So youll likely escape having to pay war tax (or facing the consequences). San Pedro Sula is the most dangerous city, not just in Honduras, but in the whole world. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Travel smart and make sure your safety and security is your number one priority. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. 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. Note that they are generally safe to visit during the day (with a bit of caution obviously), especially if you have a local guide, but should be fully avoided at night. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. Because of human rights, crime has gone on so long, because human rights defend the criminal, and it shouldnt be like that, she said. Our work is costly and high risk. This is when things can get sketchy. Enjoy your travels! They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Planning a safe trip to Honduras can get quite overwhelming. Youre connected. Share this via Twitter Gang violence and organized crime are leading causes of displacement from Honduras. 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. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. 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. Nevertheless, the political gains to be had from emulating Bukeles hardline policies may be too enticing to pass up. Lanza said drivers had been asking for a crackdown for years. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. In Honduras, Police Accused Of Corruption, Killings Hernndez ran for reelection in 2017 a controversial move in Honduras. Women - Honduras has the fifth-highest rate of violence against women in the world. Close to 1 million migrants fled Honduras for the U.S. border over the eight-year tenure of former President Juan Orlando Hernndez, now facing drug trafficking charges after being arrested. Not only that, but thecorruptionin everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. Do your own research. World Nomads mission is to support and encourage travellers to explore their boundaries. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostelsor otherbusinesses. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid 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. Namely, being robbed. A collection of moments during and after Barack Obama's presidency. The Bay Islands are the only palace in Honduras that can (kind of) be considered somewhat safe. If you are a keen diver, Roatan is well worth a visit. Of 25,000 gang members in 2012, nearly a fifth were children, UNICEF estimated. ACNUR acoge con satisfaccin la aprobacin de la ley sobre desplazamiento interno en Honduras Format News and Press Release Source. Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Some areas are also safer than others. Youll also have to take care that your children dont stay in the sun fortoo long. A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic booooring. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Locals have to pay war taxes which keeps the poverty rate high as well. It included provisions that appeared aimed at reducing penalties for politicians linked to organized crime, by lowering sentences for corruption and related offenses. As a result, humanitarian needs for food, health, nutrition and protection have increased. In June 2020, a new criminal code came into effect. 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 men remained missing at time of writing. Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime. On Friday, Jorge Lanza the leader of the bus operators in Honduras, supported the move, saying bus drivers were tired of being threatened and killed for not paying protection money. A . Taxis areall over the placein Honduras. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. In June, police detained and beat bus drivers who were allegedly protesting not being able to work due to lockdown restrictions. This Central American country actually has one of the highest murder rates in the world. 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. How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube 0:00 / 11:46 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. Gangsplay a big part of life here. The measure must still be approved by Congress. A quarter of women and girls become pregnant before turning 18the second-highest rate in Latin America. Expat retirees, yachties, families with kids, and cruise ship tourists make up a large majority of the demographic found on Roatan at any given time. SafetyWing is convenient, cheap, and trouble-free Insurance was never this easy! It was a show: a show of force following the example set by the hardline policies of neighbouring El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele has led a controversial crackdown on gangs that has led to the detention of more than 2% of its adult population. Youll get the, If youve got no locals to ask, just use your eyes. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. This helps keep everyone in poverty. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File PhotoReuters. 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. And when it comes to the extreme violence of Honduras, thosevery highfigures come from gang violence. Honduras has been through a lot in recent years. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. How to tackle it is another issue. The poverty resulting from all this is what youll have to watch out for. Police were allegedly in the area when private security forces opened fired against several families but did not help the victims, witnesses told the press. From 2011 to 2017, the number of killings in Honduras actually dropped, from 87 per 100,000 to 44. There are some safety pointsthat travelers should know for anywhere they travel, but Honduras requires these special considerations. 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. Violence against LGBT individuals forces many to leave their homes, fleeing internally or leaving the country to seek asylum. Subscribe. It provided a family, a sense of belonging. There are probably more sketchy areas in Honduras than there are safe ones. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. Over60% of the populationlive below the poverty line. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously get you in trouble. In April, the office expressed concern regarding accusations of excesive use of force by state security agents enforcing the governments Covid-19 restrictions. Investigating organized crime is an expensive and often risky enterprise. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. In terms of murder rate, it's the second most violent country in Central or South America, trailing only Venezuela. Gangs kill, disappear, rape, or displace those who resist. While Honduras is not seeing the political armed conflict common in most Watchlist countries this year, criminal gang violence is widespread. The government relies heavily on the military for public security. You can catch a ferry from the mainland atLa Ceibato eitherUtilaorRoatan. 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. 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.. Extortion in the Northern Triangle is predominantly done from prisons, yet prison populations have been on the rise. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Police raid a house in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on 8 December. According to the U.N., Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the world. There's no avoiding violence in Honduras, even at home. Yery Noel Medina Ulloa of Honduras pleaded guilty . But the thing iswomen DO travel alone to Honduras. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. EIN number 13-5660870. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. Donate now to support the IRC's life-changing work in Honduras, across northern Central America, and worldwide. So far, the state of exception in Honduras has produced some arrests and forced the gangs and other criminal groups to keep a lower profile. Chronic violence, climate crisis and the impacts of COVID-19 have deepened humanitarian needs and driven displacement. REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File Photo. Honduras recorded 3,496 murders in 2020. Security forces committed abuses while enforcing a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown that President Juan Orlando Hernndez imposed in March. if youre visiting Honduras, you will have to avoid this city completely. Jesse Watters: Buying mace in Manhattan is almost as hard as getting a gun. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. In December 2018, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found Honduras responsible for failing to investigate Hernndezs death. So backpacking Honduras isnt always just a breeze. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best travel tips delivered right to your inbox. Until his life grew increasingly violent. More than half of detained men and two-thirds of detained women were in pretrial detention. This is an issue that has not been taken seriously by the Honduran state.. An illegal immigrant from Honduras was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for the killing of a Florida man in Jacksonville in 2021, prosecutors said. On 24 November, Hondurass leftwing president, Xiomara Castro, declared war on extortion a very real problem that causes economic stagnation, fuels violence and forces countless Hondurans to flee the country. The new code also includes alternatives to detention for low-level crimes, including partial prison sentences and penalties that allow for conditional release. On theCaribbean coast, there are plenty of delicious dishes to sample, with tortillasand things likerefried beansserved up with every meal. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. So whilst its gettingsafer, its a slow process. I agree with Bukele and I want the same here. It submitted the case to the court in April 2019 due to Honduras lack of compliance with its recommendations, such as introducing comprehensive policies to map and prevent anti-LGBT violence and designing training programs on anti-LGBT violence for state security bodies. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduran authorities reported on Monday the discovery of more than 1.6 million coca leaf bushes in the most important. Well be answering super important questions including How safe is Honduras right now? and Is it safe to live in Honduras? We also give loads of tips for solo travelers and families. 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. And that is pretty cool. Half of underage pregnancies result from rape. Since 2017, the government has operated centers to support returned migrants. Its just better to have a local driver drive you around. In these demonstrations, more than 1,500 were arrested and30 people were killed. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. It can get SUPER hot in Honduras. Just in case, thats No quiero compartir el taxi.. Or gangs attacking Honduran citizens for not paying war tax. Honduras declared the state of exception for 30 days in 162 neighborhoods, some politicians have already called for it to be extended in duration and territory. A local TV correspondent needed to do a live shot for one of the countrys most-watched news programs. If we didnt have Bukeles example, we could probably look for some control and security responses based on strengthening institutions.. So no. If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. It has experienced one of the world's highest homicide rates, with multiple forms of violence linked to drug trafficking groups. This new donation is in addition to the 81,900 doses of Pfizer . Efforts to reform public-security institutions have stalled. Clearly, with the pandemic, that goal wasnt reached, but its not been forgotten either. 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. It pays totravel smartin Honduras like ANYWHERE in the world. And were not going to lie,Honduras doesnt exactly lend itself to solo travel. Its not very safe to drive in Honduras. You can too. The government neither comprehensively protects the rights of children, including adolescents, nor ensures that they have access to basic services such as education and healthcare, the IACHR reported in 2019. Again, thank you! Most who can access the internet do so on their phones. 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. Alongside her husband, Sasha, she co-founded the. document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Thats why we listed the no-go areas in Honduras below. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. A ferry also runs betweenTrujilloandGuanaja. Wed,03/01/23-8:24AM, 1,088 Reads 16,082 Statewide. And watch out for bad road conditions after heavy rain. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. It also documented widespread mistreatment of people detained and arrested during the protests. The U.S. government estimates that approximately 4% of all cocaine shipments from South America passed through Honduras by air or sea in 2019 of cocaine, equivalent to a U.S. street value of over $11.5 billion at current rates. So long as violence in Honduras continues without impunity, major displacement will persist in 2022. Politicians are manipulated by criminals or other politicians. Its just that easy. Members of the military police of public order get ready during a special operation in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. The first 2,000 inmates were transferred to El Salvador's new mega-prison for hardcore gangbangers. 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. 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. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. 20 Top Safety Tips for Traveling to Honduras. More information. Prisons saw significant Covid-19 outbreaks. 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 Trump, who is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, announced a slate of futuristic new policies in a campaign video Friday. Journalists, environmental activists,lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals,and people with disabilities are among the groups targeted forviolence. 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. Share this via WhatsApp Poor health infrastructure and limited access to sanitation services has contributed to the spread of the virus. In neighboring El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele requested Congress grant him extraordinary powers after gangs were blamed for 62 killings on March 26, and that emergency decree has been renewed every month since then. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. Itcan be safe as a solo female traveler in Honduras. We need to address these immediate needs too.. It may have improved it actually. - The New York Times Inside Gang Territory In Honduras 'Either They Kill Us or We Kill Them' In one of the deadliest cities in the world, an embattled group of young men had little but their tiny. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. Access to health care services was a concern in Honduras prior to the pandemic, particularly for rural and economically marginalized communities. At the same time, traveling alone can be stressful, boring, lonely, anddangerous in varying quantities. It might sound like paradiseBut it isnt. Chances are, if you are arriving via a cruise ship, you will be safe. Reaching primary sources and getting the real story involve extensive fieldwork. Gang wars and fights with the police are common in this city. Prolonged droughts have undermined food production, while in October 2021 a wildfire in the Guanaja region affected thousands. 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. Its a country with a big heart. Juan Orlando Hernndez extolled his achievements as. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency against gang crimes like extortion. Women, children, the LGBTQ+ community, and returnees face ever growing conflict and risks, from the effects of climate change to the impacts of COVID-19 and violenceat home and on the streets.. ; Children and Adolescents - Honduras has the highest youth homicide rate in the world. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. That means suncream, sun-hats, and limiting time in the sun.

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