These efforts were insufficient due to limited political will, inadequate staffing, limited or no services in rural areas, absence of or inadequate training and awareness of domestic violence among police and other authorities, and a pattern of male-dominant culture and norms. Puerto Rico (Spanish for 'rich port'; abbreviated PR; Taino: Boriken, Borinquen), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit. The law permits workers in public health care, social security, staple food production, and public utilities (municipal sanitation, water, electricity, and telecommunications) to strike if they continue to provide basic services. Low salaries and a lack of internal controls rendered judicial officials susceptible to bribery. The government prosecuted some officials who committed abuses, including government corruption, but a weak judicial system and corruption were major obstacles to obtaining convictions. Women, children, and LGBTQI+ migrants and asylum seekers with pending cases were especially vulnerable to abuse. Workers had difficulty exercising the rights to form and join unions and to engage in collective bargaining, and the government failed to enforce applicable laws effectively. JUSTRAC+. There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. Children, including from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, particularly Miskito boys, were at risk for forced labor in the agriculture, manufacturing, fishing, mining, construction, and hospitality industries. Presuming we use common sense and take taxis is there anything here we should . Powerful special interests, including organized criminal groups, exercised influence on the outcomes of some court proceedings. In September police arrested Denis Abel Ordonez, Michael Andre Mejia, and Walter Antonio Matute Raudales in connection with her murder. 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 . It also provides for paid national holidays and annual leave. The constitution prohibits practicing clergy from running for office or participating in political campaigns. Wedged between Costa Rica and Honduras, Nicaragua is a good all-round destination.Think beautiful cathedrals, elegant architecture, a ton of history, and loads of nature to get to grips with. The government continued to prosecute individuals allegedly involved in the 2016 killing of environmental and indigenous activist Berta Caceres. . The law grants prisoners the right to prompt access to a lawyer of their choice and, if indigent, to government-provided counsel, although the public defender mechanism was weak, and authorities did not always abide by these requirements. The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests . With a crime index of 74.54, Honduras ranks fifth in the world in terms of crime rate. World Bank statistics from 2020 put net enrollment for primary school above 90 percent, but the National Center for Social Sector Information stated that 43 percent of persons with disabilities received no formal education. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, a. They had limited representation in the national government and consequently little direct input into decisions affecting their lands, cultures, traditions, and the allocation of natural resources. Illinois Tech Community, There are no incidents to report for Friday, July 1, 2022 . Due to the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. The Public Ministry is responsible for prosecuting violations. Because labor inspectors continued to be concentrated in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, full labor inspections and follow-up visits to confirm compliance were far less frequent in other parts of the country. 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. Child Abuse: Child abuse remained a serious problem. Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault,. February 11, 2022. Countering Corruption-Enabled Transnational Crime: A Practice Note for Program Officers and Practitioners. 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 due to barriers in access to justice and lack of information regarding legal protections. Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. The Jewish community numbered approximately 275 members. There was no information available on any major industrial accidents. Plan your next stop before . Civil society organizations criticized the governments failure to investigate threats adequately. Administration: The judicial system is legally responsible for monitoring prison conditions and providing for the rights of prisoners. The law provides for freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right. With offices throughout the country, the ombudsperson received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. Persons suspected of any of 21 specific felonies must remain in custody, pending the conclusion of judicial proceedings against them. The directorate issued 1,379 recommendations to the Ministry of Security for disciplinary actions as of September following internal investigations of national police members. The Murray family believes "someone knows something" about what happened to Maura Murray, who went missing in 2004. The STSS is responsible for enforcing the national minimum wage, hours of work, and occupational health and safety law, but it did so inconsistently and ineffectively. The law criminalizes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity characteristics and includes crimes committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity as aggravating circumstances to increase penalties for criminal offenses. The Public Ministry also has the Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. Occupational Safety and Health: The government did not effectively enforce occupational safety and health standards, particularly in the construction, garment assembly, and agricultural sectors, as well as in the informal economy. The law provides for freedom of peaceful assembly, and the government generally respected this right. The Secretariat of Human Rights stated it was taking every precaution to protect prisoners rights and assure that the work provided opportunities for prisoners to develop skills they could use in legal economic activities after their release. Media linked her killing to organized criminal groups and drug trafficking organizations. In these sectors employers frequently paid workers for the standard 44-hour workweek irrespective of any additional hours they worked. That's mainly to visit islands like Roatan. And in February, 19 years after she went missing, billboards will help In 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 inhabitants in Honduras. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide and armed robbery, is common. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. Abusers caught in the act may be detained for up to 24 hours as a preventive measure. The government of Honduras lacks sufficient resources to properly respond to, investigate and prosecute cases. Ethnic minority rights leaders, international NGOs, and farmworker organizations claimed the government failed to redress actions taken by security forces, government agencies, private individuals, and businesses to dislodge farmers and indigenous persons from lands over which they claimed ownership based on land reform law or ancestral land titles. However, More than 2 million tourists visited in 2017. 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 . The law prohibits illicit association, defined as gatherings by persons bearing arms, explosive devices, or dangerous objects with the purpose of committing a crime, and prescribes prison terms of two to four years and a moderate fine for anyone who convokes or directs an illicit meeting or demonstration. It was unclear how many of these threats were related to the victims professions or activism. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Media members and NGOs stated the press self-censored due to fear of retaliation from organized criminal groups or corrupt government officials. Organized criminal groups, 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, human rights defenders, and others. 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. The law requires prisoners to work at least five hours a day, six days a week. Mental health professionals expressed concern regarding social stigma by families and communities against persons with mental disabilities and a lack of access to mental health care throughout the country. Impunity for such crimes remained high, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. Corruption: The new trial of former first lady Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo on charges of fraud and misappropriation of public funds, originally set to commence in March, was twice delayed for medical reasons. Forced labor occurred in street vending, domestic service, the transport of drugs and other illicit goods, other criminal activity, and the informal sector. Most children who worked did so without STSS permits. 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. STATEMENT ON BULENGA SHOOTING. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. Although 74 percent of births were attended by skilled health care personnel, NGOs reported significant gaps in obstetric care, especially in rural areas. In-country Movement: There were areas where authorities could not assure freedom of movement because of criminal activity and a lack of significant government presence. There were credible reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses. January 26, 2022 At a glance Population: 10.1 million 2.8 million people in need of humanitarian aid The law criminalizes discrimination based on race and ethnicity and includes crimes committed against individuals because of race or ethnicity as aggravating circumstances to increase penalties for criminal offenses. Fuel stations can be few and far between in some areas. How to Stay Healthy While Traveling in Honduras. Informal Sector: According to the STSS, approximately 75 percent of workers worked in the informal economy, equivalent to approximately 2.7 million persons. There is no statutory rape law, but the penalty for rape of a minor younger than 14 is 12 to 17 years in prison, or nine to 13 years in prison if the victim is 14 or older. The law requires that persons with disabilities have access to buildings, but few buildings were accessible, and the government did not effectively implement laws or programs to provide such access. Basic administration '06 '22 10 1 5 6 5 Political Participation Honduras. On March 28, transgender activist Vanessa Zuniga was killed in Tela, Atlantida Department. On October 7, the National Congress increased penalties for forced labor under the trafficking-in-persons article of the penal code from five to eight years imprisonment to 10 to 15 years, bringing the penalties in line with the penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Vanessa worked as a volunteer in the Association for Prevention and Education in Health, Sexuality, AIDS, and Human Rights. Non-Government Organization Reports: Amnesty International: Human . 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. The law allows persons charged with some felonies to avail themselves of bail and gives prisoners the right of prompt access to family members. The designation requires banks to impose a higher level of scrutiny on politically exposed persons financial transactions. In 2021, four gun manufacturers accounted for over half of the recovered crime guns: Glock (21.1%), Smith & Wesson (13.5%), Taurus (13.0%), and Ruger (7.0%). No cases were reported during the year. Media noted that family members often faced long delays or were unable to visit detainees. The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. Latest News Profile Criminal Actors Investigations News Latest News Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. 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. The law permits defendants to confront witnesses against them and offer witnesses and evidence in their defense. American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative The country has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Nonetheless, 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 states that a womans employment should be appropriate according to her physical state and capacity. The Public Ministry reported seven cases of alleged illegal detention or arbitrary arrest as of September. May Be Getting Away With It. If the STSS grants permission, children between 14 and 16 may work a maximum of four hours a day, and those between 16 and 18 may work up to six hours a day. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1899; however, same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples. A large chunk of those arrived via cruise ships, however. Arbitrary Arrest: CONADEH reported 38 reports of arbitrary arrest through August. Corruption along with a lack of investigative resources and judicial delays led to widespread impunity, including in security forces. Impunity for such crimes remained high, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations Bureau of Counterterrorism Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor CONAPREV conducted 138 visits to prisons as of September. Fines for child labor were not sufficient to deter violations and not commensurate with penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Office of the U.S. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported that authorities at times failed to enforce these requirements effectively. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimated there were approximately 247,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to violence in the country as of 2020. Pretrial Detention: Judicial inefficiency, corruption, and insufficient resources delayed proceedings in the criminal justice system, and lengthy pretrial detention was a serious problem. Observers noted several significant improvements in transparency procedures, including electoral reforms, an updated voter registry and new national identification cards, and new technology that included a biometric verification system and a preliminary results transmission system. Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes sexual harassment, including in employment. Periodic medical evaluations had not found Lobo healthy enough to proceed. The law requires individuals and companies that employ more than 20 school-age children at their facilities to provide a location for a school. This definition included workers who did not contribute to any form of social security protection, and thus it may have undercounted underemployed workers who rely on jobs in both the formal and informal sectors. The center, administered by the National Prison Institute, was on a military installation and received some support services from the military. In addition the law prohibits strikes in a wide range of economic activities that the government has designated as essential services or that it considers would affect the rights of individuals in the larger community to security, health, education, and economic and social well-being. According to UNDP data, informal workers played a large role in nearly every industry, including agriculture and fishing; mining; manufacturing; utilities; construction; wholesale retail, hotels, and restaurants; transport and storage; and personal services. Public-sector trade unionists raised concerns regarding government interference in trade union activities, including its suspension or ignoring of collective agreements and its dismissals of union members and leaders. Violence was often rooted in a broader context of conflict over land and natural resources, extensive corruption, lack of transparency and community consultation, other criminal activity, and limited state ability to protect the rights of vulnerable communities. Bogran was arrested in October 2020 on two corruption charges for embezzling an estimated 1.14 billion lempiras ($47 million) in public funds and funneling a contract for mobile hospitals to his uncle, Napoleon Corrales. Maintaining situational awareness of your surroundings and practicing good security precautions with your . Marco Bogran, former director of INVEST-H, the Honduran government entity tasked with providing coronavirus pandemic relief contracts to private firms, remained in pretrial detention awaiting his next court appearance, scheduled for January 31, 2022. The change increases the penalty from two to four years to four to six years. In security and domestic service sectors, workers were frequently forced to work more than 60 hours per week but paid only for 44 hours. Within the broad range of violent deaths, the core element of intentional homicide is the complete liability of the direct perpetrator, which thus excludes killings directly related to war or conflicts, self-inflicted death (suicide), killings due to legal . Civil society continued to criticize the law for classification of documents related to security and national defense, saying it limited transparency and allowed officials to use the classification of documents to obscure wrongdoing. The government launched a new Ministry of Transparency in November 2020 to address some of these concerns. Civil society continued to raise problems with minimum wage violations, highlighting agricultural companies in the south as frequent violators. 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011: DOS International Religious Freedom Report - 2021, 2020, .
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