honduras crime news
It may have improved it actually. While homicide rates have dropped in recent years, Honduras is still the most dangerous country in the region, with 38 homicides per 100,000 people. The government neither comprehensively protects the rights of children, including adolescents, nor ensures that they have access to basic services such as education and healthcare, the IACHR reported in 2019. So, yeah. And when it comes to the extreme violence of Honduras, thosevery highfigures come from gang violence. Share this via Twitter Newton County Sheriff's Office was involved with . It pays totravel smartin Honduras like ANYWHERE in the world. I agree with Bukele and I want the same here. Shootings are very common in poorer areas too. Take theBay Islands,for example. 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. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Chances are it wasnt cooked with too much care. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. In fact, according toInSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. 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. document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. But you wont be (in a Honduran gang, that is). Just 18 percent of Hondurans have internet access in their homes and a quarter of homes in rural areas dont have electricity. There are 37 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, and all 18 provinces are. Youll need to be a confident traveler. 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. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Lanza said drivers had been asking for a crackdown for years. As of August, prisons had reported 1,700 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths. Wed,03/01/23-8:26AM, 3 Reads. People are frisked in Tegucigalpa on 26 November. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostelsor otherbusinesses. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. 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. Theres no reason to get mixed up with a gang in Honduras. 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. via REUTERS. Whilst many people DO live here, it doesnt mean Honduras is safe to live. Look and see where locals are eating. Honduras is one of the most important drug trafficking operation centers between South America and Mexico. The data was compiled by Citizen Council for Public Security, Justice, and Peace, a Mexican. Not only that, but thecorruptionin everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. Xiomara Castros crackdown on gangs is also an attempt to counter allegations the government hasnt done enough to combat crime. This has a pretty good expat community too. Thats mainly to visit islands like Roatan. Corruption, poor governance, and. Youll be able to travel around here with relative ease. 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. 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. A ferry also runs betweenTrujilloandGuanaja. The government has set up roadblocks, deployed security forces, and used violence to prevent people from leaving the country. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best travel tips delivered right to your inbox. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in Scott County. FILE PHOTO: Police raid a house after Honduras' President Xiomara Castro (not pictured) mobilised . Hondurass prison population has doubled over the past decade, partly due to a 2013 reform that greatly expanded the use of mandatory pre-trial detention. Impunity for human rights abuses, violent crime, and corruption remains the norm, even as the prison population has mushroomed. 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. That said, the governmentclaimsthere has been a 52%decreasein violent crime over the past five years. You can definitely push your luck by staying in the wrong neighborhood as well. 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. 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. 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. All that in mind, there are places that expats dolive in Honduras. But the thing iswomen DO travel alone to Honduras. ThisCentral Americancountry suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with namely corruption, gangs,anddrugs. 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. Testimony provided by drug traffickers and Honduran politicians on trial in the United States have revealed the deep-seated connection between organized crime and the governing National Party. Gang violence is a big issue in Honduras. Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. 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. His security-at-all costs approach, and the reductions in violence and crime that have come with it, have found a captive audience in Honduras, but caused consternation among civil society, and closed down discussion of other options. By 2020 they want an additional milliontourists annually. Also in February, the OAS special rapporteur on freedom of expression called on Honduras to decriminalize defamation and to properly investigate killings of journalists. As of September 2020, the US had yet to begin deporting any third country nationals to Honduras under the agreement. And people do go. 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. Honduras is one of themurder capitalsof the world. Honduras and theUS signed anasylum cooperative agreement in 2019, whereby Honduras agreed to receivenon-Honduran asylum-seekerstransferred by the US. We can't put up any longer with workers being killed and paying extortion, Lanza said. 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. Tegucigalpa. 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. Again, thank you! Here is available the most popular Honduras Newspapers list. Honduras has the misfortune of being situated between South American cocaine production and U.S. drug consumption. At the same time, traveling alone can be stressful, boring, lonely, anddangerous in varying quantities. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. Since the end of the last decade, political protection has allowed the traditional drug trafficking groups to flourish. The story 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison was published by the Associated Press on 2022-07-04 18:29:24. Click here to read the full story: 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison. The state of emergency, in place Here's a list of 14: 1. A . Chances are, if you are arriving via a cruise ship, you will be safe. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. SafetyWing is convenient, cheap, and trouble-free Insurance was never this easy! 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. There are private coach servicesthat connect cities and towns that are usually moremaintained and more comfortable than the chicken buses. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) One day after six Honduran environmental activists were convicted for alleged actions against a mining operation, the Supreme Court's Constitutional Chamber unanimously sided with the defendants on two long-standing appeals and threw out their case late Thursday. Following domestic and international criticism, the government backtracked and a week later re-established constitutional free speech guarantees. February 18 2022 Receive free Honduras updates We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Honduras news every morning. Theyre fairly easy to use, but be aware of the risks. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). And if youre visiting as part of a tour, then youre likely to stay safe. 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. Hondurans are warm and welcoming people whohave to live day in, day out with the violence in their country. Some areas have increased risk. 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. Well be answering super important questions including How safe is Honduras right now? and Is it safe to live in Honduras? We also give loads of tips for solo travelers and families. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. In January 2020, the government shut down the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). 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.. They practice "war taxing", which is essentially just demanding money from people. Couple that with 470 miles of (mainly) Caribbean coastline, a load of beaches and tropical islands, as well asMayan ruinsand you got yourself adream destination. By BRENT MAZE. 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. 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. Travel smart and make sure your safety and security is your number one priority. Well Public transportation can be alittle trickyin Honduras, and its not always safe. The measure must still be approved by Congress. led to the detention of more than 2% of its adult population. Its a wild world out there. At least 86 journalists were killed from 2001 through July 2020, the Honduran College of Journalists reported, and 92 percent of those killings remain unpunished. If we didnt have Bukeles example, we could probably look for some control and security responses based on strengthening institutions.. 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 . FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. Gang violence is widespread in and around urban areas. 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. 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. Whether thats with friends and family back home, or with accommodation staff, or both. We hope these measures work and remain in place.. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in . But travelers DO take these buses. Theres a huge problem with single-use plastics in the Earths water and you dont have any assurance whatsoever that your bottles will be properly disposed of, even if youre careful to sort them in the proper bin. 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. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. There are definitely a fair few pros to solo travel. So. There have been protests due tocontested election results in late 2017. It is important to know that Utila is very much a developed backpacker hotspot. TEGUCIGALPA (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 criminal gangs amid high levels of violence. Violent gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, rape, and narcotics and human trafficking, is widespread. This rule especially goes at night. Theyre old U.S. school buses that are poorly maintained,andovercrowded. Sexual violence and oppression are frequent tragedies here. 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. One example:tajadas(fried plantains, topped with cabbage and served with ground beef). When the time came, the police departed in caravans to gang-infested neighbourhoods throughout the capital city, as part of an effort to combat an apparent rise in extortion. Support focuses primarily on reintegration into the labor market, rather than assistance for people who fled seeking international protection. Gang wars and fights with the police are common in this city. 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. The measure, part of leftist President Xiomara Castro's crackdown on gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, suspends some constitutional rights and allows security forces to detain people who they consider associated with or have committed crimes. These. Women, children and the LGBTQ+ community are the ones most affected and we have seen the demand for services skyrocket, while the organizations delivering aid need increased resources to be able to staff up to meet the urgent needs, says Meg Galas, director for northern Central America at the IRC. 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. 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. So long as violence in Honduras continues without impunity, major displacement will persist in 2022. Of the 6,088,590 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories. This isnt one for first-time backpackers. Seeing the world without anyone to answer to, getting to challenge yourself andgrow as a person. Honduran soldiers wearing facemasks guard the entrance to the city of San Pedro Sula during the coronavirus crisis on April 17, 2020. Category 5 hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Honduras in November 2020 and have had enduring impacts on farmersand the public generallyby destroying subsistence farms, killing livestock by the hundreds of thousands and reducing agricultural production. The UNspecialrapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders in Latin America. Some areas are also safer than others. And watch out for bad road conditions after heavy rain. The vaccine doses arrived in the Honduran capital on October 4 2021. Living in Honduras means youll have to adjust your life to the way of life here. Traveling around the country is a more complicated matter. Every dollar supports our mission. It can get SUPER hot in Honduras. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. Honduras | Today's latest from Al Jazeera Honduras Peru pulls ambassador from Honduras amid regional criticism Peru has struggled with diplomatic isolation as left-wing. 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 . Two private security officers were charged. Domestic and sexual violence are also widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. Xiomara should hurry up and go after all those gang members, said Isidora Varela, 70, at her market stand in downtown Tegucigalpa. The information present in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, the world is a changeable place, now more than ever. Violence has long ruled here. The government relies heavily on the military for public security. In December 2018, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found Honduras responsible for failing to investigate Hernndezs death. You dont know how clean the persons hands are whos been peeling and chopping the, Dont go TOO in on the food when you first arrive, especially if you get ill from food quite easily. (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 police chief in Honduras reported 356 fewer homicides between Dec. 6, 2022 and Feb 20, 2023, compared to the period Dec. 6, 2021 to Feb. 20, 2022. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. We then verify, write and edit, providing the tools to generate real impact. Chronic violence, climate crisis and the impacts of COVID-19 have deepened humanitarian needs and driven displacement. Jesse Watters: Buying mace in Manhattan is almost as hard as getting a gun. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. The island attracts a very different crowd indeed. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. Its not very safe to drive in Honduras. An audit of government purchases of medical supplies to fight Covid-19 revealed supplies worth tens of millions of dollars had gone missing.