Not really. . Weve made it pretty clear that Honduras isnt the safest country. The government relies heavily on the military for public security. Its a wild world out there. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. Your laptop deserves a proper pack, and we know a good few! Violence in Honduras is usually attributed to gangs and organised crime, but US federal prosecutors have implicated high-level politicians, the military and police in cocaine trafficking to the US . As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. via REUTERS. The story 6 gang members killed in Honduras prison was published by the Associated Press on 2022-07-04 18:29:24. Allegations that senior politicians had been benefiting financially from the drug trade contributed to the unrest. Were not going to lie its pretty sketchy. In addition, gang recruitment of minors has contributed to the increasing numbers of families and unaccompanied children leaving Honduras for Mexico, some planning to travel onward to the U.S.. Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. There have been protests due tocontested election results in late 2017. Please donate. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! And theyre generally safe. Historically, governments have responded with iron-fist security strategies to combat organized crime, enacting tougher legislation and increasing police presence and mass detentions. In Honduras, one of the most violent countries in the world, 60 percent of deaths are attributed to organized crime. But before arriving, the car stopped and the caravan split. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. This is apretty safe area to visit. 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. Thepublic busesconsist ofthe good oldchicken bus. Youre connected. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. How to tackle it is another issue. To reduce overcrowding in response to the pandemic, the legislature approved alternatives to pretrial detention in June and judges released more than 1,600 people. 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. Many Hondurans dont have access toclean waterandmedical care. So youll likely escape having to pay war tax (or facing the consequences). Its prettyextreme. 20 Top Safety Tips for Traveling to Honduras. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. In September, two men shot and killed journalist Luis Alonzo Almendares in Comayagua. Politicians are manipulated by criminals or other politicians. 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. This coastal city is more welcoming togringos than other places and features beaches fringed bycoral reefsand theres a lot of new development happening here. Prolonged droughts have undermined food production, while in October 2021 a wildfire in the Guanaja region affected thousands. We are all about smart travel and were here to help you travel smart too. I wouldnt dare to say that [extortion] has skyrocketed because it has been so high for many years, said Leticia Salomn, a sociologist and researcher with the Documentation Center of Honduras. There's no avoiding violence in Honduras, even at home. Security forces committed abuses while enforcing a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown that President Juan Orlando Hernndez imposed in March. This is essentially anunsafecountry. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. In El Salvador, a Thin Line Between Community Policing and Vigilantism. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. Police chief Gustavo Sanchez said the decision, based on what he told journalists were good results during December, will allow continued reductions in crime and violence. Political power brokers also have ties to drug smuggling and have even run trafficking operations themselves. All rights reserved. More information. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. Corruption, poor governance, and. And Hondurascan be a safe place for solo female travelers, but wed only recommend it after some solo travel experience. 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. While Honduras is not seeing the political armed conflict common in most Watchlist countries this year, criminal gang violence is widespread. Along with Honduras, the IRC also identified Haiti and Venezuela as the countries most at risk of experiencing deteriorating humanitarian crises in 2022 in Latin America and the Caribbean. One example:tajadas(fried plantains, topped with cabbage and served with ground beef). The government has set up roadblocks, deployed security forces, and used violence to prevent people from leaving the country. Look and see where locals are eating. If we didnt have Bukeles example, we could probably look for some control and security responses based on strengthening institutions.. 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. In Honduras, Police Accused Of Corruption, Killings Hernndez ran for reelection in 2017 a controversial move in Honduras. In terms of murder rate, it's the second most violent country in Central or South America, trailing only Venezuela. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. Corruption, no supervision, and poor legislation have led to Latin American military weapons ending up in criminal hands. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. So long as violence in Honduras continues without impunity, major displacement will persist in 2022. if youre visiting Honduras, you will have to avoid this city completely. But its pretty damn special too. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Gang violence and organized crime are leading causes of displacement from Honduras. Honduras is one of themurder capitalsof the world. I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. But if the peace in the condemning nations were to rupture the way it has in El Salvador and Honduras, we can bet they . Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. So whilst its gettingsafer, its a slow process. 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. At the same time, traveling alone can be stressful, boring, lonely, anddangerous in varying quantities. 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. 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. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to twomain gangs:Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) andBarrio 18. 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. We do our best to advise but this info may already be out of date. Honduras isnt a gay-friendly country, however, there are some movements that are going in the right direction. In December 2018, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found Honduras responsible for failing to investigate Hernndezs death. Theres more nature here than you can shake a stick at. 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. You can catch a ferry from the mainland atLa Ceibato eitherUtilaorRoatan. Efforts to reform public-security institutions have stalled. More than half of detained men and two-thirds of detained women were in pretrial detention. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. The data was compiled by Citizen Council for Public Security, Justice, and Peace, a Mexican. They offer simple & flexible travel insurance, and safety advice to help you travel confidently. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. Over60% of the populationlive below the poverty line. Close, Is Honduras Safe for Travel? Most who can access the internet do so on their phones. The inmates, all from Honduras, had reportedly escaped custody yesterday in Scott County. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. If youre not on a highwayyoull probably need a 44. A quarter of women and girls become pregnant before turning 18the second-highest rate in Latin America. 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. 2023, The Broke Backpacker. 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. 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. So. Is Honduras safe for solo female travelers? REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File Photo. You can definitely push your luck by staying in the wrong neighborhood as well. Violence against LGBT individuals forces many to leave their homes, fleeing internally or leaving the country to seek asylum. Gangs kill, disappear, rape, or displace those who resist. Heres what you need to know about the growing crisis in Honduras. Read on for more detailed information on how to have a safe trip to Honduras. Taxis areall over the placein Honduras. This social democratic government is declaring war on extorsion, just as it has, since the first day, declared wars on corruption, impunity and drug trafficking," Castro said. Gangsplay a big part of life here. If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. Everyone from children to adults are recruited. A study by the National Violence Observatory of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) placed the country as the most violent territory in Central America, with a homicide rate of 38.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. We provide cash to help people meet basic needs. Poor health infrastructure and limited access to sanitation services has contributed to the spread of the virus. The flavors, spices and. The effort comes amid complaints by business owners, the transportation sector and ordinary Hondurans that extortion by criminals has risen in recent months. Extortion and Sexual Violence: Womens Unspoken Suffering, Loan Sharking Grows in Costa Rica by Piggybacking on Drug Trafficking, Extortion of Guatemalas Red Buses: Where Gang and Elite Criminal Interests Meet, The Lucky Kingpin: How Chepe Diablo Has (So Far) Ridiculed Justice, Guatemala's Mafia State and the Case of Mauricio Lpez Bonilla, University Deans and Guatemalas Convoluted Road to a New Attorney General, GameChangers 2022: Drug Bonanza Amid Prohibition Challenges in 2023, Honduras' State of Exception May Set Worrying Precedent, Why Money Launderers in Honduras May Be Getting Away With It, Military Arsenals Provide Convenient Source of Weapons for Latin American Gangs, Extortion in Northern Triangle Worth Over $1 Billion Annually: Report, Latin American Leaders Voice Security Concerns At United Nations General Assembly. Here are three reasons the International Rescue Committees Emergency Watchlist ranks Honduras among 20 countries most at risk of worsening humanitarian crisis in 2022. The measure must still be approved by Congress. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Dont drink the water without treating, and steer clear of ice cubes,too. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. The first 2,000 inmates were transferred to El Salvador's new mega-prison for hardcore gangbangers. Donate now to support the IRC's life-changing work in Honduras, across northern Central America, and worldwide. The mission in early December was ostensibly to raid a casa loca, an abandoned home used by gang members. Newton County Sheriff's Office was involved with . document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. Investigations were underway at time of writing. 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. Indeed, Honduras is seeing a plague of femicidesa woman is murdered every 36 hours, mostly by an intimate partner. The Gordon Ramsay Honduras Video Just last week the BBC affiliated chef published a video of Honduras. Between 2005 and 2019, 34 percent of women who were 20-24 years old had married when they were 15-19, the UN Population Fund reported in 2020. This new donation is in addition to the 81,900 doses of Pfizer . Womenand girls who terminate pregnancies face prison sentences of up to six years. 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. Theyve been doing it since 2002 protecting, connecting, and inspiring independent travellers just like you. 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. It is honestly NOT safe to drink the water in Honduras. msn back to msn home news Skip To Navigation Your little ones get to see the Mesoamerican Reef,thesecond largest barrier reef in the world. In April, the office expressed concern regarding accusations of excesive use of force by state security agents enforcing the governments Covid-19 restrictions. Please support our mission investigating organized crime. Extortion in Latin America continues to bring in fortunes for criminal gangs. Those who work in the transportation sector (taxi and bus drivers) are notable targets of gangs, but many are unable to flee for fear of retaliatory violence against themselves and their . Security Minister Oscar Alvarez says police have identified two suspects among the five attackers . Until his life grew increasingly violent. ThisCentral Americancountry suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with namely corruption, gangs,anddrugs. It included provisions that appeared aimed at reducing penalties for politicians linked to organized crime, by lowering sentences for corruption and related offenses. LGBTpeople in Honduras are frequently the targets of violence and discrimination, according to Human Rights Watch research. Police were allegedly in the area when private security forces opened fired against several families but did not help the victims, witnesses told the press. Following domestic and international criticism, the government backtracked and a week later re-established constitutional free speech guarantees. The men remained missing at time of writing. Share this via Telegram For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. 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. Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. 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. And this area is great for children. February 18 2022 Receive free Honduras updates We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Honduras news every morning. Prosecutors and whistleblowers have received death threats. 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 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. Thats why we listed the no-go areas in Honduras below. 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. Journalists, environmental activists, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). People do it. Subscribe. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. This has a pretty good expat community too. While there were a few violent crime incidents, most travelers have a safe and pleasant stay. Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). (Reporting by Orfa Mejia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Leslie Adler). 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. There are taxi ranks in a lot of locations. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. Nevertheless, the political gains to be had from emulating Bukeles hardline policies may be too enticing to pass up. We wouldnt recommend members of the LGBTQ+ community to visit Honduras unless theyre prepared to keep any sort of affection behind closed doors. Theyre fairly easy to use, but be aware of the risks. How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube 0:00 / 11:46 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. His unit was headed to the Hole a labyrinthine neighbourhood of narrow streets, whose nickname was originally coined because of its location between sharp hillsides, but which has taken on a new meaning as a place where gang members disappear. According to the U.N., Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the world. Individuals and state agents continute to threaten and attack journalists, press freedom groups report. Anyone else would do well with a trusted tour group. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). 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.. There are quite a few cute Airbnbs in Honduras, and as long as you stay in one of the safer neighborhoods, wed say that renting an Airbnb is perfectly safe. But if you meet the local ladies andlearn about their livesyoure going to have a VERY enriching experience on your hands. It may not exactly be classed as safe, but Honduras shouldnt be ignored. Gangs control areas within the same communities,. Honduras isnt perfectly safe for tourists, but that doesnt mean that you can travel there or have a good time. 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. 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. Lots of travelers stick to bottled water,but please dont. As of August, prisons had reported 1,700 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths.
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