They practice "war taxing", which is essentially just demanding money from people. The Secretariat of Human Rights provided training to security forces to increase respect for human rights. Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Improvements: Through August, CONAPREV trained 494 technical, administrative, and security personnel on topics including prison management and human rights. Credible allegations of corruption in the Secretariat of Labor continued. The law requires that persons with disabilities have access to buildings, but few buildings were accessible, and the national government did not effectively implement laws or programs to provide such access. Campbell was an LGBTI activist and member of the Rainbow Dolls, an organization that fought violence and discrimination against members of the LGBTI community. There were allegations that companies used collective pacts, which are collective contracts with nonunionized workers, to prevent unionization and collective bargaining because only one collective contract may exist in each workplace. Preliminary data published by the countries in the region comprising Central America and the Dominican Republic shows that there were fewer homicides in 2020 than in 2019. Pretrial Detention: Judicial inefficiency, corruption, and insufficient resources delayed proceedings in the criminal justice system, and lengthy pretrial detention was a serious problem. Around 191,000 people were. Authorities arrested Bogran on October 5 and released him on October 8 on bail pending trial. Introductory offer for new subscribers only. Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the Latin American region, with 6.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The . Many inspectors asked workers to provide them with transportation so that they could conduct inspections, since the STSS could not pay for travel to worksites. On August 5, an appeals court dismissed charges against 22 defendants indicted in the so-called Pandora case, a 2013 scheme that allegedly funneled 289.4 million lempiras ($12 million) in government agricultural funds to political campaigns. The Ministries of Security and Defense both have human rights offices that investigated alleged human rights abuses and coordinated human rights-related activities with the Secretariat of Human Rights. Employers frequently penalized agricultural workers for taking legally authorized days off. Fines for child labor were not sufficient to deter violations and not commensurate with penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. The Violence Observatory reported 55 killings of women from March 15 to June 6, compared with 102 for the same period in 2019. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The commercial sexual exploitation of children, especially in sex trafficking, remained a problem. An IACHR report noted there were insufficient hospital beds and inadequate supplies at the only hospital that services Gracias a Dios Department, home to the majority of the Miskito community. Josue Alvarado allegedly shot Marvin Alvarado after a heated discussion over Marvin Alvarados failure to wear a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federation of Agroindustry Workers Unions reported massive layoffs and cancelation of contracts in the maquila sector during the pandemic without providing welfare benefits. This was the result of strong legislation, low cybersecurity exposure (how exposed the digital infrastructure is) and the exceptional top score at the Global Cybersecurity Index, one of the six indices taken . Although 74 percent of births were attended by skilled health care personnel, NGOs reported that there were significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. The director of the national disaster management agency, Gabriel Rubi, was removed from his position in April. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) reported that authorities at times failed to enforce these requirements effectively. Many prisons lacked sufficient security personnel. This force is composed of active members of the army and national police. is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes the development of international air navigation safety and security . The HNPs Violent Crimes Task Force investigated crimes against high-profile and particularly vulnerable victims, including journalists as well as judges, human rights activists, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to the Inter-American Human Rights System. The national curfew instituted in response to COVID-19, however, severely limited the freedom of internal movement. Although the Interinstitutional Security Force reports to the National Security and Defense Council, it plays a coordinating role and did not exercise broad command and control functions over other security forces except during interagency operations involving those forces. As of June the Violence Observatory reported killings of 71 persons younger than 18. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. The COVID-19 lockdown and curfew affected sex workers income and further exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. Yes, despite all the historical crime and violence, which don't affect tourists, El Salvador is safe to visit in 2023. You can add more than one country or area. The government investigated and prosecuted many of these crimes, particularly through the national polices Violent Crimes Task Force. The police will make their situation more difficult. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. The law allows the release of other suspects pending formal charges, on the condition that they periodically report to authorities, although management of this reporting mechanism was often weak. The PA has administrative control over Area B (about 22 percent of the West Bank), but security control is . Honduras With a crime index of 74.54, Honduras ranks fifth in the world in terms of crime rate. "They came up on me with a loaded 9mm gun with an extended clip, at least 40 bullets or so," a Houston homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, told FOX 26 . The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. Bernardez was a leader in the Punta Piedra community. These reporting centers were in addition to the 298 government-operated womens officesone in each municipalitythat provided a wide array of services to women, focusing on education, personal finance, health, social and political participation, environmental stewardship, and prevention of gender-based violence. Several anonymous social media sites, possibly linked to political parties, criticized journalists (as well as activists and civil society organizations) who were critical of the government or opposition party policies. The National Migration Institute secretary general, responsible for final case determinations, had not resumed this function as of October. Discrimination: Although the law accords women and men the same legal rights and status, including property rights in divorce cases, many women did not fully enjoy such rights. The Committee of Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH) reported 28 cases of alleged torture by security forces through September, while the Public Ministry received three such reports. The government did not effectively enforce occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, particularly in the construction, garment assembly, and agricultural sectors, as well as in the informal economy. The government had a nascent system to provide protection to refugees. Anticorruption efforts remained an area of concern, as did the governments ability to protect justice sector officials, such as prosecutors and judges. 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. There are 42 categories of monthly minimum wages, based on the industry and the size of a companys workforce; the minimum average was above the poverty line. The long-term history of gangs in Honduras can be traced all the way back to the fall of the Spanish Empire in the mid 1800s. Both the ministry and the commission focused on developing policies to address IDPs. Transgender women were particularly vulnerable to employment and education discrimination; many could find employment only as sex workers, increasing their vulnerability to violence and extortion. Public-sector trade unionists raised concerns about government interference in trade union activities, including its suspension or ignoring of collective agreements and its dismissals of union members and leaders. In January 2020, the president announced the dismantling of the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (Misin de Apoyo Contra la Corrupcin y la Impunidad en Honduras, MACCIH), which was backed by the Organization of American States (OAS). Honduras Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. In all of 2019, the STSS levied fines of more than 38.1 million lempiras ($1.58 million) but collected only 755,000 lempiras ($31,300). Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes various forms of sexual harassment. Female victims of domestic violence are entitled to certain protective measures, such as removal of the abuser from the home and prohibiting the abuser from visiting the victims work or other frequently visited places. The government relies heavily on the . Indigenous communities continued to report threats and acts of violence against them and against community and environmental activists. Honduras's peak of violent crime was in 2012, where the country experienced about 20 homicides per day, typically carried out by gun-toting gangs such as Barrio 18 or Mara Salvatrucha. Honduras is one of the murder capitals of the world. There were no reports of anti-Semitic acts. The government did not effectively enforce the law. The collapse of this empire left the territories of what we now understand to be Central America, to split off into separate regions. The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs (DIDADPOL) investigated members of the Honduran National Police (HNP) accused of human rights abuses. According to the Center for the Investigation and Promotion of Human Rights, on March 24, police arbitrarily detained Evelyn Johana Castillo, sub-coordinator of the Womens Network of Ojojona and member of the National Network of Defenders of Human Rights. Nearly 3.3 million people, or one in three Hondurans, were experiencing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity by late 2021. For crimes with minimum sentences of six years imprisonment, the law authorizes pretrial detention of up to two years. Employers frequently refused to comply with STSS orders that required them to reinstate workers who had been dismissed for participating in union activities. The government has an Office for Persons with Disabilities located within the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion, but its ability to provide services to persons with disabilities was limited. . COFADEH reported an increase of complaints regarding the use of excessive and disproportionate force by security forces under the national curfew. Regulations for implementing the law remained under development as of September. The Public Ministry reported five such cases undergoing trial, with four cases in the sentencing phase of trial. The law does not authorize pretrial detention for crimes with a maximum sentence of five years or less. In 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 inhabitants in Honduras. Invest-H, the agency in charge of purchasing medical supplies during the pandemic, purchased seven mobile hospitals for 1.13 billion lempiras ($47 million), more than 289.4 million lempiras ($12 million) above the manufacturers quoted price. The government continued to prosecute some officials who committed abuses, but a weak judicial system and corruption were major obstacles to gaining convictions. Organized-crime organizations, such as drug traffickers and local and transnational gangs including MS-13 and the 18th Street gang, committed killings, extortion, kidnappings, human trafficking, and intimidation of police, prosecutors, journalists, women, and human rights defenders. The law provides for freedom of peaceful assembly, and the government generally respected this right. The Honduran National Police maintain internal security and report to the Secretariat of Security. LONDON (AP) Britain's domestic intelligence agency didn't act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the suicide bombing that killed 22 people at a CONAPREV reported every prison had a functioning health clinic with at least one medical professional, but basic medical supplies and medicines were in short supply throughout the prison system. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide and armed robbery, is common. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. Health-care workers protested the lack of adequate protective equipment and delayed salary payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery, although the Supreme Court significantly raised salaries during the year and made improvements in transparency. Authorities generally respected these rights. According to UNICEF, 8 percent of children were married before age 15, and 34 percent before age 18. Even so, many prisoners remained in custody after completing their full sentences, and sometimes even after an acquittal, because officials failed to process their releases expeditiously. The law regulates child labor, sets the minimum age for employment at age 14, and regulates the hours and types of work that minors younger than 18 may perform. The National Human Rights Commission of Honduras received complaints about human rights abuses and referred them to the Public Ministry for investigation. Most child labor occurred in rural areas. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. The government used pretrial detention centers to hold high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security. Also see the Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report at https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. Media reported prison riots and violent confrontations between gang members in prisons throughout the year. Abuse of Migrants, Refugees, and Stateless Persons: Transiting migrants and asylum seekers with pending cases were vulnerable to abuse by criminal organizations. Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Special Representative for Syria Engagement, U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Office of the U.S. These conditions contributed to an unstable, dangerous environment in the penitentiary system. Christian James Morrow. . There was only limited support for persons with mental illnesses or disabilities. That is 2,607 fewer homicides. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. The IACHR reported the government at times used a policy of arbitrary detentions or arrests to inhibit protest. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated abuses by the military. Recent Elections: In December 2017 Juan Orlando Hernandez of the National Party was declared the winner in the November elections. Occupational safety and health standards were current but not effectively enforced. There is also a Human Rights Committee in the National Congress. In terms of murder rate, it's the second most violent country in Central or South America, trailing only Venezuela. As of September no new trial date had been set. On September 16, the Public Ministry filed an indictment against army military police officer Josue Noe Alvarado Giron for the April 24 murder of Marvin Rolando Alvarado Santiago at a military roadblock in Omoa, Cortes. Download Historical Data El Salvador is not dangerous for travelers as violence has declined to its lowest level in over 30 years. The STSS completed 13 inspections as of March and did not find any minors working without permission. Both the STSS and the courts may order a company to reinstate workers, but the STSS lacked the means to verify compliance. osac crime and safety report hondurasmary catherine o'shea daughter of virginia mayo. The Office of the Inspector General of the Armed Forces and the Humanitarian Law Directorate investigated and arrested members of the military accused of human rights abuses. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam . Section 1. Overview: The IDF, under the Israeli Ministry of Defense, is responsible for the West Bank, but PA security forces were granted security control of 17.5 percent (called Area A) under the 1993 Oslo Accords. Powerful special interests, including organized-crime groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. Some companies also delayed appointing or failed to appoint representatives for required STSS-led mediation, a practice that prolonged the mediation process and impeded the right to strike. A federal grand jury on Friday indicted the man accused of shooting two Jewish men in February with hate crime and firearm offenses, the US Attorney's Office for the Central Forced labor occurred in street vending, domestic service, the transport of drugs and other illicit goods, other criminal activity, and the informal sector. By the end of 2019, over 800,000 people from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras had sought protection either within their countries or had crossed international borders seeking asylum to escape. ANDERSON An Indiana man suspected of setting fire to an Anderson residence in 2020 is charged with attempted murder and first-degree arson, according to court records. Through September the secretariat trained 2,764 law enforcement officials in human rights and international humanitarian law. Corruption: On March 13, the Supreme Court of Justice ordered a new trial for former first lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo, spouse of former president Porfirio Lobo, who was convicted in August 2019 of fraud and misappropriation of public funds and sentenced to 58 years in prison. Journalists, environmental activists, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, and people with disabilities are among the groups targeted for violence. | Learn more about Daniel Jackson's work experience, education, connections & more by visiting their profile on LinkedIn The law allows only local unions to call strikes, prohibits labor federations and confederations from calling strikes, and requires that a two-thirds majority of both union and nonunion employees at an enterprise approve a strike. The law does not cover domestic workers. The law prohibits all of the worst forms of child labor. Honduras is a constitutional, multiparty republic. Public-sector unions expressed concern about some officials refusing to honor bargaining agreements and firing union leaders.