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We need to address these immediate needs too.. Chronic violence, climate crisis and the impacts of COVID-19 have deepened humanitarian needs and driven displacement. Many women are choosing to flee the violence in their communities. Women in Guatemala: The New Faces of Extortion? If youdo get one in the street, ensure that you tell the taxi driver that you dont want to share the taxi. International Rescue Committee is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Since 2010, 42. Lanza said drivers had been asking for a crackdown for years. Honduras | Today's latest from Al Jazeera Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. As of August 2020, more than 21,000 people were detained in prisons with capacity for just under 11,000. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously get you in trouble. The island attracts a very different crowd indeed. Individuals and state agents continute to threaten and attack journalists, press freedom groups report. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. 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. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. Feb. 21, 2023, at 6:11 p.m. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency for Second Time. "Life Has Become Unlivable in Honduras": How Corruption & Drug Trade That means getting used to gangs, violence, and corruption. The media and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported several cases of abusive police enforcement of the Covid-19 lockdown. . 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. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. Officials flew Garza, a 48-year-old . Violent crime is at its peak in Honduras. Not really. 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. Since 2012, the Honduran police have implemented a program sponsored by the US Department of State called Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) which aims to discourage youth crime and gang recruitment. The government had granted him protective measures in January 2019. In fact, according toInSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. Radio taxisare always a better option than hailing one off the street. Yery Noel Medina Ulloa of Honduras pleaded guilty . When more cameras arrived, men were forced to take off their shirts so the police could inspect them for gang tattoos in front of the bright lights. It pays totravel smartin Honduras like ANYWHERE in the world. At nighttime, you should really get a taxi. Your laptop deserves a proper pack, and we know a good few! Investigating organized crime is an expensive and often risky enterprise. In March 2020, the government declared a state of emergency in response to the pandemic, imposing a lockdown and restricting movement and freedom of expression. Make sure to check the reviews from previous travellers to check for any problems during their stay. 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 has freed dozens of individuals tied to organized crime a year after reforming its money laundering law. Will Honduras Win The Fight Against Corruption? - Forbes However, More than2 million touristsvisited in 2017. That said, the governmentclaimsthere has been a 52%decreasein violent crime over the past five years. Despite some similarities, the security situation in El Salvador is different from Honduras, which has a much larger territory, higher population, greater poverty and a more diverse set of criminal groups. Tegucigalpa. Poor health infrastructure and limited access to sanitation services has contributed to the spread of the virus. People do it. Roatan is the more developed, more expensive, and family friendly big brother of Utila. As a result, humanitarian needs for food, health, nutrition and protection have increased. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. 20 Top Safety Tips for Traveling to Honduras. La Ceibaon the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. Many people do travel to this particular part of Honduras,even with their families. You can too. This includes 2,838,450 Pfizer doses and 3,250,140 Moderna doses. The new code also includes alternatives to detention for low-level crimes, including partial prison sentences and penalties that allow for conditional release. The Newton Police Department has arrested three escaped inmates from Scott County, according to Newton police chief, Randy Patrick. Theres no reason to get mixed up with a gang in Honduras. Jesse Watters: Buying mace in Manhattan is almost as hard as getting a gun. If youre not on a highwayyoull probably need a 44. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. Honduras deploys soldiers on anti-crime patrols So long as violence in Honduras continues without impunity, major displacement will persist in 2022. Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. This is when things can get sketchy. Access to health care services was a concern in Honduras prior to the pandemic, particularly for rural and economically marginalized communities. 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. And watch out for bad road conditions after heavy rain. It is important to know that Utila is very much a developed backpacker hotspot. The flavors, spices and. So whilst its gettingsafer, its a slow process. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. But if the peace in the condemning nations were to rupture the way it has in El Salvador and Honduras, we can bet they . An illegal immigrant from Honduras was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for the killing of a Florida man in Jacksonville in 2021, prosecutors said. The streets of major cities like Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are gripped by crime and conflict. Since the end of the last decade, political protection has allowed the traditional drug trafficking groups to flourish. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2018 was 38.93, a 5.01% decline from 2017. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. Honduras has been through a lot in recent years. This isnt one for first-time backpackers. (Reporting by Orfa Mejia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Leslie Adler). Political power brokers also have ties to drug smuggling and have even run trafficking operations themselves. Sexual violence and oppression are frequent tragedies here. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. 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. Gangs attacking other gangs. In January 2020, the OHCHR released a report saying that the armed forces and military police had used excessiveeven lethalforce in response to the protests that followed the 2017 election. It is not just murder, it's also the shocking numbers of rape, assault, and domestic violence cases, happening with near-total impunity. Its prettyextreme. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News World Report 2021: Honduras | Human Rights Watch Its a massive issue. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. How Gangs Control Honduras - YouTube 0:00 / 11:46 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. Youre connected. Heres how to not get ill whilst trying local delights. 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. The government has set up roadblocks, deployed security forces, and used violence to prevent people from leaving the country. Late Thursday, Honduran President Xiomara Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. ThisCentral Americancountry suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with namely corruption, gangs,anddrugs. The IACHR expressed concern in 2019 regarding the critical levels of impunity and inadequate and insufficient attention to victims of human rights violations. He estimated the companies and drivers have paid an average of about $10 million per month to the gangs in order to operate. Share this via Reddit Garza is wanted in Honduras for homicide. In 2014, the United Nations reported that 95 percent of cases of sexual violence and femicide in Honduras were never even investigated. Enjoy your travels! A study published in April reported that nearly half of teachers in rural areas had not been able to contact the majority of their students. Women, children and the LGBTQ+ community are the ones most affected and we have seen the demand for services skyrocket It is essential to address the root causes of forced migration, a strategy that the current U.S. administration is adopting. Clearly, with the pandemic, that goal wasnt reached, but its not been forgotten either. Domestic and sexual violence are also widespread, with women and children bearing the brunt. And what you had, you know, after the coup, while the U.S. did cut assistance, it was very. Reaching primary sources and getting the real story involve extensive fieldwork. It suspends some Constitutional rights and gives police more powers to arrest and hold suspects. All of these are in Santa Barbara Department, which also sees hijackings aroundTela, La Ceiba, andEl Progresoas well asTrujillo. I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. According to Hugo Maldonado, president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Honduras, this year has seen 116 femicides and 23 group murders, along with more than 1,356 violent. Since June, 2021 the United States has shared 6,088,590 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Honduras - free of cost. They are taxed by gangs. It is honestly NOT safe to drink the water in Honduras. HOUSTON Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston, with assistance from ERO Tegucigalpa and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, removed Rufino Garza Monroy, a twice-deported foreign fugitive from the United States on Feb. 24. For now, there are 15,000 taxis who want your attention. Radio Globo directorDavid Romero, convicted of defamation in 2016, died in prison from Covid-19 in July. In September, two men shot and killed journalist Luis Alonzo Almendares in Comayagua. Wed,03/01/23-8:24AM, 1,088 Reads 16,082 Statewide. There are high levels of crime in Honduras. In El Salvador, a Thin Line Between Community Policing and Vigilantism. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2017 was 40.98, a 26.23% decline from 2016. This helps keep everyone in poverty. Copyright International Rescue Committee, 2023. crises in 2022 in Latin America and the Caribbean, top 10 crises the world cant ignore in 2022, calling for stronger international cooperation, 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid, 36% of funding received for 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan, 937,000 disaster-induced displacements in 2020, 3.3 million people facing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in 2022. Gang violence is a big issue in Honduras. Almendares had repeatedly received death threats since 2017 in relation to his reporting. Tegucigalpa - AP NEWS Honduras Crime Rate & Statistics 1990-2023 | MacroTrends 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.. Honduras - AP NEWS With Honduras' Narco Allegations, Pressure Rises To - WXXI News So when it comes to safetyin Honduras, we think youllgenerallybe fine, especially in the Bay Islands. https://t.co/xQGbbyZXXv. Sign in How Gangs Control Honduras VICE News 8.42M subscribers. Honduras declared the state of exception for 30 days in 162 neighborhoods, some politicians have already called for it to be extended in duration and territory. (KCAU) The Stanton County Sheriff's Office said that they've cited two men who allegedly killed an American Bald Eagle. These. Honduras recorded 3,496 murders in 2020. Then there are quite a lot of gang wars as well. Locals have to pay war taxes which keeps the poverty rate high as well. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). 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. Its a country with a big heart. 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. The data was compiled by Citizen Council for Public Security, Justice, and Peace, a Mexican. REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File PhotoReuters. Honduras Extends, Expands State of Emergency for Second Time