Penalties for facilitating child sex trafficking are 10 to 15 years in prison, with substantial fines. Honduras Honduras, long one of the poorest countries in Latin America, is now also among the most violent and crime-ridden. 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. Farmers markets and local food networks aren't new to Minnesota. According to the Global Cybercrime Report, the United States reached the prominent third-best position with a Cyber-Safety Score of 8.73. The IACHR reported the government at times used a policy of arbitrary detentions or arrests to inhibit protest. On July 18, heavily armed men kidnapped five men from their homes in the town of Triunfo de la Cruz. 4.1.1 The US Congressional Research Service (USCRS) report on Honduras of 20 April 2020 noted that 'The country's current Constitution established a representative democracy with a separation of powers among an executive branch led by the president, a legislative branch consisting of a 128-seat Administrative penalties were insufficient to deter violations and were rarely enforced. 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. As of June the Violence Observatory reported killings of 71 persons younger than 18. The government failed to control pervasive gang-related violence and criminal activity within the prisons. Honduras has the highest femicide rate in the Latin American region, with 6.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2020, 278 women were murdered in the country and, as of November 2021, more than. The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. NGOs continued to criticize the government prohibition on emergency contraception, including for survivors of sexual violence, although the government did provide victims of sexual violence access to other health care services. On July 1, unknown assailants on a motorcycle shot and killed television journalist German Vallecillo and cameraman Jorge Posas in La Ceiba. Estimates of the number of children younger than 18 in the countrys workforce ranged from 370,000 to 510,000. Download Historical Data While there were cases where a worker was reinstated, such as the reinstatement of a union leader in Tegucigalpa following his unlawful dismissal, the reinstatement process in the courts was unduly long, lasting from six months to more than five years. Peace Brigades International (PBI) reported more than 34,000 persons were detained for violating the curfew. Children often worked alongside family members in agriculture and other work, such as fishing, construction, transportation, and small businesses. Women held 21 percent of seats in the National Congress, down from 26 percent prior to the 2017 elections. The number of inspections dropped severely from 2019 as a result of the national curfew imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In all of 2019, the STSS levied fines of more than 38.1 million lempiras ($1.58 million) but collected only 755,000 lempiras ($31,300). The Jewish community numbered approximately 275 members. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. 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. 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. The government used pretrial detention centers to hold high-profile suspects and those in need of additional security. The law does not permit active members of the military or civilian security forces to vote. Occupational safety and health standards were current but not effectively enforced. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion. 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. On January 9, 2018, the Honduran State confirmed the on-site visit to Honduras on the dates proposed by the IACHR. 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 six indices taken . 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. As of September inspectors conducted 4,102 total inspections, including 268 unannounced inspections, compared with 14,039 total inspections for the same time period in 2019. The Public Ministry created a new anticorruption unit, the Special Prosecution Unit against Corruption Networks, which is charged with pursuing MACCIH legacy corruption cases. 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. According to the secretariat, the system had a designed capacity for approximately 10,600 inmates. These deaths included several in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba involving U.S. citizens murdered shortly after arriving in the country. There were no credible reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. The government did not effectively enforce occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, particularly in the construction, garment assembly, and agricultural sectors, as well as in the informal economy. Section 1. In many industries, including agriculture, cleaning, and security, employers did not respect maternity rights or pay minimum wage, overtime, or vacation. 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. There were no reports of such cases during the year, although authorities charged some protesters with sedition. Sexual Harassment: The law criminalizes various forms of sexual harassment. The law prohibits discrimination based on gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, political opinion or affiliation, marital status, race or national origin, language, nationality, religion, family affiliation, family or economic situation, disability, health, physical appearance, or any other characteristic that would offend the victims human dignity. The law provides for freedom of peaceful assembly, and the government generally respected this right. About. Below this are an appeals court, first instance trial courts for criminal and civil cases, and municipal and district-level justices of the peace. is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes the development of international air navigation safety and security . Censorship or Content Restrictions: Media members and NGOs stated the press self-censored due to fear of retaliation from organized-crime groups or corrupt government officials. By comparison, the United States has a global safety ranking of 128. 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. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The minimum legal age of marriage for both boys and girls is 18. Inspectors suspended inspections in March under the national curfew in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent organized crime continues to disrupt Honduran society and push many people to leave the country. Penalties for violations of OSH law were commensurate with penalties for similar crimes. Police were investigating the killings. Honduras crime rate & statistics for 2020 was 36.33, a 13.52% decline from 2019. Some employers either refused to engage in collective bargaining or made it very difficult to do so. The law establishes an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, including access to a court to seek damages for human rights violations. That is 2,607 fewer homicides. 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 does not protect domestic workers effectively. The accused has the right to an initial hearing before a judge, to ask for bail, consult with legal counsel in a timely manner, have a lawyer provided by the state if necessary, and request an appeal. The law requires an employer to begin collective bargaining once workers establish a union, and it specifies that if more than one union exists at a company, the employer must negotiate with the largest. In-country Movement: Under the national curfew from March 16, the government limited freedom of movement by allowing individuals to move outside their homes one day every two weeks. The government had a nascent system to provide protection to refugees. Five other cases were under investigation. There were no reports of this law being used to limit womens employment. In security and domestic service sectors, workers were frequently forced to work more than 60 hours per week but paid only for 44 hours. Organized-crime organizations, 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, and human rights defenders. According to witnesses, the kidnappers wore police investigative branch uniforms. 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. 03 / Select Countries You can add more than one country or area. Specialties: Executive management, negotiations, project approval and feasibility, business development, strategy, project management, quality, audit and risk management, business resilience, corporate governance. There were allegations that companies used collective pacts, which are collective contracts with nonunionized workers, to prevent unionization and collective bargaining because only one collective contract may exist in each workplace. 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. Q: What happened to the original stars of "The Wild Wild West"? The law applies equally to citizens and foreigners, regardless of gender, and prescribes a maximum eight-hour shift per day for most workers, a 44-hour workweek, and at least one 24-hour rest period for every six days of work. El Salvador is not dangerous for travelers as violence has declined to its lowest level in over 30 years. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. On July 10, unidentified assailants shot and killed transgender activist Scarleth Campbell in Tegucigalpa. With offices throughout the country, the ombudsman received cases that otherwise might not have risen to national attention. Five other cases were under investigation. 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. By law workers may remove themselves from situations that endanger their health or safety without jeopardizing continued employment. Credible observers noted problems in trial procedures, such as a lack of admissible evidence, judicial corruption, widespread public distrust of the legal system, witness intimidation, and an ineffective witness protection program. By law women have equal access to educational opportunities. There were no credible reports of political prisoners or detainees. 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. Indigenous groups included the Miskito, Tawahkas, Pech, Tolupans, Lencas, Maya-Chortis, Nahual, Bay Islanders, and Garifunas. The Public Ministry also has the Special Prosecutors Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators, and Justice Officials. The penalties for rape range from three to nine years imprisonment, and the courts enforced these penalties. The Organization of American States (OAS) and EU observer teams agreed the margin of victory separating incumbent president Hernandez from challenger Salvador Nasralla was extremely narrow. The law permits defendants to confront witnesses against them and offer witnesses and evidence in their defense. 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. Deportation, Circular Migration and Organized Crime Honduras Case Study; Download the Publication; Honduras: Information Gathering Mission Report; Violence in Honduras: an Analysis of the Failure in Public Security and the State'S Response to Criminality; Opendocpdf.Pdf; Honduras Elites and Organized Crime; Honduras 2019 Crime & Safety Report In 2021, almost 39 homicides were committed per 100,000 inhabitants in Honduras. The Public Ministry is responsible for prosecuting violations. Both the ministry and the commission focused on developing policies to address IDPs. Impunity for such crimes was a problem, as was the impunity rate for all types of crime. Anticorruption efforts remained an area of concern, as did the governments ability to protect justice sector officials, such as prosecutors and judges. The law prohibits all of the worst forms of child labor. Trying again, focused this time on crime, he was . The government did not effectively enforce these laws and regulations, although penalties were commensurate with laws related to civil rights, such as election interference. Fines for child labor were not sufficient to deter violations and not commensurate with penalties for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. The Association for a Better Life and the Cattrachas Lesbian Network both reported 16 violent deaths of LGBTI persons as of September. The Public Ministry reported five such cases undergoing trial, with four cases in the sentencing phase of trial. The law provides for the right to a fair and public trial; however, the judiciary did not always enforce this right. With high rates of impunity, including 90 percent for killings of women in the last 15 years according to the Violence Observatory, civil society groups reported that women often did not report domestic violence, or withdrew the charges, because they feared or were economically dependent on the aggressor. The Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights handled cases involving charges of human rights abuses by government officials. Members of the security forces committed some abuses. Children, including from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, particularly Miskito boys, were at risk for forced labor in the fishing, mining, construction, and hospitality industries. On January 10, unknown assailants shot and killed Tolupan indigenous leader Vicente Saavedra in Morazan, Yoro Department. The Supreme Court of Justice cited the presence of MACCIH personnel during Public Ministry investigations, including in the execution of search warrants in violation of the law. 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. The reports alleged illicit gains of more than 1.64 billion lempiras ($68 million) by government officials in the purchase of medical supplies.