September 2013. The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. Civil society groups reported that women often did not report domestic violence or withdrew charges because they feared, or were economically dependent on, the aggressor. However, 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. Sun Pacific Power Corp; Street Smart Outdoor; MedRecycler Order Food from Slice. Corruption: The new trial of former first lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo on charges of fraud and misappropriation of public funds, originally set to commence in March, was twice delayed for medical reasons. U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. in the past 12 months, 32% twice, 6% three times, and 3% more than three times. the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatn). Freedom to Participate in the Political Process, Section 4. Impunity for such crimes remained high, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is sufficient to deter violations and commensurate with the penalties for similar crimes, such as fraud, the failure of the government to collect those fines facilitated continued labor code violations. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. The government used the pretrial detention center to hold high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security, including police and military officials. Most cruise line passengers experience no problems, but there have been reports of associated armed robbery and carjacking. Major cities connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. The penalties for rape range from nine to 13 years imprisonment. According to UN reports from 2020, transnational gang activity was a primary contributor to violence-related internal displacement. Texas Department of Public Safety, Annual Report on Texas Border Crime and Other Criminal Activity, May 30, 2021. Download the full report here. The STSS did not approve any authorizations through September. The law provides for an independent judiciary, but the justice system was poorly funded and staffed, inadequately equipped, often ineffective, and subject to intimidation, corruption, politicization, and patronage. The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. Organized criminal groups, including local and transnational gangs and narcotics traffickers, were significant perpetrators of violent crimes and committed acts of homicide, torture, kidnapping, extortion, human trafficking, intimidation, and other threats and violence directed against human rights defenders, judicial authorities, lawyers, business community members, journalists, bloggers, women, and other vulnerable populations. The STSS is responsible for enforcing the national minimum wage, hours of work, and occupational health and safety law, but it did so inconsistently and ineffectively. Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. In the 2013 census, approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. CONADEH received four reports as of August. Bogran was arrested in October 2020 on two corruption charges for embezzling an estimated 1.14 billion lempiras ($47 million) in public funds and funneling a contract for mobile hospitals to his uncle, Napoleon Corrales. The law prohibits employers from requiring pregnancy tests as a prerequisite for employment; penalties were not sufficient to deter violations. CONAPREV reported 13 violent deaths in prisons as of September. On March 28, transgender activist Vanessa Zuniga was killed in Tela, Atlantida Department. With offices throughout the country, the ombudsperson received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. Children, including from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, particularly Miskito boys, were at risk for forced labor in the agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, mining, construction, and hospitality industries. These reporting centers were in addition to the 298 government-operated womens offices one in each municipality that provided a wide array of services to women, focusing on education, personal finance, health, social and political participation, environmental stewardship, and prevention of gender-based violence. Those traveling with tour/missionary groups report fewer criminal incidents. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. It prohibits employer retribution against employees for engaging in trade union activities. Most children who worked did so without STSS permits. Health-care workers protested the lack of adequate protective equipment and delayed salary payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities did not generally segregate those with tuberculosis or other infectious diseases from the general prison population; as of September the National Prison Institute reported 106 prisoners had been treated for tuberculosis. The Secretariat of Human Rights reported that as of September 7, the total prison population was 20,768 in 25 prisons and one detention center. As of September CONADEH had received 33 complaints. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. The law provides a maximum sentence of three years in prison for disobeying a restraining order connected with the crime of violence against a woman. Fines for child labor were not sufficient to deter violations and not commensurate with penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Vasquez was the leader of the Union of Field Workers, a member of the Lenca community, an environmental activist, and a LIBRE Party candidate for Congress. The law provides for freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right. Responding police fired tear gas in and around the main terminal to regain control after protesters entered the building and airport grounds. There were no credible reports of political prisoners or detainees. Civil society continued to criticize the law for classification of documents related to security and national defense, saying it limited transparency and allowed officials to use the classification of documents to obscure wrongdoing. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. The World Bank reported in 2018 that the adolescent birth rate was 72 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. Access to Asylum: The law provides for granting asylum or refugee status. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. WebOSAC promotes effective cooperation by working to assist the U.S. private sector to better anticipate security issues, including identifying and tracking threats, particularly those targeting private sector personnel, facilities, investments, interests, and intellectual property. Government Human Rights Bodies: A semiautonomous commissioner for human rights, Blanca Izaguirre, served as an ombudsperson and investigated complaints of human rights abuses. The law was not effectively enforced, and weak public institutional structures contributed to the inadequate enforcement. chloe johnson peter buck wedding; le mal en elle fin du film The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated members of the Honduran National Police accused of human rights abuses. Arbitrary Arrest: CONADEH reported 38 reports of arbitrary arrest through August. Pretrial detention center to hold high-profile suspects and those in need of additional,! 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