Voters elected Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE Party as president for a four-year term scheduled to begin in January 2022. International observers generally recognized the elections as free and fair. Passing on blind corners is common. Violent transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. There were different methodologies to measure the size of the informal economy, and a March 2020 UNDP report estimated that 82 percent of workers were part of the informal economy. The penalties for rape range from nine to 13 years imprisonment. WebCompared to other countries around the world, Honduras is still one of the most violent places in the world with a homicide rate of 44.7 per 100,000 in 2019. Meanwhile, 59% reported having been assaulted at least once while a passenger in a taxi (Colectivo and Rolatero) in the past 12 months, 32% twice, 6% three times, and 3% more than three times. jim martin death couples massage class san diego beaver falls football osac crime and safety reports. On October 7, the National Congress increased penalties for forced labor under the trafficking-in-persons article of the penal code from five to eight years imprisonment to 10 to 15 years, bringing the penalties in line with the penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. WebHonduras Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. Child Abuse: Child abuse remained a serious problem. Physical Conditions: Prisoners suffered from severe overcrowding, malnutrition, lack of adequate sanitation and medical care, and, in some prisons, lack of adequate ventilation and lighting. According to the Mexican Social Security Institute, as a result of the law 2.7 million workers It prohibits employer retribution against employees for engaging in trade union activities. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. In September police arrested Denis Abel Ordonez, Michael Andre Mejia, and Walter Antonio Matute Raudales in connection with her murder. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. He was arrested again in April for separate but related charges. 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. The law establishes an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including access to a court to seek damages for human rights violations. WebCrime in Honduras in 2012, according to the U.N., Honduras experienced. Pretrial Detention: Judicial inefficiency, corruption, and insufficient resources delayed proceedings in the criminal justice system, and lengthy pretrial detention was a serious problem. The country does not appear to be a terrorist safe haven. WebOSAC is a free service to U.S.-based or incorporated private sector organizations with overseas operations. Honduras has a long history of sustaining damage due to powerful tropical storms and hurricanes. Review OSACs reports, There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. Litigants may sue a criminal defendant for damages if authorized by a criminal court. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings, c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees, f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence, a. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. There were no credible reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. There are few U.S.-educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. These efforts were insufficient due to limited political will, inadequate staffing, limited or no services in rural areas, absence of or inadequate training and awareness of domestic violence among police and other authorities, and a pattern of male-dominant culture and norms. On April 23, the Public Ministry arrested and charged Josue Exequiel Martinez Martinez, Siriaco Mejia Santos, Francisco Lopez Lazo, and Mario Anibal Lopez Velasquez for the December 2020 murder of Felix Vasquez. Contact OSACsLatin Americateam with any questions or to join. Because labor inspectors continued to be concentrated in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, full labor inspections and follow-up visits to confirm compliance were far less frequent in other parts of the country. The U.S. Embassy has restricted U.S. government personnel travel to the Gracias a Dios Department in eastern Honduras because of credible threat information against U.S citizens. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Review the State Departments webpage on. Mental health professionals expressed concern regarding social stigma by families and communities against persons with mental disabilities and a lack of access to mental health care throughout the country. The law requires an employer to begin collective bargaining once workers establish a union, and it specifies that if more than one union exists at a company, the employer must negotiate with the largest. The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. The law criminalizes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity characteristics and includes crimes committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity as aggravating circumstances to increase penalties for criminal offenses. Independent Monitoring: The government generally permitted prison visits by independent local and international human rights observers, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. WebLuxembourg2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg. A revision to the penal code that entered into force in June 2020 broadly reduces criminal penalties for corruption by officials. Onum is a values-driven SEO agency dedicated. Under the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework, with significant support from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the government continued to build capacity to provide services to vulnerable populations, including IDPs, those at risk of forced displacement, refugees, and returned migrants. Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. 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. Menu. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. The law mandates that authorities release detainees whose cases have not yet come to trial and whose time in pretrial detention already exceeds the maximum prison sentence for their alleged crime. Cruise lines and port agencies offer approved tour companies offering packages. For crimes with minimum sentences of six years imprisonment, the law authorizes pretrial detention of up to two years. Many prisoners had access to weapons and other contraband, inmates attacked other inmates with impunity, and inmates and their associates outside prison threatened prison officials and their families. The law presumes an accused person is innocent. Spurred by anger with the government over accusations of public corruption, allegations of involvement in narcotics trafficking, and efforts to pass controversial education reform, protests and demonstrations were near-daily occurrences at times during 2019. 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. 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. Fire Department operations: +504-2231-1667. Police seized more than $400,000 in cash during the raid that led to his arrest and that of five other alleged associates. LGBTI+ travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in public. Fines for child labor were not sufficient to deter violations and not commensurate with penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. 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. NGOs reported IDPs were at increased risk of victimization and exploitation by criminal groups, which was also often the cause of displacement. There were credible complaints that police occasionally failed to obtain the required authorization before entering private homes. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. HMCs lab was reviewed by the Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and found to be up to U.S. standards and quality assurance practices. The location and timing of criminal activity are unpredictable. 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. The legal age of consent is 18. The Secretariat of Human Rights stated it was taking every precaution to protect prisoners rights and assure that the work provided opportunities for prisoners to develop skills they could use in legal economic activities after their release. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. They do not imply recognition of a particular territory's sovereignty or political status. The accused has the right to an initial hearing before a judge, to ask for bail, consult with legal counsel in a timely manner, have a lawyer provided by the state if necessary, and request an appeal. The designation requires banks to impose a higher level of scrutiny on politically exposed persons financial transactions. The World Justice Projects 2017-2018 Rule of Law Index ranked Honduras as one of the countries with the most corrupt and least effective criminal justice systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recent Elections: In November Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE Party won a four-year presidential term in elections that were generally considered free, fair, and transparent. Menu. Unions also raised concerns regarding the use of temporary contracts and part-time employment, suggesting that employers used these mechanisms to prevent unionization and avoid providing full benefits. 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 incident allegedly occurred in a place of employment. Roatn and the Bay Islands are geographically separate from the mainland and experience lower crime rates even when compared with other Caribbean islands. The law requires overtime pay, bans excessive compulsory overtime, limits overtime to four hours a day for a maximum workday of 12 hours, and prohibits the practice of requiring workers to complete work quotas before leaving their place of employment. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours. The National Interinstitutional Security Force coordinates the overlapping responsibilities of the national police, military police of public order, National Intelligence Directorate, and Public Ministry during interagency operations. 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. WebSample Page; ; The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages intercity car and bus travel after dark. Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common, with zero reports for 2019. See the Department of States International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/. 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