Violence against LGBTQI+ Persons: NGOs reported police or other government agents incited, perpetrated, condoned, or tolerated violence against LGBTQI+ individuals. Airlines estimate that approximately 250,000 U.S. citizens flew into Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, or Roatn in 2019. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. For more in-depth information, review OSACs Honduras country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. NGOs also reported the government did not make sufficient efforts to comply with Inter-American Court of Human Rights rulings, specifically cases related to territorial rights for Garfuna communities. Before you travel, consider the following resources: The contents of this (U) report in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, Libel/Slander Laws: Citizens, including public officials, may initiate criminal proceedings for libel and slander. The law prohibits workers from legally striking until direct negotiations and government-accompanied mediation and conciliation have failed. 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. Avoid using Collectivos (white sedan taxis with a sticker on the windshield denoting its established route), Roleteros (private white sedan taxis with no established routes), and Rapiditos (small buses that pick up multiple riders). U.S. organizations and citizens report corruption in the public sector and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. On May 30, protesters blocked several main avenues in Tegucigalpa, including access to Toncontn International Airport (TGU). The law prohibits employment discrimination based on gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, political opinion or affiliation, marital status, race or ethnicity, national origin, language, place of residence, religion, family or economic situation, disability, or health, including HIV or AIDS status. There were credible complaints that police occasionally failed to obtain the required authorization before entering private homes. According to the Honduran National Police, there were 12 kidnappings reported nationwide during 2019. Authorities continued to search for the individuals who ordered the homicide. 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. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Section 1. There were several reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. As of August, inspectors conducted 14,221 total inspections, compared with 8,846 total inspections for the same period in 2021. Gangs control some of the taxi services. Failure to register resulted in denial of public services, including access to health services or school enrollment. Although Honduras has made some progress, many perceive the property registration system as unreliable and a constraint on investment, particularly in the Bay Islands. NGOs reported IDPs were at increased risk of victimization and exploitation by criminal groups. On May 1, unknown assailants killed Alonso Salgado, a former member of the neighborhood council of the Ro Tinto Garfuna community and a member of the Garfuna rights organization OFRANEH, in Tela, Atlntida Department. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. The law does not cover domestic workers, the vast majority of whom were women. The rainy season usually runs May-November. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity. The government continued to prosecute individuals allegedly involved in the 2016 killing of environmental and Indigenous activist Berta Cceres. About. Unions also raised concerns that employers used temporary contracts to prevent unionization and to avoid providing full benefits. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. On September 22, the court in a preliminary hearing charged Eber Ezequiel Espinoza and Erick David Macas Rodrguez with quadruple homicide. According to CONAPREV, the system was designed for approximately 13,000 inmates. Penalties for violations of OSH law were commensurate with penalties for similar crimes but rarely applied against violators and rarely collected. Campbell, who had been on the run for five years after being charged with money laundering in Honduras, was arrested in June 2021 in Nicaragua. The law was not effectively enforced, and weak public institutional structures contributed to the inadequate enforcement. 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. This is a common practice for most automobile accidents where personal injury occurs, and for cases in which someone is accused of a criminal act. Review the State Departments webpage on security for travelers with disabilities. Penalties were sometimes applied against violators, but the failure of the government to collect fines facilitated continued violations. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has since added him to the agency's Top 10 Most Wanted List, offering up to $100,000 for information leading to his arrest. The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. The law allows bail for persons charged with some felonies and gives prisoners the right of prompt access to family members. The United Nations reported the adolescent birth rate was 89 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19. 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. 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. In March 2019, the Honduran Government created the National Urban Transportation Security Force to combat extortion and other crimes perpetrated by gangs. 19 Nov. Although the country experiences one of its lowest homicide rates in the last decade, authorities recorded 3,496 violent . The government considers rape a crime of public concern, and the state prosecutes suspected rapists even if survivors do not press charges. Title insurance is not widely available in Honduras and approximately 80% of the privately held land in the country is either untitled or improperly titled. The governments National Policy to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination seeks to promote equality and combat discrimination related to the countrys two Afro-descendent and seven Indigenous groups (see below), with a focus on social and political participation; access to education, health care, justice, and employment opportunities; and rights to ancestral lands and natural resources. The law provides for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, with some restrictions, and the government generally respected this right. Avoid protests, which can quickly turn violent. According to data (most recent available) from the government and UNHCR, more than 247,000 persons were displaced by violence between 2014 and 2018, of whom 43 percent were children and adolescents. There were no reports of this law being used to limit womens employment. There are few U.S.-educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: Transgender persons are prohibited from changing their name and legal gender status. Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Official data on forced displacement, especially displacement due to violence, was limited in part because gangs controlled many of the neighborhoods where individuals were forced from their homes and communities (see section 6, Displaced Children). In July, police arrested two men. Meanwhile, 59% reported having been assaulted at least once while a passenger in a taxi (. ) Journalists and other members of civil society reported they were self-censoring due to fear of criticism, harassment, and retribution by the government and its supporters. Despite being considered the best private hospital in Tegucigalpa, it is not Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited; JCI is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations. Counterfeit products are predominately but not solely in the pharmaceutical and apparel industries. 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. 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. See the Department of States International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/. 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/. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over security forces. Survivors of domestic violence are entitled to certain protective measures, such as removing the abuser from the home and prohibiting the abuser from visiting the victims work or other frequently visited places. The quasi-governmental National Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment (CONAPREV) received 28 complaints of the use of torture or cruel and inhuman treatment through September. Publishing or The law on safe houses, which has been stalled in the National Congress since 2018, aims to recognize and fund safe houses to provide care for survivors of multiple forms of violence, ensuring. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. Members of the LGBTI+ community have reported violent assaults because of gender identity and sexual orientation. at the date of this reports publication assesses Honduras at Level 3, indicating travelers should reconsider travel due tocrime. for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Honduras, An official website of the United States Government, https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/, https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/. Review OSACs reports, There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. The following day, protesters started a fire outside of one of the U.S. Embassys entrances during demonstrations against public-sector reforms in the country. Transiting migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable populations continued to face acute security risks in border zones. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. There are no known international terrorist groups operating in Honduras. Observers noted several significant improvements in transparency procedures, including electoral reforms, an updated voter registry, new national identification cards, and new technologies that included a biometric verification system and a preliminary results transmission system. Please review OSAC's Honduras-specific webpage for proprietary analytic reports, Consular Messages, and contact information. Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. Nonetheless, many prisoners remained in custody after completing their full sentences, and sometimes even after an acquittal, because officials failed to process their releases expeditiously. Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Honduras. Honduras is a signatory to the International Labor Organizations 169 Convention, which requires free prior notice and informed consent from indigenous communities before any development projects can begin; the congress has not approved a law regulating this process. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial; however, the judiciary did not always enforce these rights. On March 1, the National Congress repealed the Law for the Classification of Public Documents Related to National Security and Defense, better known as the Secrets Law. Although its specialists occasionally cannot provide the U.S. standard of care, the hospital and diagnostic departments do have the capability to provide most medical procedures. Passing on blind corners is common. -threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Review OSACs reports, The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for, The Honduras Country Council generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and has approximately 70 members. The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs investigated members of the Honduran National Police accused of human rights abuses. The U.S. Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) keeps Diplomatic Security Service representatives connected with private-sector security professionals from U.S. organizations operating abroad for ongoing threat awareness and crisis support. The final verdict was pending a constitutional appeal. The constitution prohibits practicing clergy from running for office or participating in political campaigns. The Institute for National Statistics put net enrollment for primary school at 77 percent in 2021, but the National Center for Social Sector Information stated that in 2020, 43 percent of persons with disabilities received no formal education. Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. These tensions have resulted in intense protests and violence. Violence and Harassment: On May 26, unknown assailants shot and killed Metro TV journalist Ricardo vila in Marcovia, Choluteca Department. Avoid traveling at night and always drive with doors locked and windows rolled up to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets. Review the State Departments webpage on. 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. Review the State Departments webpage on security for. Review OSACs report, Kidnapping: The Basics. There is no information to suggest that criminals specifically target U.S. citizens or foreigners. On February 2, the National Congress passed a retroactive amnesty law that absolved public officials who worked during the Zelaya Administration (2006-09) of crimes. As of August, CONADEH received 25 reports of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers. Arbitrary Arrest: CONADEH reported 33 cases of arbitrary arrest through August. Under the inspection law, the Secretariat of Labor has the authority to temporarily shut down workplaces where there is an imminent danger of fatalities. Most crime victims are members of rival gangs, small business owners who resist gang extortion, passengers on public transportation, or those involved in land tenure disputes. These workers are not covered by the contributory social security system and are not protected by the labor code. The law provides for an independent judiciary, but the justice system was poorly staffed, inadequately equipped, often ineffective, and subject to intimidation, corruption, politicization, and patronage. The law applies equally to citizens and foreigners, regardless of gender, and prescribes a maximum eight-hour shift per day for most workers, a 44-hour workweek, and at least one 24-hour rest period for every six days of work. -threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. The National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH) reported two arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces as of August. There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees. This resulted in multiple protests by environmentalist groups claiming the project is illegal due to the damage to the bioreserve and exacerbating the citys already dire water shortage. The law grants workers the right to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and strike. 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. The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these related rights. Latest Posts. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. The law provides citizens the right to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on nearly universal and equal suffrage. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked. Its support focused on providing training to officers of the National Institute for Migration, ensuring support to deal with the backlog of asylum claims submitted during the COVID-19 lockdown, and supporting the improvement of reception conditions for asylum seekers. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 30,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras. Honduras requires proof of Yellow Fever immunization if coming from another country endemic with Yellow Fever. The law grants prisoners the right to prompt access to a lawyer of their choice and, if indigent, to government-provided counsel, although the public defender mechanism was weak, and authorities did not always abide by these requirements. DOS Trafficking in Persons Report - 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019. Prison conditions were harsh and at times life threatening due to pervasive gang-related violence and the governments failure to control criminal activity within the prisons. The law provides for criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but authorities did not implement the law effectively, and officials continued to engage in corrupt practices with impunity. 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. Prisoners suffered from gross overcrowding; insufficient access to food, water, and medical supplies; violence; and alleged abuse by prison officials. The country was a destination for child sex tourism, particularly in the tourist area of the Bay Islands. Litigants may sue a criminal defendant for damages if authorized by a criminal court. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. They were, however, commensurate with penalties for violating laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. 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. The law requires that persons with disabilities have access to buildings, but few buildings were accessible, and the government did not effectively implement laws or programs to provide such access. Some passengers opt to travel armed when using public transportation, which sometimes results in armed confrontations where innocent bystanders are injured or killed in the crossfire. No cases were reported during the year. In these sectors, employers frequently paid workers for the standard 44-hour workweek irrespective of any additional hours they worked. in the past 12 months, 32% twice, 6% three times, and 3% more than three times. The law states that a womans employment should be appropriate to her physical state and capacity. Review OSACs report, Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. The government has a police investigative unit dedicated to investigating violent crimes against the LGBTI+ and other vulnerable communities, composed of Public Ministry prosecutors, members of ATIC (prosecutors investigative agency), and the Honduran National Police; however, it has limited resources and functions primarily in the major urban areas.
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