The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. Lanza said that 50 drivers have been killed so far in 2022, and a total of 2,500 have been killed over the last 15 years. As the camera rolled, the police began stopping vehicles passing by in the background, running ID cards and frisking occupants. We dont want to recommend traveling to the rest of Honduras with your family. Nevertheless, the political gains to be had from emulating Bukeles hardline policies may be too enticing to pass up. I agree with Bukele and I want the same here. . 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. In certain areas, yes Honduras is safe to travel for families. It wont be down to the wire cutting edge info on the most current events, but it is layered in the expertise of veteran travellers. You can too. If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. In July, police arrested two men in connection to the 2020 killings of 45 TV reporter Germn Vallecillo Jr. and his cameraman, Jorge Posas, in La Ceiba. FromLimonestoLa Union, fromGualacotoSan Esteban,and fromLa EsperanzatoGraciasThese routes can bedangerous. Violence has long ruled here. It is honestly NOT safe to drink the water in Honduras. 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. InSight Crime's 2022 Homicide Round-Up covers more countries than ever before, with a major expansion into nations of the Caribbean. 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. Theres a lot of fresh fish in places like, Steer clear of anything that you cant peel yourself. This helps keep everyone in poverty. generally, if youre visiting with a guided tour, you should be fine. We also provide critical, up-to-date information and support from trained moderators through CuntaNos, a digital platform that is part of the Global Signpost project. Indeed, Honduras is seeing a plague of femicidesa woman is murdered every 36 hours, mostly by an intimate partner. And what you had, you know, after the coup, while the U.S. did cut assistance, it was very. Members of the military police of public order patrol a street during a special operation against criminal gangs in Tegucigalpa on 6 December. After a 2019 wave of gang violence that killed 37 detainees, President Hernndez declared a state of emergency and put prisons under military control. For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador. The measure must still be approved by Congress. Instead, buy an eSIM! The UNspecialrapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called Honduras one of the most dangerous countries for human rights defenders in Latin America. In December 2018, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found Honduras responsible for failing to investigate Hernndezs death. Security forces committed abuses while enforcing a nationwide Covid-19 lockdown that President Juan Orlando Hernndez imposed in March. In Honduras, Police Accused Of Corruption, Killings Hernndez ran for reelection in 2017 a controversial move in Honduras. These are the safest islands: Once you get off the ferry in Utila you have officially entered an alternate reality. But the thing iswomen DO travel alone to Honduras. Since the end of the last decade, political protection has allowed the traditional drug trafficking groups to flourish. 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. Even if they graduate high school, they can't get a job." Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesnt mean its off-limits for solo travelers. 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. By MARLON GONZLEZ November 25, 2022. On average, children living in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are 10 times more likely to be killed than a child who lives in the United States. 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. And Hondurascan be a safe place for solo female travelers, but wed only recommend it after some solo travel experience. Jesse Watters: Buying mace in Manhattan is almost as hard as getting a gun. 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. Of course, being a woman anywhere is going to come with additional risk. Seth Sidney Berry / SOPA Images/Sipa USA (Sipa via AP Images), Share this via Facebook Some victims of extortion said that the only thing that has changed is how the money is collected. Make sure to check the reviews from previous travellers to check for any problems during their stay. 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. These drug trafficking gangs rule peoples lives. Plus theres Copan: the ancientMayanarchaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. For now, there are 15,000 taxis who want your attention. Do your own research. STANTON COUNTY, Neb. So. Its a mix of European, indigenous and Caribbean influence, and youll love it. Again, thank you! So long as violence in Honduras continues without impunity, major displacement will persist in 2022. 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 . - The New York Times Inside Gang Territory In Honduras 'Either They Kill Us or We Kill Them' In one of the deadliest cities in the world, an embattled group of young men had little but their tiny. All rights reserved. Sexual violence and oppression are frequent tragedies here. Human rights defenders have said they will monitor the measures. Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. Patrick said the inmates were captured about 7:45 AM in downtown Newton. This is an issue that has not been taken seriously by the Honduran state.. Marred by corruption and abuse, the judiciary and police remain largely ineffective. 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. Security Minister Oscar Alvarez says police have identified two suspects among the five attackers . In fact, most people in Honduras have a family member in a gang. Take theBay Islands,for example. UNHCR; Posted 22 Dec 2022 Originally published 22 . Especiallythrough a tour company. 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. However, More than2 million touristsvisited in 2017. In June, police detained and beat bus drivers who were allegedly protesting not being able to work due to lockdown restrictions. Late Thursday, Nov. 24, Castro proposed a measure to limit constitutional rights so as to round up gang members. But it has not yet resulted in an increase in police reports a key measure of public trust. But it was not a tremor, nor a tsunami. Everyone from children to adults are recruited. 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. Its just that easy. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. 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. The poverty resulting from all this is what youll have to watch out for. Journalists, environmental activists, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). 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. It may have improved it actually. Tegucigalpa. We wouldnt recommend members of the LGBTQ+ community to visit Honduras unless theyre prepared to keep any sort of affection behind closed doors. An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! 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 . As of August, prisons had reported 1,700 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 38 deaths. Youll get the, If youve got no locals to ask, just use your eyes. "Today at dawn, in a single operation, we transferred the first 2,000 gang . Extortion in the Northern Triangle is predominantly done from prisons, yet prison populations have been on the rise. 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. 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. Schools were closed from March onward due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 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. 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. 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. Your laptop deserves a proper pack, and we know a good few! REUTERS/Fredy Rodriguez/File PhotoReuters. There are taxi ranks in a lot of locations. Alongside her husband, Sasha, she co-founded the. In January 2020, the government shut down the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH). And taxi driversprobably wont have enough change to cover a big bill, socarry small denominations. LGBTpeople in Honduras are frequently the targets of violence and discrimination, according to Human Rights Watch research. While there were a few violent crime incidents, most travelers have a safe and pleasant stay. 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. Sign up for our newsletter and get the best travel tips delivered right to your inbox. A local TV correspondent needed to do a live shot for one of the countrys most-watched news programs. It suspends some Constitutional rights and gives police more powers to arrest and hold suspects. Certain routes that these take have been the target ofarmed attacks. Violence: Honduras reached a . It is important to know that Utila is very much a developed backpacker hotspot. Gangs exercise territorial control over neighborhoods and extort residents throughout the country. Juan Orlando Hernndez extolled his achievements as. We can't put up any longer with workers being killed and paying extortion, Lanza said. 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. You will have to agree on a pricebefore you get in. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. There are probably more sketchy areas in Honduras than there are safe ones. It is not just murder, it's also the shocking numbers of rape, assault, and domestic violence cases, happening with near-total impunity. Just in case, thats No quiero compartir el taxi.. Lucky for you,youre not a Honduran citizen. Most who can access the internet do so on their phones. 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 IRC serves people and families in vulnerable situations or at increased risk for violence and displacement, including those who are uprooted by violence or returning after seeking safety in other countries.