Roads have poor lighting and markings. These reporting centers were in addition to the 298 government-operated womens offices one in each municipality that provided a wide array of services, focusing on education, personal finance, health, social and political participation, environmental stewardship, and prevention of gender-based violence. The government maintained the Interinstitutional Commission for the Protection of Persons Displaced by Violence and created the Directorate for the Protection of Persons Internally Displaced by Violence within the Secretariat of Human Rights. CONADEH reported 31 cases of alleged torture or cruel and inhuman treatment by security forces through August, while the Public Ministry received 10 such reports through July. With offices throughout the country, the ombudsperson received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. Roatn and the Bay Islands are geographically separate from the mainland and experience lower crime rates even when compared with other Caribbean islands. In October 2019, a thief stole the side view mirrors from a U.S. employees personally owned vehicle while it was parked on a side street near the Embassy. Although reports of kidnappings have dropped considerably in recent years, they continue to affect both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. International observers generally recognized the elections as free and fair. See the Department of Labors Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/. OSAC Since 2010, 42. OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with U.S. companies and organizations receiving the tools they need to cope with security issues in a foreign environment. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. On January 19, alleged security force members detained Indigenous community leader Nicols Rodriguez in Azacualpa, Copn Department, for more than 24 hours before he was released. Unions also raised concerns that employers used temporary contracts to prevent unionization and to avoid providing full benefits. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The commercial sexual exploitation of children, especially in sex trafficking, remained a problem, and the government did not effectively enforce the law. Honduras Is the Most Violent Country in Central America Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. On September 16, the cabinet approved an executive decree to create a General Directorate of Information and Press under the Ministry of Strategic Planning. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. While the risk from crime in Honduras remains a concern, most U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Honduras are unaffected by violence and visit for tourism or humanitarian aid work without incident. By law, workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing continued employment. (white sedan taxis with a sticker on the windshield denoting its established route), (private white sedan taxis with no established routes), and, (small buses that pick up multiple riders). PF79-84SW: Honduras 2018 Crime & Safety Report - Archive Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. 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. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Although the law generally prohibits such actions, a legal exception allows government authorities to enter a private residence to prevent a crime or in case of another emergency. Bureau of Diplomatic Security The sentencing hearing was scheduled for January 2023. In these sectors, employers frequently paid workers for the standard 44-hour workweek irrespective of any additional hours they worked. Would you like to continue with this session or log out? The reported killings took place during law enforcement operations or were linked to criminal activity by government agents. Same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. 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 months salary. The Public Ministry reported 17 violent deaths of LGBTQI+ persons as of September. Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. Republic of Honduras - United States Department of Justice The four were accused of the 2020 killing of Flix Vsquez, leader of the Union of Field Workers, a member of the Lenca community, an environmental activist, and a LIBRE Party candidate for Congress. Abuse of Migrants and Refugees: Transiting migrants, forcibly displaced populations, and asylum seekers with pending cases were vulnerable to abuse and sexual exploitation by criminal organizations. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. In November 2019, Tegucigalpa authorities began developing a luxury housing project in the La Tigra bioreserve, just outside of the city. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to the Inter-American Human Rights system. The 18th Street and MS-13 (. ) Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) - United States Department of Cruise ship industry contacts report that approximately one million U.S. citizens enter the country by ship every year, primarily in Roatn, but also in La Ceiba on the northern coast. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. Media noted that family members often faced long delays or were unable to visit detainees. Due to the remote nature of these areas, the governments ability to respond to violence or other problems is often very limited, as is access to medical facilities. The police, along with the Ministry of Defenses Military Public Order Police (PMOP), routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. Land title procedures have been an issue leading to investment disputes involving U.S. nationals who are landowners. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. World Report 2020: Honduras | Human Rights Watch The law does not authorize pretrial detention for crimes with a maximum sentence of five years or less. Hernndez had worked to promote Indigenous rights in a variety of roles including as president of the Network of Agroecologists of the Cacique Lempira Biosphere, as a member of the Network of Human Rights Defenders of the Department of Lempira, and as a radio host of the Lenca radio program Radio Tenan. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. Honduras Travel Advisory - United States Department of State Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions of freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ matters or events. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. Download the State Departments Crime Victims Assistance brochure. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. The government sometimes applied penalties against violators, but failure to collect fines facilitated continued labor code wage and hour violations. open sources and (U) embassy reporting. NGOs reported IDPs were at increased risk of victimization and exploitation by criminal groups. 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. 08 Jul. In addition, the monitoring center estimated approximately 937,000 individuals were forcibly displaced by 2020 natural disasters. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media, b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association, d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country, f. Status and Treatment of Internally Displaced Persons, Section 3. Resolution of disputes in court often takes years. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. Although reports of kidnappings have dropped considerably in recent years, they continue to affect both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. Inspectors have the authority to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. Discrimination occurs against ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. Birth Registration: Children derive citizenship by birth in the country, from the citizenship of their parents, or by naturalization. As of September, CONAPREV reported the countrys detention center for high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security, including police and military officials, held 29 individuals. Arbitrary Arrest: CONADEH reported 33 cases of arbitrary arrest through August. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators. According to 2021 Secretariat of Labor figures, approximately 75 percent of workers worked in the informal economy, equivalent to approximately 2.7 million persons, while a 2020 UN Development Program report estimated that 82 percent of workers were part of the informal economy. The court acquitted him of charges of violating official duties and fraud, but the Public Ministry appealed the ruling on July 25. 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 before striking. Transgender women were particularly vulnerable to employment and education discrimination; many could find employment only as sex workers, increasing their vulnerability to violence and extortion. No cases were reported during the year. The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated members of the Honduran National Police accused of human rights abuses. 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. The government allocated a budget of 20 million lempiras ($796,000) to operate a protection mechanism for journalists, human rights defenders, and judicial sector operators. Review OSACs report, All That You Should Leave Behind. . Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. Impunity for such crimes was high. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage.
Rhea County Jail Mugshots,
Does James Roday Rodriguez Speak Spanish,
Dash Html Table,
Yellow Jack Size Limit Florida,
Scopus Indexed Journals With Low Cost 2021,
Articles O
