Half of underage pregnancies result from rape. So whilst its gettingsafer, its a slow process. It may have improved it actually. Investigations were underway at time of writing. Check in and let people know your plans. So. With all of its branches of government and its armed forces plagued by corruption, Honduras has evolved into a transit nation in which criminal groups, protected by the political system, have developed the capacity to produce cocaine hydrochloride in local laboratories. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The state of emergency, in place since Dec. 6 in 165 areas of Honduras' largest two cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, has been expanded to 235 of the country's 298 municipalities, the national police said. Access to health care services was a concern in Honduras prior to the pandemic, particularly for rural and economically marginalized communities. Her words echo those of Bukele, who has railed against human rights groups, government watchdogs and journalists who have questioned his tactics, saying that they are on the side of the gangs. In June, police detained and beat bus drivers who were allegedly protesting not being able to work due to lockdown restrictions. Theyre old U.S. school buses that are poorly maintained,andovercrowded. The government of Honduras is committed to attracting more tourists. Do your own research. 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. For example, theBay Islandsaresaferthan the mainland. These are the safest islands: Once you get off the ferry in Utila you have officially entered an alternate reality. Late Thursday, Nov. 24, Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. The new criminal code that came into effect in June 2020 includes new alternative sanctions to detention for some minor crimes that could help reduce the prison population. Prolonged droughts have undermined food production, while in October 2021 a wildfire in the Guanaja region affected thousands. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. Share this via LinkedIn Clearly, with the pandemic, that goal wasnt reached, but its not been forgotten either. Youll be able to travel around here with relative ease. Honduras has the misfortune of being situated between South American cocaine production and U.S. drug consumption. 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. Honduras, in general, is open and welcoming to children. These. Itcan be safe as a solo female traveler in Honduras. Wed,03/01/23-8:24AM, 1,088 Reads 16,082 Statewide. As world leaders met for the United Nations General Assembly, Latin American presidents expressed various concerns about organized crime. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. It pays totravel smartin Honduras like ANYWHERE in the world. Rights activists say young men are frequently arrested just based on their age, appearance or whether they live in a gang-dominated slum. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. The IRC is calling for stronger international cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis that displaces hundreds of thousands from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala every year. Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. Some victims of extortion said that the only thing that has changed is how the money is collected. Just in case, thats No quiero compartir el taxi.. And when it comes to the extreme violence of Honduras, thosevery highfigures come from gang violence. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. A ferry also runs betweenTrujilloandGuanaja. Officials were called out to the main Wood Duck Recreation Area at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday to investigate a suspicious vehicle, a ccording to a release from the Sheriff's Office. Download Historical Data. 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. 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. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). There are some safety pointsthat travelers should know for anywhere they travel, but Honduras requires these special considerations. We go into the field to interview, report and investigate. Theyre fairly easy to use, but be aware of the risks. They face violence from gangs, the national civil police and the military police, members of the public, and their own families, as well as extortion by gangs and discrimination in schools and in the workplace. There's no avoiding violence in Honduras, even at home. Get a quote below or read our in-depth review! TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. The IRC serves people and families in vulnerable situations or at increased risk for violence and displacement, including those who are uprooted by violence or returning after seeking safety in other countries. Its a country with a big heart. Well Public transportation can be alittle trickyin Honduras, and its not always safe. Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. Not really. 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. Radio taxisare always a better option than hailing one off the street. The most extensive database on organized crime in the Americas. Most who can access the internet do so on their phones. With just 39% of the population fully vaccinated as of December 2021, the health risks associated with the pandemic will remain a concern long into 2022. Seeing the world without anyone to answer to, getting to challenge yourself andgrow as a person. We hope these measures work and remain in place.. 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. Newton County Sheriff's Office was involved with . The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof. Our work is costly and high risk. Were not going to say its thesafest place to travel,nor is it going to be the easiestplace to travel as a solo female. Sign in How Gangs Control Honduras VICE News 8.42M subscribers. The government bans emergency contraception, known as the morningafter pill, which can prevent pregnancy after rape, unprotected sex, or contraceptive failure. 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. Indeed, Honduras is seeing a plague of femicidesa woman is murdered every 36 hours, mostly by an intimate partner. Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Honduras. Honduras is exposed to other climate shocks as well. The government had granted him protective measures in January 2019. 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. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. Earlier this year, Honduras appeared set to follow an example set by another neighbor, Nicaragua, whose community-based policing approach was for years hailed for maintaining exceptionally low crime rates and minimal gang presence until the government turned the police into a repressive force against the people amid widespread protests in 2018. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. However, if you decide to travel independently, youll face quite a few challenges. So how do they do it?. Almendares had repeatedly received death threats since 2017 in relation to his reporting. Certain routes that these take have been the target ofarmed attacks. How to tackle it is another issue. Despite some similarities, the security situation in El Salvador is different from Honduras, which has a much larger territory, higher population, greater poverty and a more diverse set of criminal groups. A study published in April reported that nearly half of teachers in rural areas had not been able to contact the majority of their students. And Hondurascan be a safe place for solo female travelers, but wed only recommend it after some solo travel experience. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. The media and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported several cases of abusive police enforcement of the Covid-19 lockdown. The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the gangs. Until his life grew increasingly violent. The primary drivers of this violence are gangs like the Barrio 18 and MS13, which concentrate their criminal activities in urban areas and recruit young people, many of whom are suffering from widespread economic inequality and a lack of opportunity. TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduran authorities reported on Monday the discovery of more than 1.6 million coca leaf bushes in the most important. 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. That said, the development that has taken place has not totally sucked the island dry of its charm. Drug trafficking gangs, corruption, and extreme poverty keep Honduras down. The Belize Under-19 Women's National Team (U-19 BWNT) is travelling to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Friday, March 3 to compete in the 2023 Central American Football Union (UNCAF) FIFA Forward Under . Its not 100% safe in Honduras. As a result, humanitarian needs for food, health, nutrition and protection have increased. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to twomain gangs:Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) andBarrio 18. In fact, according toInSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. 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. Women - Honduras has the fifth-highest rate of violence against women in the world. As expected, the video went viral and the local newspapers made sure they put this trusted news source on their front page. Poverty, violence, and insecurity are the main reasons for the high crime rate. Theres alsoLa Ceiba. The groups most likely to be internally displaced or leave the country are children subjected to forced gang recruitment, professionals and business owners who face extortion, domestic violence survivors, and LGBT people and members of ethnic minorities who face violence and discrimination. msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Biodiversity is a huge part of Honduras. Reaching primary sources and getting the real story involve extensive fieldwork. And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Honduras. Honduras hasn't specified exactly what the state of emergency would entail, but normally such measures temporarily suspend normal rules regulating arrests and searches; sometime limits on freedom of speech and assembly are implemented as well. City busestravel around the cities and towns themselves. However, More than2 million touristsvisited in 2017. Gangs exercise territorial control over neighborhoods and extort residents throughout the country. 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. You can also visit the island through a guided tour, which will add another layer of safety to your trip. The government has set up roadblocks, deployed security forces, and used violence to prevent people from leaving the country. The government relies heavily on the military for public security. Utila is unlike the rest of mainland Honduras in just about every way. 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. Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. At nighttime, you should really get a taxi. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. Violence has long ruled here. 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. Theres a lot to learn about Honduras that goes beyond gangs and beaches. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. Honduran people are friendly and welcoming. By BRENT MAZE. Read on for more detailed information on how to have a safe trip to Honduras. It may not exactly be classed as safe, but Honduras shouldnt be ignored. We travel with a filter bottle, the GRAYL GEOPRESS or we just boil the water for a few minutes and store in a refillable water bottle. 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. The food in Honduras is super tasty. Domestic and sexual violence are also widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt. Corruption, poor governance, and. So backpacking Honduras isnt always just a breeze. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, 60 percent of perpetrators were domestic partners. Again, thank you! Its just better to have a local driver drive you around. Gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18), are considered to be largely responsible for Honduras murder rate, and are infamous for extortion and drug peddling. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. It suspends some Constitutional rights and gives police more powers to arrest and hold suspects. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. In February 2020, it called on El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico to protect the rights of migrants and refugees to leave their country of origin, noting that asylum applications from Central America and Mexico grew 50-fold from 2012 to 2018. Were not going to lie its pretty sketchy. We also provide critical, up-to-date information and support from trained moderators through CuntaNos, a digital platform that is part of the Global Signpost project. Two private security officers were charged. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Jesse Watters: Buying mace in Manhattan is almost as hard as getting a gun. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. We are going to be covering a whole lot of topics in this epic Honduras safety guide. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. Every dollar supports our mission. There is only anecdotal evidence of the scale of the problem because so few extortion victims report the crime, making a statistical analysis impossible. Since 2020, the number of Hondurans in need of humanitarian assistance has more than doubled, while food insecurity has increased due to consecutive climate shocks, rising food prices and the economic impacts of COVID-19. In Honduras, one of the most violent countries in the world, 60 percent of deaths are attributed to organized crime. This has a pretty good expat community too. Share this via Telegram Journalists, environmental activists, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). 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. An audit of government purchases of medical supplies to fight Covid-19 revealed supplies worth tens of millions of dollars had gone missing. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. The new code also includes alternatives to detention for low-level crimes, including partial prison sentences and penalties that allow for conditional release. 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. Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. There is no exact number of the exodus, but according to the United States Customs and Border Protection Service, in 2020, they arrested 40,091 Hondurans, who were trying to enter the United States irregularly and until September 2021, this amount increased to 98,554 Honduran arrests, more than double the previous year. Look and see where locals are eating. Home to the second biggest barrier reef in the world, beaches, and sparkling turquoise sea, as well as a whole host of Mayan ruins, amazing coffee, and the second largest rainforest in the Americas, Honduras is extremely biodiverse: there are 770 bird species alone. Theyve been doing it since 2002 protecting, connecting, and inspiring independent travellers just like you. Since the end of the last decade, political protection has allowed the traditional drug trafficking groups to flourish. Honduras Honduras declares war against gangs - and for control of popular narrative Xiomara Castro's crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasn't done.