As of November the STSS had an insufficient number of inspectors to enforce the law effectively. The quasi-governmental National Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment (CONAPREV) received 210 complaints of the use of torture or cruel and inhuman treatment, many related to the enforcement of the national curfew during the COVID-19 pandemic. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, b. The shutdown of government offices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a substantial delay in the processing of asylum cases, with no cases fully adjudicated of 53 new applications received through August. The law also imposes prison sentences of three to five years for child labor violations that endanger the life or morality of a child. Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes various forms of sexual harassment. By comparison, the United States has a global safety ranking of 128. In addition, women experienced delays in accessing justice due to police who failed to process complaints in a timely manner or judicial system officials who deferred scheduling hearings. There is no statutory rape law, but the penalty for rape of a minor younger than 12 is 15 to 20 years in prison, or nine to 13 years in prison if the victim is 13 or older. Authorities did not generally segregate those with tuberculosis or other infectious diseases from the general prison population; as of September the INP reported 153 prisoners were being treated for tuberculosis. The government did not effectively enforce the law. Honduras 2020 Crime & Security Report this is an annual report produced in collaboration with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy. Both suspects were alleged members of a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking. 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. Violators face penalties of one to three years in prison and possible suspension of their professional licenses, but the government did not effectively enforce the law. Mental health professionals expressed concern about social stigma by families and communities against persons with mental disabilities and a lack of access to mental health care throughout the country. Government officials were somewhat cooperative and responsive to their views, but some human rights organizations criticized government officials for lack of access and responsiveness. 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. DOUGLAS COUNTY The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has released the results of the Click-It or Ticket Enforcement Campaign which took place between Jan. 30 and Feb. 12. The law does not protect domestic workers effectively. The law requires police to inform persons of the grounds for their arrest and bring detainees before a competent judicial authority within 24 hours. Section 1. 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. Also see the Department of Labors Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings and the Department of Labors List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods. 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. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. There were no reports of this law being used to limit womens employment. There were no reports of such cases during the year, although authorities charged some protesters with sedition. Although the country experiences one of its lowest homicide rates in the last decade, authorities recorded 3,496 violent deaths in 2020. It prohibits employer retribution against employees for engaging in trade union activities. The Public Ministry also has the Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. The Military Police of Public Order report to military authorities but conduct operations sanctioned by civilian security officials as well as by military leaders. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings, c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees, f. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence. Administration: The judicial system was legally responsible for monitoring prison conditions and providing for the rights of prisoners. The constitution prohibits practicing clergy from running for office or participating in political campaigns. In many industries, including agriculture, cleaning, and security, employers did not respect maternity rights or pay minimum wage, overtime, or vacation. More than half of the population lives in poverty and per capita income is one of the lowest in the region. 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. World Report 2021 - Honduras. Corruption along with a lack of investigative resources and judicial delays led to widespread impunity, including in security forces. Voters elected Juan Orlando Hernandez of the National Party as president for a four-year term beginning in January 2018. International observers generally recognized the elections as free but disputed the fairness and transparency of the results. Peace Brigades International (PBI) reported more than 34,000 persons were detained for violating the curfew. The law permits fines, and while the monetary penalty is commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination, the failure of the government to collect those fines facilitated continued labor law violations. The tribunal published its reports on its website and cited the names of public officials who did not comply with the disclosure law. The Ministry of Securitys Directorate of Disciplinary Police Affairs (DIDADPOL) investigated members of the Honduran National Police (HNP) accused of human rights abuses. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2019 was 42.01, a 7.91% increase from 2018. The end of the civil war ushered in new and complex forms of violence: These conditions contributed to an unstable, dangerous environment in the penitentiary system. DIDADPOL investigated abuses by police forces. Sexual Exploitation of Children: The commercial sexual exploitation of children, especially in sex trafficking, remained a problem. David Pecker tried to blackmail Bezos in February 2019 with dick pics and so on stolen from his hacked phone and Bezos called him out. By August it had provided protection to two journalists, among other types of activists and human rights defenders. The Jewish community numbered approximately 275 members. Health-care workers protested the lack of adequate protective equipment and delayed salary payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Impunity, however, remained a serious problem, with significant delays in some prosecutions and sources alleging corruption in judicial proceedings. 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. Around 191,000 people were. Safety in El Salvador. 10. . The police will make their situation more difficult. Occupational safety and health standards were current but not effectively enforced. Five other cases were under investigation. The IACHR conducted its visit between July 30 and August 3, 2018. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs : Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. Farmers markets and local food networks aren't new to Minnesota. Litigants may sue a criminal defendant for damages if authorized by a criminal court. At the local level, only 7 percent of elected mayors were women, but women represented 76 percent of the elected vice mayors. Some of the worst forms of child labor occurred, including commercial sexual exploitation of children, and NGOs reported that gangs often forced children to commit crimes, including homicide (see section 6, Children). Penalties include prison sentences of up to five years and monetary fines. 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. The curfew severely limited freedom of movement and banned large gatherings. Josue Alvarado was assigned to Task Force Maya Chorti. 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. Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. Reproductive Rights: Generally, individuals have the right to decide freely the number, spacing, and timing of having children and to have access to the information and means to do so, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. As of June the Violence Observatory reported killings of 71 persons younger than 18. Defendants may not be compelled to testify or confess guilt. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Japan also is a member of the G-7 Counterterrorism and Counter-Crime Rome-Lyon Group. The lack of space for social distancing combined with the lack of adequate sanitation made prison conditions even more life threatening during the COVID-19 pandemic. About. 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. 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. 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. Civil society organizations criticized the governments failure to investigate threats adequately. Feb 28, 2023. CHICAGO (AP) Four years ago, Paul Vallas finished toward the bottom of the pack in a crowded race for Chicago mayor. Q: What happened to the original stars of "The Wild Wild West"? Trying again, focused this time on crime, he was . The World Bank reported in 2018 that the adolescent birth rate was 72 births per 1,000 15-19-year-olds. Many prisons lacked sufficient security personnel. In the 2013 census, approximately 8.5 percent of the population identified themselves as members of indigenous communities, but other estimates were higher. 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. (72 percent of these resulted in a conviction). Honduras is somewhat safe to visit, though it has many dangers. 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. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported 1,695 cases of COVID-19 in 25 prisons as of September, including cases among medical personnel, security personnel, and administrators. The law prohibits night work and overtime for minors younger than 18, but the STSS may grant special permission for minors between the ages of 16 to 18 to work in the evening if such employment does not adversely affect their education. During April, the first full month of the curfew, COFADEH reported 11,471 complaints of arbitrary actions by security forces, mainly abusive detentions for curfew violators. Download Historical Data Both the ministry and the commission focused on developing policies to address IDPs. is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes the development of international air navigation safety and security . Penalties for facilitating child sex trafficking are 10 to 15 years in prison, with substantial fines. The law prohibits all of the worst forms of child labor. In response to the pervasive violence in the prison system, the government declared an emergency in the National Penitentiary System in December 2019. The reported killings took place during law enforcement operations or were linked to other criminal activity by government agents. No cases were reported during the year. Authorities arrested Bogran on October 5 and released him on October 8 on bail pending trial. These INP-administered centers were on military installations and received some support services from the military. The whereabouts of four Indigenous Garifuna members of the Black Fraternal Organization of Honduras (OFRANEH) forcibly disappeared in July 2020 remained unknown. Every 18 hours, a woman is a victim of a violent death. 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. According to the arrest report, he "was threatening and abusive, challenging others to fight, and making loud, unusual noises." Additionally, he was charged with "impeding passengers' ability to safely board (an) American Airlines flight." He was taken to the county jail. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an. 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. Honduras is one of the murder capitals of the world. The law provides for criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but authorities did not implement the law effectively, and officials continued to engage in corrupt practices with impunity. Displaced Children: Civil society organizations reported that common causes of forced displacement for youth included death threats for failure to pay extortion, attempted recruitment by gangs, witnessing criminal activity by gangs or organized-crime groups, domestic violence, attempted kidnappings, family members involvement in drug dealing, victimization by traffickers, rape including commercial sexual exploitation by gangs, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, sexual harassment, and discrimination for having a chronic medical condition. In 2019, Honduras saw its first rise in murders in seven years, though all three countries recorded declines in 2020 due to pandemic-related restrictions. Women held 21 percent of seats in the National Congress, down from 26 percent prior to the 2017 elections. There was no information available on any major industrial accidents. The government tasks CONAPREV with visiting prisons and making recommendations for protecting the rights of prisoners. CRIME AND INSECURITY IN GUATEMALA JULY 2020 | 8 CRIME AND INSECURITY IN GUATEMALA Evaluating State Capacity to Reduce Violence and Combat Organized Crime THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE AND ORGANIZED CRIME IN GUATEMALA In Guatemala, organized crime has been a problem for decades. Iota weather conditions favored a 15-25% incidence of leaf rust in five departments of Honduras by the end of 2020. Access to Asylum: The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status. Persons from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities continued to experience discrimination in employment, education, housing, and health services. Child Abuse: Child abuse remained a serious problem. The penalties for rape range from three to nine years imprisonment, and the courts enforced these penalties. Honduras: homicide rate 2014-2021. The grand jury subpoena that has been issued to Pence seeks documents and testimony related to the events of January 6, 2021, when the US Capitol was attacked by pro-Trump rioters as Congress . NGOs reported irregularities, including problems with voter rolls, buying and selling of electoral workers credentials, and lack of transparency in campaign financing. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor, c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment, d. Discrimination with Respect to Employment and Occupation. The Honduran National Police maintain internal security and report to the Secretariat of Security. Five other cases were under investigation. 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. You have questions. Most women in the workforce engaged in lower-status and lower-paying informal occupations, such as domestic service, without the benefit of legal protections. Nam Y. Huh - staff, AP. The law mandates that the Supreme Auditing Tribunal monitor and verify disclosures. HND41066.E - Whether there is a law in Honduras that criminalizes the wearing of tattoos; reports of state agents arresting, detaining, mistreating or murdering people with tattoos that do not belong to gangs (2001 to March 2003) - March 2003 Non-Government Organization Reports Human Rights Watch The law provides a maximum sentence of three years in prison for disobeying a restraining order connected with the crime of intrafamilial violence. According to UNICEF, 8 percent of children were married before age 15, and 34 percent before age 18. The West Bank and Gaza Strip. 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 law provides for freedom of association, and the government generally respected this right. Sample Page; ; There were several reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. With offices throughout the country, the ombudsman received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. 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 The government failed to control pervasive gang-related violence and criminal activity within the prisons. In 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 inhabitants in Honduras. Such an order may be effective for up to six days, after which the judge must hold a pretrial hearing to examine whether there is probable cause to continue pretrial detention. They practice "war taxing", which is essentially just demanding money from people. The emergency decree instituted the Interinstitutional Force as an auditing commission for the penitentiary system. Honduras 2020 OSAC Crime & Safety Report Since 2010, there have been approximately 60 murders of U.S. citizens reported in Honduras. As of September the Secretariat of Human Rights reported the countrys three pretrial detention centers held 79 individuals. 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. 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. "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 . Penalties for violations of OSH law were commensurate with penalties for similar crimes. Subscribe to the Ojai Valley News. The law places restrictions on these rights, such as requiring that a recognized trade union represent at least 30 workers, prohibiting foreign nationals from holding union offices, and requiring that union officials work in the same substantive area of the business as the workers they represent. The Refugee Commission suspended operations shortly after the onset of the pandemic but began reviewing applications again as of June. Libel/Slander Laws: Citizens, including public officials, may initiate criminal proceedings for libel and slander. 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. 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 prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. Honduras' highest judicial body is the Supreme Court of Justice, which includes chambers for constitutional, criminal and civil cases. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. 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 government had a nascent system to provide protection to refugees. 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Honduras, An official website of the United States Government, https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/International-Parental-Child-Abduction/for-providers/legal-reports-and-data/reported-cases.html, https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods. The Secretariat of Human Rights reported that as of September 2, the total prison population was 21,675 in 25 prisons and three detention centers. 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. I have some answers. TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : HIGH Public transport is highly risky in Honduras. Coercion in Population Control: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities. Individuals and organizations may appeal adverse domestic decisions to the Inter-American Human Rights System. The law establishes prison sentences of up to three years for child abuse. This report provides a snapshot of events during 2021 relevant to countries designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism. The council presented 11 reports in a series called, Corruption in the Times of COVID-19. Some Hondurans reported being beaten as they attempted to cross the country. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Institutions such as the judiciary, Public Ministry, National Police, and Secretariat of Health attempted to enhance their responses to domestic violence, but obstacles included insufficient political will, inadequate budgets, 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. Some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) expressed concern about weak implementation of the law and limited resources available to operate the governments protection mechanism. The Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights handled cases involving charges of human rights abuses by government officials. While all formal workers are entitled to social security, there were reports that both public- and private-sector employers failed to pay into the social security system. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) reported that authorities at times failed to enforce these requirements effectively. (SOUTH DAKOTA NEWS WATCH) - South Dakota received nearly $14 billion in federal COVID-19 funding from March 2020 through January, according to an internal state fiscal report . That puts Roatan/Honduras a few points ahead of the U.S. Iceland holds the number one rated position and Afghanistan holds last place, ranked at 163. This helps keep everyone in poverty. Persons suspected of any of 22 specific felonies must remain in custody, pending the conclusion of judicial proceedings against them. According to the Global Cybercrime Report, the United States reached the prominent third-best position with a Cyber-Safety Score of 8.73. Specialties: Executive management, negotiations, project approval and feasibility, business development, strategy, project management, quality, audit and risk management, business resilience, corporate governance. The EU mission agreed there were serious irregularities in the process but concluded that safeguards built into the system, including posting of voting results forms on a public website, helped promote transparency. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. It stipulates that a prosecutor has 24 additional hours to decide if there is probable cause for indictment, whereupon a judge has 24 more hours to decide whether to issue a temporary detention order.