However, whilst its quite dangerous, the government is promoting tourism in Honduras. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. So no. Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. We then verify, write and edit, providing the tools to generate real impact. EIN number 13-5660870. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. At nighttime, you should really get a taxi. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Members of the military police of public order get ready during a special operation in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. Locals have to pay war taxes which keeps the poverty rate high as well. Most who can access the internet do so on their phones. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Youll be able to travel around here with relative ease. Drug trafficking gangs, corruption, and extreme poverty keep Honduras down. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. Journalists, environmental activists,lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals,and people with disabilities are among the groups targeted forviolence. These are the things to avoid in Honduras: Avoid looking wealthy or like a tourist Avoid the beaches after dark Dont use ATMs at night Stay away from drugs. Following domestic and international criticism, the government backtracked and a week later re-established constitutional free speech guarantees. You basically pay for safety, but better safe than sorry wed say. This perception has grown despite a slight reduction in homicides this year, according to preliminary data, and a significant drop over the past decade since Honduras held the ignominious title of the worlds most violent country. Many people do travel to this particular part of Honduras,even with their families. 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. Anyone else would do well with a trusted tour group. It can get SUPER hot in Honduras. Honduras has been through a lot in recent years. 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. Get fresh updates on organized crime from across the region delivered to your inbox. Chances are it wasnt cooked with too much care. 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. See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories. But this article is written for savvy travellers from the perspective of savvy travellers. Share this via Printer, As More Climate Chaos Looms, Slashing Fossil Fuels Is Key. 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. But you wont be (in a Honduran gang, that is). Late Thursday, Nov. 24, Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. If we didnt have Bukeles example, we could probably look for some control and security responses based on strengthening institutions.. 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. They forcibly recruit children and sexually abuse women, girls, and LGBT people. 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. Every year, more than 100,000 Hondurans are internally displaced, migrate, seek protection abroad, or are deported back to Honduras. 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. Travel smart and make sure your safety and security is your number one priority. Not only that, but thecorruptionin everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. It was focused on the security, or lack of security in Honduras. Thats why weve listed and answered the most frequently asked questions on safety in Honduras. But travelers DO take these buses. So far, the state of exception in Honduras has produced some arrests and forced the gangs and other criminal groups to keep a lower profile. Wed say only experienced, intrepid travelers should tackle this one alone. Some areas have increased risk. By BRENT MAZE. Honduras isnt exactly what wed callsafe. Members of the military police of public order patrol a street during a special operation against criminal gangs in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. He estimated the companies and drivers have paid an average of about $10 million per month to the gangs in order to operate. The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the gangs. Sexual violence and oppression are frequent tragedies here. 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. REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File PhotoReuters. Its a country with a big heart. Two private security officers were charged. Share this via Email Often, people with disabilities are threatened and subjected to extortion by criminal gangs. Take theBay Islands,for example. 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. But if the peace in the condemning nations were to rupture the way it has in El Salvador and Honduras, we can bet they . A quarter of women and girls become pregnant before turning 18the second-highest rate in Latin America. The mission in early December was ostensibly to raid a casa loca, an abandoned home used by gang members. Weve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. Feb. 21, 2023, at 6:11 p.m. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency for Second Time. San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has been given the unfortunate title of the most dangerous city in the world. A local TV correspondent needed to do a live shot for one of the countrys most-watched news programs. But traveling there is possible, of course. There are private coach servicesthat connect cities and towns that are usually moremaintained and more comfortable than the chicken buses. Gangs attacking other gangs. This is an issue that has not been taken seriously by the Honduran state.. There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. Established in 2016 by the government and the Organization of American States (OAS), theMACCIHcontributed to the prosecution of 133 people, including congresspeople and senior officials, 14 of whom faced criminal trials. Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committees Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. STANTON COUNTY, Neb. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to twomain gangs:Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) andBarrio 18. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. Again, thank you! 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. 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 storms, among other shocks, led to higher levels of food scarcity while weakening the states capacity to cope with displacement. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. This helps keep everyone in poverty. 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. 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. Almendares had repeatedly received death threats since 2017 in relation to his reporting. Security Minister Oscar Alvarez says police have identified two suspects among the five attackers . Get the latest news about the IRC's innovative programs, compelling stories about our clients and how you can make a difference. 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. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. It pays totravel smartin Honduras like ANYWHERE in the world. Lanza said drivers had been asking for a crackdown for years. Corruption, poor governance, and. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. In El Salvador, a Thin Line Between Community Policing and Vigilantism. That means getting used to gangs, violence, and corruption. Abortionisillegalin Honduras in all circumstances. Gang violence and organized crime are leading causes of displacement from Honduras. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. Thats mainly to visit islands like Roatan. It is honestly NOT safe to drink the water in Honduras. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we dont believe are up to scratch. Youll need to be a confident traveler. Honduras isnt different from lots of other great backpacking countries in that youre never absolutely safe from food-borne illness. There's no avoiding violence in Honduras, even at home. Youll also have to take care that your children dont stay in the sun fortoo long. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. The US is losing allies in Latin America just as production of cocaine, fentanyl, and other synthetic drugs is going through the roof. 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. Radio Globo directorDavid Romero, convicted of defamation in 2016, died in prison from Covid-19 in July. People here live in pretty supreme poverty 60%of the population living in poverty really isa lot of people. There are 37 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, and all 18 provinces are. Its prettyextreme. 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. Certain routes that these take have been the target ofarmed attacks. Theres alsoLa Ceiba. We dont want to recommend traveling to the rest of Honduras with your family. It is important to know that Utila is very much a developed backpacker hotspot. An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! Since 2017, the government has operated centers to support returned migrants. 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. Get your accommodation to either recommenda good company or just book one for you. And were not going to lie,Honduras doesnt exactly lend itself to solo travel. Gangs control areas within the same communities,. Honduras, in general, is open and welcoming to children. 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. 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. In the 2010s, Honduras' homicide rate skyrocketed, peaking in 2011 and slowly declining since. 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. Schools were closed from March onward due to the Covid-19 pandemic. How to tackle it is another issue. Gang violence is widespread in and around urban areas. Its dangerous there.. Allegations that senior politicians had been benefiting financially from the drug trade contributed to the unrest. As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostelsor otherbusinesses. Honduras is one of the most important drug trafficking operation centers between South America and Mexico. 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. These. Domestic and sexual violence are also widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt. Theres more nature here than you can shake a stick at. Roatan is the largest of the Honduras Bay Islands. 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 theyre generally safe. As a result, humanitarian needs for food, health, nutrition and protection have increased. Living in Honduras means youll have to adjust your life to the way of life here. Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands. In November 2020, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights heard the case of Vicky Hernndez, a trans woman allegedly extrajudicially executed in 2009. You will have to agree on a pricebefore you get in. Honduras may sound scary, but if you take into account the advice of locals, plan ahead, and use your common sense,Honduras will open up to you as a solo female traveler. Honduras is one of themurder capitalsof the world. 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. It provided a family, a sense of belonging. And what you had, you know, after the coup, while the U.S. did cut assistance, it was very. ; Children and Adolescents - Honduras has the highest youth homicide rate in the world. So how do they do it?. 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. 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. 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. It also documented widespread mistreatment of people detained and arrested during the protests. Keeping yourself away from any situation to do with them will be a good way to keep yourself pretty much safe. These are the safest islands: Once you get off the ferry in Utila you have officially entered an alternate reality. FILE - Honduras' President Xiomara Castro addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 20, 2022. Prisons saw significant Covid-19 outbreaks. There is limited data on the effectiveness of the program in Honduras. But the thing iswomen DO travel alone to Honduras. Is Honduras safe for solo female travelers? That being said, its still one of the murder capitals in the world, so if youre an inexperienced travellers, you wont be safe. They are taxed by gangs. But if youre thinking about it, here are some tips. Gangsplay a big part of life here. Theyre old U.S. school buses that are poorly maintained,andovercrowded. You should ask locals on the best routes to take to any given place. A woman is killed every 23 hours on average, the National Autonomous University of Honduras Violence Observatory reports.
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