Heres what you need to know about the growing crisis in Honduras. 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. Honduras has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. Members of the military police of public order get ready during a special operation in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. 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. You basically pay for safety, but better safe than sorry wed say. In October, the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), of which Cceres was president, complained of continued delays and a lack of transparency in the case. A . Iris Argentina lvarez of the Cerro Escondido peasant cooperative, which has been working to recover land currently owned by a sugar company, was killed and three people were injured during a violent and allegedly illegal eviction in Choluteca in April 2020. Alongside her husband, Sasha, she co-founded the. 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. So whilst its gettingsafer, its a slow process. Honestly? 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. All rights reserved. And Hondurascan be a safe place for solo female travelers, but wed only recommend it after some solo travel experience. 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. Of course, being a woman anywhere is going to come with additional risk. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. So when it comes to safetyin Honduras, we think youllgenerallybe fine, especially in the Bay Islands. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Some are deprived of full legal capacity and are institutionalized in different settings, including psychiatric hospitals. 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. 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. In July, police arrested two men in connection to the 2020 killings of 45 TV reporter Germn Vallecillo Jr. and his cameraman, Jorge Posas, in La Ceiba. 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. Radio Globo directorDavid Romero, convicted of defamation in 2016, died in prison from Covid-19 in July. Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. 18th Street, also known as Calle 18, Barrio 18, Mara 18, or simply La 18 in Central America, is a multi-ethnic (largely Central American and Mexican) transnational criminal organization that started as a street gang in Los Angeles.It is one of the largest transnational criminal gangs in Los Angeles, with 65,000 members between the United States, Mexico, and Central America and is also allied . Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. It is honestly NOT safe to drink the water in Honduras. 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. Share this via Reddit You will have to agree on a pricebefore you get in. I agree with Bukele and I want the same here. Honduras isnt exactly what wed callsafe. There is an expat community inTrujillo. led to the detention of more than 2% of its adult population. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. ACNUR acoge con satisfaccin la aprobacin de la ley sobre desplazamiento interno en Honduras Format News and Press Release Source. Hardline policies, meanwhile, are popular because people think that theyre going to work but inevitably the track record is that they havent, said Malone. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. Honduras is one of the Western Hemisphere's deadliest countries for journalists, with security forces representing their biggest threat, Reporters Without Borders noted in 2021. It might sound like paradiseBut it isnt. Honduras partially suspends constitutional rights to tackle gangs, Its a war on the people: El Salvadors mass arrests send thousands into despair, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In January 2020, the OHCHR released a report saying that the armed forces and military police had used excessiveeven lethalforce in response to the protests that followed the 2017 election. And when it comes to the extreme violence of Honduras, thosevery highfigures come from gang violence. After a 2019 wave of gang violence that killed 37 detainees, President Hernndez declared a state of emergency and put prisons under military control. Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. 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. (KCAU) The Stanton County Sheriff's Office said that they've cited two men who allegedly killed an American Bald Eagle. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. Between the pandemic, ever-worsening cultural division, and a click-hungry media, it can be hard to maintain what is truth and what is sensationalism. There is only anecdotal evidence of the scale of the problem because so few extortion victims report the crime, making a statistical analysis impossible. The vaccine doses arrived in the Honduran capital on October 4 2021. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. These are pretty safe. There are many daily newspapers in Honduras where that constantly provide the latest updated news and information. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News The code also includes poorly constructed provisions that could lead to violations of the rights to assemble and protest and an overly broad definition of association to engage in terrorism, which could be used to criminalize and disproportionately punish behaviors that fall far short of what most reasonable observers would consider terrorism. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. Gender-based violence in Honduras is also among the highest in the region and has increased during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the political gains to be had from emulating Bukeles hardline policies may be too enticing to pass up. The government of Honduras is committed to attracting more tourists. 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. (Insider Tips), https://www.facebook.com/gratefulgypsies/, https://www.instagram.com/gratefulgypsies/, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn5T0r4o5KV4qoyQyR7Buww, https://www.pinterest.com/gratefulgypsies/, Traveller, teacher, writer, and bonafide music lover, Rachel Lee is a Tennessee-born human with a passion for movement. The Supreme Court, particularly its president, exerts excessive control over the appointment and removal of judges, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported in 2019, and career instability limits judges independence. Get your accommodation to either recommenda good company or just book one for you. For Varela, who said she had never been a victim of extortion, but heard a lot about it as of late, human rights are just an obstacle. The Inescapable Prison of Barrio 18 in Honduras, Death, Taxes, and Extortion: Why Latin American Companies Keep Paying Up, Timber Mafias - Preying on Latin Americas Forests, State and Community Responses to Extortion, A Mayor and a Wave of Narco Violence on Guatemala's Pacific, One Party, Many Crimes: The Case of Honduras National Party, Drug Trafficking and Political Protection in Paraguay: The Case of Cucho Cabaa, How Colombia Regulators Became Purveyors of Illegal Wood, The Logging Barons of Catacamas, Honduras, How Drug Cartels Moved into Illegal Logging in Mexico, Municipalities Fight Back in Guatemalas Gang-Preyed Upon Neighborhoods, How the Private Sector Helped Counter Rural Extortion in El Salvador. - 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. Of course, you can book a local tour that can look after your safety during your trip, but make sure your research leaves you feeling absolutely confident in the reliability of the tour you choose. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best travel tips delivered right to your inbox. People do it. But if you meet the local ladies andlearn about their livesyoure going to have a VERY enriching experience on your hands. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. generally, if youre visiting with a guided tour, you should be fine. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. Tegucigalpa. And watch out for bad road conditions after heavy rain. 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. Honduras declared a state of exception as extortion cases rise, suspending constitutional rights in cities and deploying thousands of troops. Historically, governments have responded with iron-fist security strategies to combat organized crime, enacting tougher legislation and increasing police presence and mass detentions. I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. Dont open the door for anyone, unless youre expecting a visit. 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. And that is pretty cool. The story 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison was published by the Associated Press on 2022-07-04 18:29:24. Many people do travel to this particular part of Honduras,even with their families. Security Minister Oscar Alvarez says police have identified two suspects among the five attackers . 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. Independent travel is going to require A LOT of being careful. Gangs exercise territorial control over neighborhoods and extort residents throughout the country. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. 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. One good thing I can say about Roatan is that the dive sites are excellent around the island. Extortions generate annual profits of up to $737 million for gangs, nearly 3% of the country's gross domestic product, according to data from Association for a More Just Society, a security-focused non-governmental organization. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Activist groups, like the Grupo Prisma, have formed that educate and inform the general public as well as fight the current rules against homosexual relationships. Here is available the most popular Honduras Newspapers list. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. When more cameras arrived, men were forced to take off their shirts so the police could inspect them for gang tattoos in front of the bright lights. Wed say only experienced, intrepid travelers should tackle this one alone. Inside Honduras' most dangerous gangs 127,396 views Mar 8, 2020 1.2K Dislike Share Save Sky News 5.19M subscribers Warning: this report contains blurred images of dead bodies which some viewers. That said, the development that has taken place has not totally sucked the island dry of its charm. Honduran women face daily struggles. By BRENT MAZE. One example:tajadas(fried plantains, topped with cabbage and served with ground beef). January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid In January 2020, the government shut down the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. https://t.co/xQGbbyZXXv. The first 2,000 inmates were transferred to El Salvador's new mega-prison for hardcore gangbangers. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. That measure has proved popular among the public in El Salvador, and has resulted in the arrest of more than 56,000 people for alleged gang ties. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. Meanwhile, as Guatemalas electoral season heats up ahead of next years presidential election, some candidates have signaled that if elected, they would also implement hardline policies. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most-watched television news channel for 18 consecutive years. An audit of government purchases of medical supplies to fight Covid-19 revealed supplies worth tens of millions of dollars had gone missing. In the streets where insecurity lurks around each corner, many ordinary Hondurans want to see extreme measures human rights be damned and believe that anything short of that is not enough. There are taxi ranks in a lot of locations. Look and see where locals are eating. The law also sanctions abortion providers. The new criminal code decriminalized defamation, but retains other crimes of honorincluding insult and slanderwhich have been used to prosecute journalists in the past. 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. Share this via WhatsApp Police presented a comprehensive plan to reform laws and ramp up institutional capacity measures that experts believe could have a positive effect long-term but which were pushed aside by the short-term political decision to declare a state of exception. The government relies heavily on the military for public security. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. Honduras. via REUTERS. But you wont be (in a Honduran gang, that is). As dusk fell, a helicopter hovered menacingly over a dusty football field where several hundred police officers stood in formation, waiting for the clock to strike six and the imposition of a state of exception partially suspending constitutional guarantees in Honduras. There have been protests due tocontested election results in late 2017. It has experienced one of the world's highest homicide rates, with multiple forms of violence linked to drug trafficking groups. Honduras newspaper, TV channel news, online portal news, and magazine sites are getting popularity day by day around the world. Nearly 3.3 million people, or one in three Hondurans, were experiencing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity by late 2021. Most who can access the internet do so on their phones. Get a quote below or read our in-depth review! Its a massive issue. So backpacking Honduras isnt always just a breeze. So how do they do it?. Excessive use of force by police and deployment of the military in public security operations continued in 2020. Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committees Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Biodiversity is a huge part of Honduras. In the 2010s, Honduras' homicide rate skyrocketed, peaking in 2011 and slowly declining since. In fact, most people in Honduras have a family member in a gang. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. The MS13 and Barrio 18 street gangs control urban neighborhoods in the countrys two major cities Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and rural towns close to the border with El Salvador. For now, there are 15,000 taxis who want your attention. Sexual violence and oppression are frequent tragedies here. Living in Honduras means youll have to adjust your life to the way of life here. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency Meant to Fight Crime, FILE PHOTO: A member of Honduras' DIPAMPCO (Police Anti Maras and Gangs Against Organised Crime Directorate) stands guard as other DIPAMPCO members frisk people while doing rounds in a low-income neighbourhood, after President Xiomara Castro declared a national security emergency implementing a new plan to combat a rising number of cases of extortion by violent criminal groups operating across the country, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras November 26, 2022. According to the U.N., Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the world. The data was compiled by Citizen Council for Public Security, Justice, and Peace, a Mexican. Transgender woman activist killed in Honduras Utila is unlike the rest of mainland Honduras in just about every way. Naturally, youre going to be wondering, Is Honduras safe? That is why we have created this insiders guide looking at the safety of travelers in Honduras. Theyre old U.S. school buses that are poorly maintained,andovercrowded. Reaching primary sources and getting the real story involve extensive fieldwork. This Central American country actually has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Subscribe. 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 criminal gangs amid high levels of violence. Since June, 2021 the United States has shared 6,088,590 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Honduras - free of cost. It can get SUPER hot in Honduras. Close, Is Honduras Safe for Travel? Honduras and theUS signed anasylum cooperative agreement in 2019, whereby Honduras agreed to receivenon-Honduran asylum-seekerstransferred by the US. Juan Orlando Hernndez extolled his achievements as. As of September 2020, the US had yet to begin deporting any third country nationals to Honduras under the agreement. Honduras isnt a gay-friendly country, however, there are some movements that are going in the right direction. Investigations were underway at time of writing. FILE PHOTO: A member of Honduras' DIPAMPCO (Police Anti Maras and Gangs Against Organised Crime Directorate) stands guard as other DIPAMPCO members frisk people while doing rounds in a low-income neighbourhood, after President Xiomara Castro declared a national security emergency implementing a new plan to combat a rising number of cases of extortion by violent criminal groups operating across the country, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras November 26, 2022. Enjoy your travels! Women - Honduras has the fifth-highest rate of violence against women in the world. 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. LGBTpeople in Honduras are frequently the targets of violence and discrimination, according to Human Rights Watch research. In Honduras, Police Accused Of Corruption, Killings Hernndez ran for reelection in 2017 a controversial move in Honduras. So. Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. Almost 110,000 Hondurans were returned in 2019, mostly from Mexico. Do your own research. You should ask locals on the best routes to take to any given place. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously get you in trouble. The flavors, spices and. With all the threats of violence, theres alow number of tourists, so oddly you can really have anauthentic experiencehere while getting to know Honduran women, too. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Wed,03/01/23-8:24AM, 1,088 Reads 16,082 Statewide. Theyre fairly easy to use, but be aware of the risks. It is important to know that Utila is very much a developed backpacker hotspot. Its not a good idea to go out to bars and clubs by yourself. Some areas are also safer than others. Support focuses primarily on reintegration into the labor market, rather than assistance for people who fled seeking international protection. The storms, among other shocks, led to higher levels of food scarcity while weakening the states capacity to cope with displacement. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. Get the latest news about the IRC's innovative programs, compelling stories about our clients and how you can make a difference. Traveling around the country is a more complicated matter. Chances are, if you are arriving via a cruise ship, you will be safe. It was Zelaya's intention to seek a second term that coup leaders. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. A collection of moments during and after Barack Obama's presidency. 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. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. But traveling there is possible, of course. Also in February, the OAS special rapporteur on freedom of expression called on Honduras to decriminalize defamation and to properly investigate killings of journalists. 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. Since 2010, 42. We get it. Corruption, poor governance, and. 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. 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. Is Honduras safe for solo female travelers? Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide and armed robbery, is common. Youll be able to travel around here with relative ease. By MARLON GONZLEZ November 25, 2022. Not only that, but thecorruptionin everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. 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. Investigating organized crime is an expensive and often risky enterprise. Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency against gang crimes like extortion. Your laptop deserves a proper pack, and we know a good few! The government had granted him protective measures in January 2019. 20 Top Safety Tips for Traveling to Honduras.
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