In April, the office expressed concern regarding accusations of excesive use of force by state security agents enforcing the governments Covid-19 restrictions. International Rescue Committee is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. At the same time, we need to acknowledge that it will take time for systems to change, but families across Honduras cannot waitthey have immediate needs to be safe and secure. San Pedro Sula (Spanish pronunciation: [sam pedo sula]) is the capital of Corts Department, Honduras.It is located in the northwest corner of the country in the Sula Valley, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Puerto Corts on the Caribbean Sea.With a population of 671,460 in the central urban area (2020 calculation) and a population of 1,445,598 in its metropolitan area in 2020 . Violence in Honduras | Association for a More Just Society By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. That means getting used to gangs, violence, and corruption. Hondurans are warm and welcoming people whohave to live day in, day out with the violence in their country. In Honduras, steps were taken to demilitarize public security forces and a community policing model was announced, with the hope being that the measures would increase public trust in an institution that has historically been dogged by corruption and infiltrated by the very same organized crime groups it is supposed to combat. Despite recent educational advances, around a third of children aged 3-17 did not attend school in 2018, according to the most recent survey by the National Statistics Institute. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. Migrant posing as minor who killed father of four that took him in gets Since 2010, 42. In April, Public Order Military Police (PMOP) officers severely beat three brothers and shot two of themone fatallyfor allegedly violating a curfew in El Paraso in order to sell bread. If a restaurant or eatery of any sort looks busy, thats probably because its good, both in terms of taste and. Reaching primary sources and getting the real story involve extensive fieldwork. Every dollar supports our mission. In 2013, Honduras reformed the penal code to recognize femicide as a crime. An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. Honduras extends, expands state of emergency meant to fight crime In fact, according toInSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison | Breaking News App by Shore Impunity for human rights abuses, violent crime, and corruption remains the norm, even as the prison population has mushroomed. It can be a super enriching experience. In September, two men shot and killed journalist Luis Alonzo Almendares in Comayagua. Radio Globo directorDavid Romero, convicted of defamation in 2016, died in prison from Covid-19 in July. Its prettyextreme. El Salvador and Honduras have been condemned by the "civilized" world. Access to health care services was a concern in Honduras prior to the pandemic, particularly for rural and economically marginalized communities. Almost 110,000 Hondurans were returned in 2019, mostly from Mexico. The inauguration of Xiomara Castro, elected Hondurass first female president, is scheduled for January 27 with U.S. vice president Kamala Harris, King Felipe VI of Spain and other world leaders slated to attend. A ferry also runs betweenTrujilloandGuanaja. Youll most likely get watered-down versions of Honduran food and Western stuff. The IACHR expressed concern in 2019 regarding the critical levels of impunity and inadequate and insufficient attention to victims of human rights violations. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Police reforms are most successful when theyre coupled with investments in social services and cross-cutting investments to address some of the root causes like poverty and exclusion that can cause crime in the first place, said Mary Malone, a professor at the University of New Hampshire who has studied policing in Central America. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. Safety and security - Honduras travel advice - GOV.UK In Honduras, Police Accused Of Corruption, Killings Hernndez ran for reelection in 2017 a controversial move in Honduras. It might sound like paradiseBut it isnt. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostelsor otherbusinesses. So long as violence in Honduras continues without impunity, major displacement will persist in 2022. 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. So how do they do it?. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. Not only that, but thecorruptionin everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. You basically pay for safety, but better safe than sorry wed say. A . But nongovernmental organizations have tallied several thousand human rights violations and at least 80 in-custody deaths of people arrested during the state of exception. Between December 2019, when prisons were placed under military control, and September 2020, 54 people died in eight prison incidents, the IACHR and OHCHR report. Lanza said that 50 drivers have been killed so far in 2022, and a total of 2,500 have been killed over the last 15 years. While Honduras is not seeing the political armed conflict common in most Watchlist countries this year, criminal gang violence is widespread. The crime rates are improving and the government is putting a lot of effort into attracting more tourists. It can get SUPER hot in Honduras. Members of the military police of public order get ready during a special operation in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. Its not 100% safe in Honduras. Bukeles example resonates in societies with a fragile institutional framework and with a tendency towards populism and authoritarianism, said Ismael Moreno, a human rights defender. Honduras has the misfortune of being situated between South American cocaine production and U.S. drug consumption. Honduras News - Daily News About Honduras And what you had, you know, after the coup, while the U.S. did cut assistance, it was very. There are probably more sketchy areas in Honduras than there are safe ones. As world leaders met for the United Nations General Assembly, Latin American presidents expressed various concerns about organized crime. But its pretty damn special too. That said, the governmentclaimsthere has been a 52%decreasein violent crime over the past five years. However, whilst its quite dangerous, the government is promoting tourism in Honduras. How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube As VP Kamala Harris prepares to visit #Honduras for the presidential inauguration, we call for international cooperation and funding to respond to the humanitarian crisis displacing thousands in the country. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most-watched television news channel for 18 consecutive years. But the removal of military officers from an anti-gang taskforce resulted in a messy divorce that temporarily reduced the units already limited capacity opening a window for criminals and before the community policing model could have any effect, the political pressure to take decisive action against extortion boiled over. So when it comes to safetyin Honduras, we think youllgenerallybe fine, especially in the Bay Islands. Around 191,000 people were internally displaced between 2004 and 2018, the Honduran government reported, and more than 75,000 Hondurans sought asylum abroad in 2017. Get the latest news about the IRC's innovative programs, compelling stories about our clients and how you can make a difference. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. For example, theBay Islandsaresaferthan the mainland. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. As of September 2020, the US had yet to begin deporting any third country nationals to Honduras under the agreement. Click here to read the full story: 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison. These. Honduras declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops. Members of the military police of public order patrol a street during a special operation against criminal gangs in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. Feb. 21, 2023, at 6:11 p.m. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency for Second Time. Whether thats with friends and family back home, or with accommodation staff, or both. Wed,03/01/23-8:24AM, 1,088 Reads 16,082 Statewide. The island attracts a very different crowd indeed. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. That said, the development that has taken place has not totally sucked the island dry of its charm. STANTON COUNTY, Neb. Read the entire Travel Advisory. City busestravel around the cities and towns themselves. President Xiomara Castro, center, with the minister of defense, Jose Manuel Zelaya, and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Jos Jorge Fortn, at a military ceremony in Tegucigalpa on 9 December. Even if they graduate high school, they can't get a job." Were not going to lie its pretty sketchy. Police raid a house in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on 8 December. Sign in How Gangs Control Honduras VICE News 8.42M subscribers. But before arriving, the car stopped and the caravan split. Heres how to not get ill whilst trying local delights. Honduras Private Sector and Anti-Extortion Police: An Unholy Alliance? The flavors, spices and. Its a wild world out there. One example:tajadas(fried plantains, topped with cabbage and served with ground beef). CNN Juan Orlando Hernndez, the former president of Honduras, appeared virtually for his initial US court appearance Friday on federal drug trafficking and firearms possession charges.. 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. 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. Theres more nature here than you can shake a stick at. To reduce overcrowding in response to the pandemic, the legislature approved alternatives to pretrial detention in June and judges released more than 1,600 people. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency against gang crimes like extortion. Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. It has experienced one of the world's highest homicide rates, with multiple forms of violence linked to drug trafficking groups. How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube 0:00 / 11:46 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. Its just better to have a local driver drive you around. It is not just murder, it's also the shocking numbers of rape, assault, and domestic violence cases, happening with near-total impunity. Support focuses primarily on reintegration into the labor market, rather than assistance for people who fled seeking international protection. There is limited data on the effectiveness of the program in Honduras. The law also sanctions abortion providers. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories. Gangsplay a big part of life here. Half of underage pregnancies result from rape. Until his life grew increasingly violent. Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime. There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. World Report 2022: Honduras | Human Rights Watch After kidnapping in Honduras, teen ended up in San Leandro backyard So, yeah. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News A Honduran woman and her children manage to cross the remnants of a bridge destroyed by Hurricane Iota. Abuses by security forces, including alleged collusion with criminal organizations, and weak state institutions, have contributed to the persistence of gang violence. For your trip to Honduras, our handy guide has you covered. How to tackle it is another issue. For now, there are 15,000 taxis who want your attention. Death threats and gang violence forcing more families to - ReliefWeb During the first month of the measures, 39 criminal gangs were destroyed and 652 people were arrested, while 43 kilos of cocaine and thousands of grams and rocks of crack were seized, the police said. Nope. It may have improved it actually. Overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, poor sanitation, beatings, intra-gang violence, and detainee killings are endemic in prisons. The UNspecialrapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders in Latin America. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. Honduran illegal immigrant who lied to border authorities sentenced in Wed,03/01/23-8:26AM, 3 Reads. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Locals drive atcrazy speeds on the highways, there are random toll roads that make the cost high (but if you dont take them, alternative routes are often not paved), and there are animals on the road. But like any war, it isnt just a battle against an enemy, but also for control of the popular narrative in this case, an attempt to counter allegations that the government has not done enough to combat rampant crime. And Honduras has been struggling to build representative democracy, to fight corruption and crime. That means suncream, sun-hats, and limiting time in the sun. We are all about smart travel and were here to help you travel smart too. February 18 2022 Receive free Honduras updates We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Honduras news every morning. In 2014, the United Nations reported that 95 percent of cases of sexual violence and femicide in Honduras were never even investigated. The new criminal code decriminalized defamation, but retains other crimes of honorincluding insult and slanderwhich have been used to prosecute journalists in the past. In March 2020, the government declared a state of emergency in response to the pandemic, imposing a lockdown and restricting movement and freedom of expression. This has a pretty good expat community too. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Honduras major drug trafficking groups like the Cachiros and the Valles have largely been dismantled with the arrest and extradition of top leaders, but vestiges of these clans continue to operate. Members include officers from the police, the military, and the Attorneys General Office. A 25-year-old migrant who posed as a minor to illegally cross the border was sentenced to 60 years for killing the father of four who took him in. We need to address these immediate needs too.. The coastline of Cedeno, a fishing village in southern Honduras, looks like it was hit by an earthquake - houses, businesses and clubs stand in ruins. Please donate. In December 2018, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found Honduras responsible for failing to investigate Hernndezs death. Honduras isnt a gay-friendly country, however, there are some movements that are going in the right direction. Read more about the top 10 crises the world cant ignore in 2022, learn how the IRC selected these countries, and download the full 2022 Emergency Watchlist report for data citations and profiles of all 20 crisis countries on the IRC's list. The story 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison was published by the Associated Press on 2022-07-04 18:29:24. The government bans emergency contraception, known as the morningafter pill, which can prevent pregnancy after rape, unprotected sex, or contraceptive failure. Here is available the most popular Honduras Newspapers list. Security forces committed abuses while enforcing a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown that President Juan Orlando Hernndez imposed in March. We then verify, write and edit, providing the tools to generate real impact. More than half of detained men and two-thirds of detained women were in pretrial detention. Between 2005 and 2019, 34 percent of women who were 20-24 years old had married when they were 15-19, the UN Population Fund reported in 2020.