The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. The prosecution may request an additional six-month extension, but many detainees remained in pretrial detention much longer, including for more time than the maximum period of incarceration for their alleged crime. 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. OSAC provides the latest safety- and security-related information, public announcements, travel advisories, terrorist group profiles, country crime and safety reports, and more to its constituency of more than 4,600 U.S. companies and organizations with overseas interests. The government did not effectively enforce the law. Cable signal theft and counterfeit products are the most prevalent violations of intellectual property rights in Honduras. Profile. Although penalties include prison sentences of up to two years and fines, they were not sufficient to deter violations. Pretrial Detention: Judicial inefficiency, corruption, and insufficient resources delayed proceedings in the criminal justice system, and lengthy pretrial detention was a serious problem. Due to the remote nature of these areas, the governments ability to respond to violence or other problems is often very limited, as is access to medical facilities. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and USAID implementing partners have reported threats and violence when visiting some rural communities. In April 2019, one or more individuals attempted a surreptitious breach of perimeter fencing at a U.S. Embassy residence. As a result of Honduran government efforts in close cooperation with the United States, homicide rates have fallen from 86.0 per 100,000 residents in 2012 to 43.6 per 100,000 at the end of 2019. According to CONAPREV, the system was designed for approximately 13,000 inmates. Indigenous and ethnic minority communities are frequently located in rural areas, which enjoy lower levels of criminal activity. The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. Credit card skimming is common. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. CONADEH received complaints involving human rights abuses and referred them to the Public Ministry for investigation. NGOs reported IDPs were at increased risk of victimization and exploitation by criminal groups. 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. Counterfeit medicines are available inpulperas (private home-operated convenience stores), but have also been reported inFarmacias del Ahorro. Criminalization: No laws exist to criminalize same-sex conduct. 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. The law prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of emergency contraception for any reason, including by survivors of sexual violence. Prisoners suffered from gross overcrowding; insufficient access to food, water, and medical supplies; violence; and alleged abuse by prison officials. Former First Lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo was found guilty of fraud and misappropriation of public funds during a retrial on March 17. During 2019, multiple vehicles belonging to U.S. and Honduran employees of the U.S. Embassy were burglarized and/or vandalized on side streets around the Embassy compound. As of August, it provided protection to 11 journalists and 16 social media communicators, among other types of activists and human rights defenders. 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. The law provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these related rights. CONADEH received no reports of racial or ethnic discrimination as of August. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. 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. 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 following diseases are prevalent in Honduras: Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Zika. Review OSACs reports, There are an estimated 7,000-10,000 gang members in a country with an approximate population of ten million people. 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, Counterfeit U.S. currency is also common. ; and read the State Departments webpage on, Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. However, protesters will also block, key intercity transportation routes and intracity intersections with burning tires, rocks and other debris, to include the roads leading to the international airports in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and the CA-5 and CA-11 highways. 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. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, a. Exercise extreme caution driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves. 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. Some judges, however, ruled that such suspects may be released on the condition that they continue to report periodically to authorities. The OSAC information exchange mechanism also . Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. Additionally, under the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework, with significant support from UNHCR, the Secretariat of Human Rights and Secretariat of External Relations and International Cooperation continued to build capacity to provide services to vulnerable populations, including IDPs, those at risk of forced displacement, refugees, and returned migrants. January to December 2019, Secretariat of Security Honduran National Police. The law allows bail for persons charged with some felonies and gives prisoners the right of prompt access to family members. In addition to complying with local laws, companies involved in natural resource extraction or energy generation should ensure they fully consult with communities in accordance with international standards. Only sealed commercial water containers (bottles) are considered safe to drink. On July 4, alleged members of the 18th Street gang killed six fellow gang members at the El Pozo maximum security prison in Ilama, Santa Brbara Department. Crisis in Honduras: Ongoing violence and climate shocks Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. Administration: The judicial system is legally responsible for monitoring prison conditions and providing for the rights of prisoners. 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. According to a November 2019 study entitled Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility for the Central District and Comayaguela, 48% of passengers reported having been assaulted one time in the past 12 months while traveling on a, , 31% twice, 11% three times, and 10% more than three times. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. Persons with disabilities, Indigenous and Afro-descendant persons, LGBTQI+ persons, and persons with HIV or AIDS also faced discrimination in employment and occupation (also see section 6). 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. The government attempted to enhance its response to domestic violence by elevating the National Womens Institute to a cabinet-level secretariat in March. Contraception supplies were limited, as were many other critical medicines, due to the governments dismantling of its public health procurement system in May. Cruise ship passengers should take safety precautions, avoid unfamiliar areas, and book only with reputable tour companies during their stopover in Honduras. Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. The law grants workers the right to form and join unions of their choice, bargain collectively, and strike. 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. Review OSACs report, If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa. Violence was often rooted in a broader context of conflict over land and natural resources, corruption, lack of transparency and community consultation, other criminal activity, and limited state ability to protect the rights of vulnerable communities. Many of these U.S. citizens are church and humanitarian aid volunteers working throughout the country, including in gang-controlled neighborhoods. However, there can be communal tension over land ownership, natural resource allocation, and exploitation. The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. Employers frequently refused to comply with Secretariat of Labor orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. The law does not criminalize domestic violence but provides penalties of up to 12 years in prison for violence against a family member, depending on the severity of the assault and aggravating circumstances. Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, Office of the U.S. Displaced Children: Civil society organizations reported that common causes of forced displacement for youth included death threats for failure to pay extortion, attempted recruitment by gangs, witnessing criminal activity by gangs or criminal groups, domestic violence, attempted kidnappings, family members involvement in drug dealing, victimization by traffickers, rape (including commercial sexual exploitation by gangs), discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, sexual harassment, and discrimination for having a chronic medical condition. In addition, the monitoring center estimated approximately 937,000 individuals were forcibly displaced by 2020 natural disasters. 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.