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UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000117 
 
Attention: G/TIP, G-ACBlank, WHA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIP ELAB KCRM KFRD KWMN PGOV PHUM PREF
SMIG 
SUBJECT: 2009 HONDURAS TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT 
 
REF:  2008 STATE 132759, State 005577 
 
¶1. The following is the Trafficking in Persons Country Assessment 
For Honduras. 
TIME PERIOD: April 2008 to mid-February 2009 - Govt. actions 
Acronyms used: 
IHNFA Honduran Institute for Children and the Family 
TIP     Trafficking in Persons 
IO     International Organizations 
NGO     Non-governmental Organization 
MP     Public Ministry 
ESC     Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
MFA Secretary of International Relations 
DOS     U.S. Department of State 
SAVE     Save the Children Honduras 
CRS     Catholic Relief Services 
CA     Casa Alianza 
ILO     International Labor Organization 
UNICEF    United National Fund for Children 
IOM International Organization of Migration 
DNIC General Department of Criminal Investigation 
DNEI General Department of Special Services of Investigation 
 
¶2.  SUMMARY:  The existence of trafficking of persons in Honduras is 
a recognized evil and those government authorities responsible for 
tackling it (e.g. IHNFA, the Anti-Trafficking Coordination group, 
the Public Ministry and civil society) have impressively increased 
their efforts to combat the problem.  The Special Prosecutor for 
Children has chaired an intra-Institutional group (composed of the 
relevant government of Honduras authorities, NGOs, international 
organizations, etc.) which has implemented a new victims' assistance 
protocol as well as worked with regional programs financed by the 
ILO and IOM to combat trafficking. 
 
¶3. (Summary continued) Yet, government operations are severely 
hampered by lack of funding for their preventive, investigative, law 
enforcement and victims' assistance functions, and lack the 
resources to deal with ever looming threats such as internet child 
pornography.  For example, in 2006, nearly 83 percent of the budget 
meant to safeguard the children and women of Honduras from crimes 
related to trafficking and sexual exploitation was used to pay the 
salaries of the IHNFA.  Lack of resources make it hard for 
investigators to attain quality evidence which when coupled with the 
challenges of a generally corrupt and inefficient court system make 
the prosecution rate lower than ideal.  Large portions of the 
country beyond the outskirts of Tegucigalpa or the large commercial 
city of San Pedro Sula are not properly covered.  Civil society and 
international donors have mostly filled the need for victims' 
assistance with several international NGOs opening reintegration 
homes for victims of sexual exploitation and the UNDP as well as 
others has supported the IHNFA's budget which has allowed them to 
expand their coverage to the southwest of the country. 
 
¶4. (Summary continued) This cable is in response to the G/TIP 
Request for information for the annual Trafficking in Persons 
Report.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------- 
¶5. HONDURAS'S TIP SITUATION 
--------------------------- 
¶A. What is (are) the source(s) of available information on 
trafficking in persons? 
a. What plans are in place (if any) to undertake further 
documentation of human trafficking? 
b. How reliable are these sources? 
 
Information sources on trafficking in persons (TIP) include 
Institutions of the government of Honduras, non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs), and international organizations (IOs). 
 
The best information sources in Honduras on TIP include the Special 
Prosecutor Office for Children  at the Public Ministry, the Honduran 
Institute for Children and the Family (IHNFA),  and NGOs such as 
Casa Alianza (CA), Save the Children Honduras (SAVE) and Catholic 
Relief Services (CRS).  Other sources include the Supreme Court of 
Justice, the Secretary of Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MFA). 
 
The government has taken the initiative to better document the 
trafficking of persons with its national "Sistema de Expediente 
Digital Interintitucional (SEDI)" which is being implemented.  This 
system is an integrated case management system that will allow the 
GOH to better identify and track all prosecuted and tried TIP cases. 
 The GOH has also realized a need to create a technical police unit 
in the Public Ministry to strengthen the investigative units of the 
Secretary of Security to help fight TIP. 
 
¶B. Is the country a country of origin, transit, and/or destination 
for internationally trafficked men, women, or children? 
 
a. Does trafficking occur within the country's borders? 
 
Domestic and international trafficking of girls and adolescent 
females is a documented problem in Honduras.  Victims of TIP are 
mostly transited by land either from rural to urban areas or out of 
the country.  Destinations for nearly all international trafficking 
are Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico and Belize.  The GOH does not 
maintain complete control of all of its land borders and only has 
the ability and funds to monitor specific crossings.  Trafficking 
has been conducted using valid and forged documents. 
 
b. If so, does internal trafficking occur in territory outside of 
the government's control (e.g. in a civil war situation)? 
No 
c. To where are people trafficked? 
 
According to the Special Prosecutor Office for Children, and IHNFA, 
Honduras is a country of origin and transit for trafficking in 
persons.  In Honduras, there have been reports and convictions for 
internal trafficking and there are ongoing investigations into 
cases.  Trafficking is found in the largest cities of Honduras where 
there is industry and public institutions and tourism.  The reported 
cases are instances where the final goal is sexual exploitation and 
not labor exploitation or other forms of trafficking.  In terms of 
final destination there have been no changes from the previously 
reported locations of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, and 
the Bay Islands of Honduras.  Most foreign victims trafficked into 
Honduras came from neighboring countries. 
 
d. For what purposes are they trafficked? 
 
According to the GOH and NGOs operating in Honduras, the purpose for 
TIP is solely commercial sexual exploitation (ESC).  There have been 
no cases reported on TIP for labor exploitation. 
 
e. Provide, where possible, numbers or estimates for each group of 
trafficking victims. 
 
There are no estimations of TIP victims or persons vulnerable to 
TIP.  Rather, the GOH has and NGOs operating in Honduras have 
provided estimates on the number of children victims or those 
vulnerable to sexual exploitation, often by family members, which is 
a much wider problem than TIP.  According to Suyapa Prudot, Director 
of IHNFA, in a newspaper report, "more than 10,000 children are 
at-risk for sexual exploitation in Honduras of which 98 percent are 
girls."  In the Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela metro area, there have 
been 2,280 children victims of sexual exploitation registered since 
2000, of whom 1,710 are girls and 570 are boys. 
 
f. Have there been any changes in the TIP situation since the last 
TIP report (e.g. changes in destinations)? 
 
According to the Special Prosecutor of Children, one of the changes 
detected recently is that the traffickers are becoming more 
sophisticated and more careful in their operations.  However, in 
terms of final destination there have been no changes from the 
previously reported locations of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Belize, and the Bay Islands. 
 
¶C. What kind of conditions are the victims trafficked into? 
 
According to IHNFA, survivors of TIP (the GOH prefers to use 
"survivor" rather than "victim") were trafficked into situations 
where their human rights were violated.  Survivors typically are 
trafficked into situations which greatly affect their dignity, their 
state of physical and mental fitness, emotional psychology, and 
social skills.  When discovered, most survivors demonstrate an 
"isolated" emotional state and have trouble communicating after 
suffering the extreme situations of bad treatment by the 
traffickers. 
 
Sexual Exploitation 
 
¶D. Vulnerability to TIP: 
a. Are certain groups of persons more at risk of being trafficked 
(e.g. women and children, boys versus girls, certain ethnic groups, 
refugees, IDPs, etc.) 
 
According to IHNFA, young girls and adolescent women are the group 
most vulnerable to trafficking.  However, there are some trafficking 
survivors who are young boys and the GOH has made efforts to explain 
to the appropriate authorities that the TIP problem also includes 
young boys. 
 
¶E. Traffickers and their Methods: 
a. Who are the traffickers/exploiters? 
b. Are they independent business people? 
c. Small or family based crime groups? 
d. Large international organized crime syndicates? 
e. What methods are used to approach victims? 
f. For example, are they offered lucrative jobs, sold by their 
families, or approached by friends of friends? 
g. What methods are used to move the victims (e.g. are false 
documents being used?) 
h. Are employment, travel, and tourism agencies or marriage brokers 
involved or fronting for traffickers or crime groups to traffic 
individuals? 
 
According to the 2008 AHRR, gangs, organized crime, and human 
smugglers were reportedly among the principal traffickers for 
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. There were anecdotal 
reports from police and NGOs that families sold their daughters for 
purposes of trafficking. Individual entrepreneurs have used the 
offering of lucrative jobs abroad as well as in the "city" to trap 
victims as well. 
 
The GOH states that, generally, the traffickers are Honduran women 
who operate as independent business people.  Other times, the 
Honduran women traffickers have been linked to organized crime.  For 
example, the GOH has three cases of Honduran women traffickers who 
had been sexually exploited themselves by organized crime in 
Guatemala and then turned around and trafficked children into the 
same situation. 
 
In Honduras, those responsible for internal trafficking function 
like a small group of criminals whose mode of operations are the 
recruitment, capture, trafficking, and subsequent exploitation which 
are generally masterminded by one or two individuals in the group. 
In the past, there have been cases where organized crime has 
directly trafficked persons but generally, investigations into 
trafficking cases result with one or two persons discovered as 
responsible without any discovery of the links to organized crime. 
 
The methods utilized to traffic persons are most frequently false 
offers of good-paying work (generally, in Guatemala or Mexico) or 
the cooption of the victim's acquaintances to trick them into being 
trafficked.  For transiting the victims out of Honduras traffickers 
utilize false documents or cross the border at "blind spots" along 
the Guatemalan and Honduran border.  No Honduran employment 
agencies, tourism, marriage or travel agencies have been detected to 
be participating in the trafficking of persons.  However, the GOH 
has detected traffickers using newspaper advertisements offering 
good work to attract potential victims. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶6. Setting the Scene for GOH's Anti-TIP Efforts 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶A. Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a problem in 
the country? 
 
According to Special Prosecutor of Children, the GOH is well aware 
of the problem and also recognizes that TIP in the country has long 
term repercussions on Honduran society and is one of the worst forms 
of slavery. 
 
¶B. Which government agencies are involved in anti-trafficking 
efforts and which agency, if any, has the lead? 
 
The MP, MFA, Secretary of Government and Justice (SGJ), Security 
Ministry (Police), Migration Department, IHNFA, and the justice 
system are all involved in the fight against TIP.  The MP is in 
charge of investigating trafficking in persons and is the entity 
with legitimate authority to exercise the public penalties for 
trafficking in persons and sexual exploitation. 
 
The GOH has charged the IHNFA as the principal technical authority 
on all issues dealing with children and family.  The IHNFA also is 
charged with guaranteeing the compliance of the human rights of 
children in coordination with all government entities, NGOs, the 
United National Fund for Children (UNICEF), the International 
Organization of Migration (IOM), the International Labor 
Organization (ILO), the Save the Children Alliance, Plan 
International, as well as the Spanish Agency of International 
Cooperation for Development (AECID).  IHNFA works closely with all 
of these entities to ensure the protection of Honduran children and 
adhere to all international standards which Honduran is a signatory 
member. 
 
A re-organization in the Special Prosecutor's Office for Children in 
Tegucigalpa has assigned anti-trafficking responsibilities to one 
district attorney, two lawyers, three Public Ministry investigators, 
and two DNIC agents. In San Pedro Sula, two district attorneys cover 
trafficking issues, while one attorney does so in Choluteca and one 
in Danli.  Thanks to a new initiative with Plan International, the 
Special Prosecutor's Office for Children has hired five more 
prosecutors to work specifically on TIP and child sexual 
exploitation issues.  The goal of employing these new prosecutors is 
to expand coverage to western and southern Honduras including the 
following cities: Intibuca, Gracias, Lempira, La Paz, Santa Barbara 
and Choluteca. 
 
The re-organization has been achieved in order to increase 
efficiencies and ease of management in the office.  The office has 
been divided into seven new areas including: 
¶1. Area of Instruction 
¶2. Area of Adolescent Criminal Cases 
¶3. Area of Attention for At-risk Children 
¶4. Area of Prosecution 
¶5. Area of attention on Deaths of Children 
¶6. Area of Combating the Sexual Exploitation of Children and 
Trafficking of women and children 
¶7. Area of Social Work 
 
The National Direction of Special Investigative Services (DNSEI), 
that operates under the Minister of Security, conducted detection 
operations throughout the country including highways, airports, 
ports and hotels. 
 
There also exists an Inter-institutional Commission against 
Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Children (CICESCT) 
to coordinate the GOH's response to the problem of TIP.  The CICESCT 
was constituted in 2003 and is made up of 52 governmental 
organizations, non-governmental organizations, and international 
organizations including the following: 
 
Participant Institutions, Agencies and organizations: 
¶1. National Congress of Honduras: Commission for Children and 
Family 
¶2. Supreme Court of Justice 
¶3. Public Ministry 
¶4. Special Prosecutor for Children 
¶5. Special Prosecutor for Women 
¶6. Secretary of State for the Office of Governance and Justice: 
General Department of Migration and Immigration: Pact for Childhood 
Program 
¶7. Secretary of State for the Office of International Relations 
¶8. Secretary of State for the Office of Security 
¶9. Strategic Department of Planning and Coordination 
¶10. National Direction of Preventive Police (DNPP) 
¶11. DNIC 
¶12. DNSEI 
¶13. Secretary of State in the Office of Health: Division of Mental 
Health 
¶14. Secretary of State in the Office of Education 
¶15. Secretary of Finances 
¶16. IHNFA 
¶17. Honduran Institute of Tourism 
¶18. National Institute of Women 
¶19. Municipal Government of the Central District: Social Management 
 
¶20. Casa Alianza Honduras 
¶21. Save the Children Honduras. 
¶22. Private Institutions Promoting Children's Rights in Honduras 
(CIPRODEN) 
¶23. National Forum for Migration in Honduras (FONAMIH) 
¶24. UNICEF 
¶25. IOM 
¶26. ILO 
¶27. Save the Children Alliance 
¶28. Plan Internacional 
¶29. AECID 
¶30. United States Embassy 
 
¶C. What are the limitations on the government's ability to address 
this problem in practice? 
a. For example, is funding for police or other institutions 
inadequate? 
 
According to the IHNFA, one of the primary factors limiting the 
GOH's efforts is that the budget of the MP is insufficient to 
successfully prosecute traffickers.  Other factors that hamper GOH 
efforts are the socio-economic situation which often leads to TIP 
such as: poverty and limited educational and labor opportunities. 
Also, the ineffectiveness of some employees in the justice system is 
another challenge in prosecuting traffickers. 
 
IHNFA, which is in charge of protecting Honduras's children, 
admitted that it is neither designed nor able to respond to all of 
the difficulties that minor trafficking victims face.  Also, there 
are not adequate logistical resources or sufficient training for the 
investigators of trafficking crimes. IHNFA also notes their work is 
further hampered by reluctance of many of the most vulnerable groups 
to file criminal complaints. 
 
b. Is overall corruption a problem? 
 
According to IHNFA, Honduras has taken positive steps to ratify the 
United Nations Convention against Corruption which was signed in 
 
December of 2003 in Mrida (Mxico).  However, criminal impunity 
remains a common problem due to corruption within government 
institutions. 
 
c. Does the government lack the resources to aid victims? 
 
The GOH lacks resources to aid the victims of TIP.  For example, in 
2006, IHNFA was assigned a budget of 100.8 million Lempira (USD 5.3 
million), of which, approximately 83 percent was used to pay 
personnel expenses of the Institution leaving only 17 percent for 
operating expenses, capital expenses and programmatic expenses.  The 
IHNFA has a payroll of 82.7 million Lempira (USD 4.3 million) for 
972 positions.  These budget constraints severely hamper the ability 
of the IHNFA to assist victims of TIP, implement dynamic programs or 
be able to face new challenges.  Thus the government of Honduras 
relies on private NGOs such as Casa Alianza and CRS to assist 
victims of TIP. 
 
¶D. To what extent does the government systematically monitor its 
anti-trafficking efforts (on all fronts - prosecution, victim 
protection, and prevention) and periodically make available, 
publicly or privately and directly or through regional/international 
organizations, its assessments of these anti-trafficking efforts? 
 
According to the IHNFA, the GOH has made great progress in 
preventing and combating the crimes of commercial sexual 
exploitation and trafficking in persons.  The Inter-institutional 
Commission against Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of 
Children (CICESCT) constitutes the national referendum on the topic 
and is in charge of monitoring progress.  In the Commission all 
institutions and organizations constantly discuss and plan future 
actions against trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation 
of children.  The Commission also works closely with regional 
efforts spearheaded by the IOM and ILO. 
 
However, a lack of coordination among the various institutions makes 
monitoring progress in the battle against TIP difficult.  For its 
part, the GOH provides information on the number of capacity 
building workshops held and beneficiaries.  The GOH has also 
provided information on cases tried and investigated to the U.S. 
Embassy upon request but does not make this information publicly 
available. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶7. INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶A. Existing Laws against TIP 
a. Does the country have a law or laws specifically prohibiting 
trafficking in persons - both sexual exploitation and labor? 
b. If so, please specifically cite the name of the law(s) and its 
date of enactment and provide the exact language [actual copies 
preferable] of the TIP provisions. 
 
The law sets penalties and defines offenses related to trafficking, 
including incest, lechery, abuse, prostitution, pornography, and 
knowingly infecting someone with HIV/AIDS.  However, the law has not 
been enforced effectively.  Inadequate government funding to combat 
trafficking, corruption, and frequent turnover of government 
employees limited the government's ability to address trafficking. 
 
c. Please provide a full inventory of trafficking laws, including 
non-criminal statutes that allow for civil penalties against alleged 
trafficking crimes (e.g. civil forfeiture laws and laws against 
illegal debt). 
d. Does the law cover both internal and transnational forms of 
trafficking? 
e. If not, under what other laws can traffickers be prosecuted? 
f. For example, are there laws against slavery or the exploitation 
of prostitution by means of force, fraud, or coercion? 
g. Are these laws being used in trafficking cases? 
 
According to the Special Prosecutor for Children, laws and penalties 
for TIP crimes committed were established in Title II of Chapter II 
decree number 234-2005 on September 1, 2005.  These laws were 
publicized in the official public law review on February 4, 2006 and 
are referred to as "Crimes against the freedom, physical 
psychological and sexual integrity of people." 
 
Beginning in January 2008, the protocol for preventing, containing 
and punishing trafficking in persons, especially women and children, 
was ratified by the legislative body and entered into law.  The 
protocol complements the UN convention against transnational 
organized crime. 
 
Currently, the Special Prosecutor's office is prosecuting two cases 
where commercial sexual exploitation crimes along with illicit money 
washing have been found. 
 
Article 105 of the Code also establishes that all TIP crimes merit 
civil as well as criminal charges. 
 
Article 97, 99 and 100 of the Childhood Code of Adolescence 
establish that penalties and sanctions can be administered upon the 
owners of businesses where the sexual exploitation of children takes 
place.  These penalties can be determined up to the amount that the 
entire business is worth, thus effectively closing the business. 
 
¶B. Punishment of Sex Trafficking Offenses: 
a. What are the prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking 
people for sexual exploitation? 
 
Punishments include fines ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 Lempira 
(USD 5,300 to 26,500) and imprisonment for four to 20 years. 
 
Article 149 of the Penalty Code established penalties of a prison 
sentence of 8 to 13 years and a fine of 150 to 250 minimum salaries 
for crimes of sexual exploitation or trafficking of persons. 
Aggravated sexual exploitation or trafficking is determined based on 
the following: 
1) When the victim is less than 18 years old; 
2) When the violator used force, intimidation or tricked the victims 
with a promise of work; 
3) When the violator administered drugs or alcohol to the victim: 
4) When the violator took advantage of their business interests, 
office or profession; and 
5) When the violator took advantage of the confidence of persons who 
have authority over the victim or made payments or loans or other 
concessions to obtain their consent 
 
¶C. Punishment of Labor Trafficking Offenses: 
a. What are the prescribed and imposed penalties for trafficking 
people for labor exploitation, such as forced or onded labor? 
b. If your country is a source country for labor migrants, do the 
government's law prvide for criminal punishment - i.e. jail time - 
or labor recruiters who engage in recruitment of wrkers using 
knowingly fraudulent or deceptive ofers with the purpose of 
subjecting workers to trafficking in the destination country? 
c. If your cuntry is a destination for labor migrants, are thee 
laws punishing employers or labor agents who cnfiscate workers' 
passports or travel documents or the purpose of trafficking, switch 
contracts without the worker's consent as a means to keep the orker 
in a state of service, or withhold paymentof salaries as a means of 
keeping the worker in  state of service? 
 
In Honduras, there is no conemplation of trafficking of persons for 
the exploitation of labor.  However authorities search for oher 
means of prosecuting criminal figures who caryout illicit actions. 
In the case of extra-longworking days or where a child is required 
to wor at night, the Code of Children sanctions, in Article 134, a 
penalty of up to 5 years in prison whic is the same sentence for 
violators of child labr laws.  Honduras is not a destination for 
traffcking victims. 
 
¶D. What are the prescribed penalies for rape or forcible sexual 
assault? 
 
Article 140 of the Penalty Code sanctions a penalty of 1 to 15 
years in prison for rape.  In the case ofaggravated rape a prison 
sentence of 15 to 20 yers is given in the following circumstances: 
 
1) hen the vicim is younger than 14 years old; 
2) Wen the crime committed is against the victim's wises; 
3) When the violator uses drugs or alcohol t diminish the capacity 
of the victim; 
4) When he violator is in charge of the protection or has ustody 
of the child; and 
5) When the violator kows that they are a carrier of HIV/Aids, or 
whenthey have committed the violation in a group or isa 
re-offender or when the victim is pregnant or hen the victims 
becomes pregnant because of the ape, or when the victims is over 70 
years old. 
¶E. Law Enforcement Statistics: 
a. Did the governent prosecute any cases against human trafficking 
offenders during the reporting period? 
b. If so provide numbers of investigations, prosecutions, 
convictions, and sentences imposed, including detals on plea 
bargains and fines, if relevant and aailable. 
c. Please note the number of convicted traffickers who receive 
suspended sentences and the number who receive only a fine as 
punishment. 
d. Please indicate which laws were used to investigate, prosecute, 
convict, and sentence traffickers. 
e. Also, if possible, please disaggregate numbers of cases by type 
of TIP (labor v. commercial sexual exploitation) and victims 
(children under 18 years of age v. adults). 
f. If in a labor source country, did the government criminally 
prosecute labor recruiters who recruit workers using knowingly 
fraudulent or deceptive offers or by imposing fees of commissions 
for the purpose of subjecting the worker to debt bondage? 
g. Did the government in a labor destination country prosecute labor 
recruiters who confiscate workers' passports or travel documents for 
the purpose of trafficking, switch contracts without the worker's 
consent as a means to keep the worker in a state of service, or 
withhold payment of salaries as a means of keeping the worker in a 
state of service? 
h. What wre the actual punishments imposed on persons convited of 
these offenses? 
i. Are the traffickers erving the time sentenced? 
j. If not, why not? 
According to the Special Prosecutor for Children, n 2008 the GOH 
prosecuted cases against Honduran involved in commercial and/or 
sexual exploitatin and trafficking in persons; exact figures 
natinwide are as yet unavailable   IHNFA has much better 
information for the ases and investigations in Tegucigalpa, as most 
f its personnel are stationed there.  In 2008, in egucigalpa, 
there were 10 cases in the process ofbeing or already prosecuted, 
compared to eight cses tried in 2007.  There were also 57 cases 
undr investigation in Tegucigalpa, compared to 35 invstigations in 
¶2007. 
 
The Special Prosecutor fo Children provided details on 21 cases 
involving exual exploitation in 2008, including 10 from 
Teucigalpa, nine from San Pedro Sula, one from Progrsso and one 
from La Ceiba.  Within these 21 case, the vast majority (17) 
included commercial sexal exploitation charges (Note: Cases marked 
with  * involve the aggravating offense of "pimping" asdefined by 
Article 148 of the Penal Code), six "pecial" rape charges (special 
referring to the vctim being a minor), four trafficking in personscharges, three child pornography charges, one charg of aggravated 
acts of lechery, and one charge o economic exploitation. 
 
Cases of Sexual Exploittion for 2009, Source: Special Prosecutor 
for Chldren Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazan Department 
. Formal Complaint: 0801-2008-02631 
Judicial Inqury: 
Victim: Melisa Ivonne Amador Maradiaga 
Crie: Rape, Commercial Sexual Exploitation with a Minr 
Accused "A": Oscar Augusto Fernndez Ros 
Crim: Commercial Sexual Exploitation*, Rape 
Accused B": Yadira A. Palma Huete 
Judicial Inquiry: 17-08Juez -17 
Status: Prosecutors request was presentd in January 2008 and 
they've asked for taken tetimony from the victims.  On March 2nd 
the arres order was executed for Yadira A. Palma Huete and er 
initial court proceedings were March 6.   She as sent to prison to 
await trial.  On March 8, te arrest order was executed for 
Fernndez who wasgiven "bail" but ordered to present himself 
peridically to the judge, disallowed from leaving the ountry 
prevented from communicating with the victms, and required to 
deposit 100,000 Lempira.  Hi initial court proceeding was set for 
March 27. 
 
¶2. Formal Complaint: 683-06 (NUI) 
Expediente Jdicial: 
Victim: Alma Yessenia Villatoro CantorCrime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation* 
Accused (2: Hilda Rosa Cruz, David Alexander Alvarez Quintanlla 
Judicial Inquiry:   18-08; Judge -8 
Status Prosecutor's request presented January 8, 2008; te victims 
have been asked to testify.   An arres order has been issued. 
 
¶3. Formal Complaint:  NU 
Judicial Inquiry: 32-2008 Judge Wendy Laqueman 
Victim: Keydi Isabel Velsquez Moreira 
Crime: Trfficking in Persons 
Accused: Yessenia Maria Vsquz Velsquez 
Status: Prosecutor's request was presnted on February 26, 2008 in 
Puerto Cortes - wher the crimes took place.  On the same day, the 
vitim's testimony was taken.  The two defendents wer arrested.  In 
December, both defendants plead gilty and obtained a lesser 
sentence. 
 
¶4. Forma Complaint:  2008-10490 
Judicial Inquiry: -2008 Jdge 
Victim: Deylin Belinda Jimnez Gonzlez 
Crim: Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
Accused: Jos deJess Daz Chvez 
Status: Prosecutor's request and itnesses testimony was completed 
on March 11, 208 (Infraganti).  Defendant was sent to prisonto 
await trial on March 25, 2008; the charges were subsequently changed 
to rape. 
 
¶5. Formal Complaint:  0801-2008-17998 - "the Colombian Case" 
Judicial Inquiry: 406-2008 Judge 1 
Victims (2): Protected Witnesses: "1" and "3" 
Crime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
Accused (2): Libardo de Jess  Cardona and Alberto Arcngel Ferraro 
Bolivar 
Status: Prosecutors indictment and testimony was taken on May 27, 
¶2008.  Initial proceedings took place May 30, 2008 and the 
defendants were sent to prison to await trial. 
 
¶6. Formal Complaint:  0801-2008-09229 
Judicial Inquiry: 458-2008, Judge   7 
Victims (5): Jessy Xiomara Fiallos(7), Ambar Valeria Godoy(13), Isis 
Marlene Godoy(15),  Suyapa Gisel Rubio(11) y Miriam  Raquel 
Rubio(15). 
Crime:  Child Pornography, Rape, acts of aggravated lechery, 
Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
Accused: Attorney Conrado Zavala Castellsn 
Status: Search warrant and prosecutors indictment were submitted 
June 12, 2008.  Initial proceedings took place June 16, 2008. 
Defendants were sent to prison to await trial. 
 
¶7. Formal Complaint: 0801-2008-27540 (Caso La Travesa ) 
Judicial Inquiry: 519-08, Juez 18 
Victims (3): Protected Witnesses: T1, T2 y T3 
Crime: Child Pornography 
Accused (2): Jhony Bowye Gsmez Gsmez and Alexander Armando Pagoada 
Nolasco 
Status: Search warrant and prosecutor's indictment were submitted on 
July 8 2008.  Initial proceedings took place on July 14 when the 
defendants were sent to prison to await their trial, which began 
September 14. 
 
¶8. Formal Complaint: 0801-2008-31742 
Judicial Inquiry:  Judge 
Victim; Merln Marisela Flores Lspez. 
Crime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation* 
Accused: Aminta Betulia Quisnez 
Status: Search warrant and prosecutor's indictment were submitted on 
the August 2, 2008.  Defendant had initial proceedings in court on 
August 8 when she was sent to prison to await trial. 
 
¶9. Formal Complaint: 2008-39394 
Judicial Inquiry: Presented in Danli, El Paraiso 
Victim: Tesla Fabiola Ordoez. 
Crime: Child Pornography, Rape 
Accused: Fabricio J. Guillen 
Status: Prosecutors requested a search warrant, and sought arrest on 
September 21, 2008.  However, the accused has yet to be captured. 
 
¶10. Formal Complaint: 0501-2008-04479 
Judicial Inquiry: 215-08 
Victims (2+): Dunia Marisela Daz, Veis Illinois and others (?) 
Crime: Trafficking in Persons 
Accused: Enil Gerardo Medrano Rivera 
Status: Prosecutor's indictment presented on February 25, 2008. 
Initial proceedings took place March 3 when the defendant was jailed 
awaiting trial. 
 
La Ceiba Atlantida Department 
¶11. Prosecutorial Solicitation: No. 389-04 
Formal Complaint made through Police operations 
Crime: Economic Exploitation 
Accused: Lester Senem Benavides 
Victims (2): Lilian Marisol Burgos Catillo and Jessica Areli Ramos 
Paz. 
Observations: Provisional Stay of Proceedings decreed at initial 
proceedings on September 2, 2008. 
 
San Pedro Sula, Cortes Department 
¶12. Formal Complaint: 275-08 
Victim: Neraldy Perdomo Rivas 
Crime:  Aggravated Commercial Sexual Exploitation* 
Accused: Edwin Alexander Palma Daz 
Observations: In prison on other charges, pending appeal 
 
¶13. Formal Complaint: 15738-08 
Accused (2): Gustavo Snchez del Cid, Walter Lenin Franco 
Crime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation*, Rape, Trafficking in 
Persons 
Victims (2): Keylin Orellana and one other woman 
Observations: Pending resolution of an appeal 
 
¶14.  Formal Complaint : 3320-08 
Accused: Isis Vanesa Bejerano Castillo 
Crime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation* 
Victim: Jackeline Chavez Amaya 
Observations: Prosecutors sent a request for investigation to the 
DGIC on February 29, 2008 without a receiving a response. 
 
¶15.  Formal Complaint: 8198-08 
Accused: Unknown 
Crime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation* 
Victim: Paola (unknown last name) 
Observation: Prosecutors sent a request for investigation to the 
General Department of Criminal Investigation (DGIC) on April 22, 
2008 with no response to date. 
 
¶16. Formal Complaint: 7249-08 
Crime:  Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
Victim: Cinthia Mariela Fonseca Sarmiento 
Accused: Unknown 
Observations: Prosecutors requested an investigation by the DGIC on 
November 6, 2008 and have not received a response. 
 
¶17.  Formal Complaint: 4033-08 
Accused: Francisco Arnoldo Madison 
Crime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
Victim: Alba Luz Alvarado Miranda 
Observations: Prosecutors sent the case to the General Department of 
Special Services of Investigation (DGSEI) with a request for 
investigation. 
 
¶18. Formal Complaint: 11040-08 
Accused: Unknown 
Crime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
Victim: Abigail Sarahi Corea Diaz 
Observations: The victim was sent to social risk authorities on May 
28, 2008. 
 
¶19. Formal Complaint: 17734-08 
Accused: Unknown 
Crime: Trafficking in Persons 
Ofendido: Olvia Martnez 
Observations: The prosecutor requested an investigation by the DGSEI 
on August 22, 2008. 
 
¶20. Formal Complaint: 10864-08 
Accused: Mario Antonio Umaa Ramos 
Crime: Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
Victims: Martha Gisela Rivera Herrera 
Observation: A prosecutor's request for arrest of the accused was 
issued on May 17, 2008. 
 
El Progreso, Yoro Department 
¶21. Formal Complaint: 
Date: March 8, 2008 
Crime: Rape, Commercial Sexual Exploitation 
Accused (2): Manuel Urea, Josue Martnez 
Victims (2): Tania Isabel Reyes, Xiomara Reyes 
Observations: Provisional "Stay of Proceedings" (Sobreseimiento) was 
issued for Manuel Urea.  Josue Martnez Esta is a fugitive. 
 
 
¶F. Does the government provide any specialized training for 
government officials in how to recognize, investigate, and prosecute 
instances of trafficking? 
a. Specify whether NGOs, international organizations, and/or the USG 
provide specialized training for host government officials. 
 
According to the Commission, since 2006 the government increased 
substantially anti-trafficking training and community outreach by 
training 7,000 police, prosecutors, and judges and conducting 
awareness training for over 10,000 students. 
 
In 2008, the Organization of American States provided capacity 
building training for 40 Honduran government workers in a workshop 
to combat and prevent trafficking in persons.  The training focused 
on prevention and victim's assistance as well as creating an 
understanding of gender roles and human rights. 80 percent of the 
operative staff of the Trafficking in Persons Unit at DNSEI received 
training. 
 
The State institutions in charge are the MP, the Secretary of 
Security, the IHNFA, and counterparts from various international 
organizations funded projects including non-governmental 
organizations who carryout capacity building workshops for the 
justice ministry employees and civil society on the various themes 
of trafficking. 
 
A project in place by INHFA since April of 2008 has received 
technical and financial assistance from UNICEF and aims generate 
pertinent information that will inform the creation of public policy 
better oriented to the implementation of plans and programs which 
aim to protect rights and uphold the law. 
 
The National police took actions to strengthen their institutional 
capacity for preventing, investigating and reforming their 
organizations in four pertinent National Directorates: 
¶1. Preventive: Created a Division Against Abuse, Trafficking, 
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children,  (DATESI) and a Tourist 
Police unit which are controlled by the National Direction of 
Preventive Police 
¶2. Special Investigative: Created the Unit for Trafficking of 
Persons which is controlled by the National Direction of Special 
Investigative Services 
¶3. Criminal Investigative: The Unit for Special Crimes which is 
controlled by the National Direction of Criminal Investigation 
¶4. Police Education: Formation of a National Direction of Police 
Education including formation units of pre and post-grade police. 
 
The Public Ministry's Special Prosecutor for Children has assigned 
investigative analysts for exclusively investigating cases of 
commercial sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.  They have 
completed capacity building workshops with the help of NGOs, Judges, 
prosecutors, and police. 
 
The capacity building workshops on identifying and assisting victims 
have been carried out by the Honduran government and NGOs.  In the 
past seven years, approximately 2500 workshops, or approximately 360 
per year, have been utilized to train government employees and 
members of civil society. 
 
Activities for the Prevention of Commercial Sexual Exploitation, 
2001-2008 (Source: Inter-Institutional Commission for 
Anti-Trafficking) 
-Capacity Building Sessions 
802 Events 
45539 Beneficiaries 
-Consultations with Family or Victims 
1,652 Occurrences 
1,652 Beneficiaries 
-Total 
2,454 Events/Occurrences 
47,191 Beneficiaries 
 
Achievements of the Interinstitutional Commission in 2008: 
 
¶1. Sensitization of 1500 police officers of all police units by 
DATESI. 
¶2. The Commission meets on regular basis. 
¶3. Development of a manual to include sex trafficking offenses in 
the Tourism Degree programs 
¶4. Training among several City Hall divisions, so they might exert 
some influence in their offices, supported by IOM (260 people). 
¶5. Programming of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation 
workshops with youth. 
¶6. Appointment and training of 22 municipal defense counselors, 127 
community defense counselors and training among 9 communicator 
networks. 
¶7. Public outreach and education regarding commercial sexual 
exploitation of minors in 20 municipalities of the Department of 
Francisco Morazan, with .participation of municipal authorities and 
citizens 
¶8. Training of 60 Ministry of Education supervisors and principals 
of elementary schools of the Central District (Tegucigalpa and 
Comayaguela) and Olancho. 
¶9. Training in recognizing sexual abuse and commercial sexual 
exploitation among local actors, including municipal authorities, 
teachers and parents. 
¶10. Technical meetings with justice operators of the Central 
American region. 
¶11. Training of 477 high school students from Technical Institute of 
Business Administration (INTAE), and Institute Monseor Turcios 
Mixto Honduras. 
¶12. Awareness training in the prevention of sexual commercial 
exploitation of girls, boys and adolescents among 500 tourism sector 
business owners and workers. 
¶13. Training  200 women in coordination with Nacional Institute for 
Woman (INAM). 
 
 
¶G. Does the government cooperate with other governments in the 
investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases? 
 
The Honduran government is a signatory member to a number of 
regional conventions including: 
¶1. A regional convention signed July 2006 which established 
regulations for dealing with minors and children who have been 
transited from one country to another. 
¶2. A regional convention signed March 2008 which codified common 
methods for investigating and promoting the rights of minor and 
children migrants exposed to commercial sexual exploitation. 
¶3. A regional convention with Mexico ratified November 2007 
regarding the dignified treatment and safety of returned minors and 
children migrants who are unaccompanied by adults. 
¶4. Regionally-elaborated methods for sharing of best practices in 
the prevention of trafficking of persons. 
¶5. A regional project to strengthen the national and regional 
capacities to combat and prevent trafficking in persons in Central 
America, agreed upon by all the Attorneys General of Central 
America. 
 
a. If possible, provide the number of cooperative international 
investigations on trafficking during the reporting period? 
 
In 2008, Honduras cooperated with international investigations on 
trafficking of persons with authorities from Guatemala.  While the 
exact number of investigations has not been tallied, the most 
prominent case was of the "Caprichos" business, a front for a 
trafficking scheme by a Guatemalan (Yessenia Mara Vsquez 
Velsquez) and a Honduran woman (Miriam Arleth Posadas Canales) who 
was returned to Honduras.  The Honduran (Herman Aemin Smith 
Escobedo) owner of the front business has been jailed and is 
awaiting trial. 
¶H. Does the government extradite persons who are charged with 
trafficking in other countries? 
a. If so, please provide the numbers, etc. 
 
The government of Honduras does not keep track of the exact numbers 
of extraditions.  In 2008 it worked closely with Guatemalan 
authorities to coordinate the extradition of alleged trafficker 
Mirian Arleth Posadas Canales alias Niurka from Guatemala back to 
Honduras. 
 
¶I. Is there evidence of government involvement in or tolerance of 
trafficking on a local or institutional level? 
 
According to the IHNFA there were no reported cases of government 
involvement in TIP in 2008.  In the past, there have been claims of 
border authorities illegally allowing victims to be trafficked 
without proper documents but when investigations have been made 
victims have either been unwilling or unable to identify the accused 
border authorities. 
 
If govt. involvement, govt. response 
 
¶J. Is prosecution legalized or decriminalized? 
a. Which activities are ciminalized? 
b. Laws enforced? 
c. If legal, what regulations? 
 
According to the GOH, prostitution is legal in Honduras.  However, 
if the prostitute is under 18 years old the government works to 
protect rights of the minor as they are considered to be in a 
dangerous situation.  Clients of minor prostitutes are considered to 
be sexually exploiting a minor. "Managing" the relationship that a 
minor prostitute has is also illegal as sexual exploitation of a 
minor.  Such a relationship is considered under the law "commercial 
sexual exploitation" or "pimping" and both are crimes as defined by 
Article 148 of the Penal Code.  The penalty ranges from six to ten 
years in prison and a fine from 100 to 200 minimum salaries. 
 
The penalty for the aforementioned crimes is augmented in the 
following cases: 
1) When the victims are less than 18 years old; 
2) When the subject takes advantage of his stature, profession or 
business; 
3) When the subject uses a power relationship to gain the confidence 
of the victims, the relationship or hierarchy over the victim; and, 
4) When the victim is submitted to conditions of servitude or other 
practices similar to slavery 
 
¶K. PK troops? 
 
Not applicable. 
 
¶L. If child sex tourism, what are the origin of sex tourists? 
 
In the past there have been cases of sexual tourism from both the 
USA and Australia.  According to the Penal Code, Honduras penalizes 
sexual tourism with a penalty of 8 - 12 years in prison.  The 
penalty is augmented if the victims are children.  In 2008, there 
were no reports of sexual tourism filed with the authorities. 
 
In 2005, the tourism sector started an initiative with the help of 
the World Tourism Organization and ECPAT International to promote 
the rights of children and adolescents as well as responsible and 
sustainable tourism.  The initiative works closely with the tourism 
industry to de-mystify and promote the sanctions associated with 
commercial sexual exploitation in popular tourism areas.  However, 
throughout 2008 Honduran newspapers reported the existence of many 
brothels and minors who were prostitutes in popular tourism areas, 
such as Copan Ruinas and the Bay Islands.  Specifically, in Copan 
Ruinas the cost of sex with a minor was reported to be 300 Lempira 
(approximately USD 15). 
 
a. How many foreign pedophiles are prosecuted/deported/extradited? 
 
Since these are old cases, I would just delete.  In 2008, there were 
no reported cases of foreign pedophiles being identified, prosecuted 
or deported. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
¶8. PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
--------------------------------------- 
 
 
¶A. What kind of protection does the government offer to victims and 
witnesses? 
a. Does it provide these protections in practice? 
 
According to the GOH, Article 237 of the Penal Code establishes the 
protection of witnesses.  When the justice system identifies that a 
witness or victim is in grave danger because of their testimony it 
is responsible for providing protection according to the following: 
 
 
¶1. That the name, address, place of work and profession of the 
witness are not entered into the record of the court or if they are 
they are sealed and are not distributed beyond the court; 
¶2. That appearances in court for court procedures utilize methods to 
disguise the identity of the testifier to the charged subject(s) and 
the public in general; 
 
The National Congress approved a new law for the protection of 
testimony, experts and other intervening parties in the penal 
process who are also instrumental in combating crime. 
 
This law was first introduced in the Congress in 2003, but it was 
not finally approved until March of 2007 by the Commission of 
Judicial Matters.  According to the law, the Public Ministry 
coordinates the witness protection program for testifiers, funded by 
25 percent of seized criminal resources through the Office for the 
Administration of Seized Assets (OABI).  Also, the PM counts on the 
help of other organizations involved in the penal process, like the 
Supreme Court of Justice, the Public Defender, the Secretary of 
Security, the National Police, the National Commission of Human 
Rights, the Solicitor General of the Republic and the Environment, 
amongst others. 
 
The law is shaped by 31 articles and four chapters which establish 
its objective, application and define relevant principles and terms. 
 
 
In 2008, a manual was produced for the Attention for Victims of 
Commercial Sexual Exploitation by the IHNFA and the NGO Casa 
Alianza.  The manual is a technical guide and methodology which 
establishes procedures for attending to minors and children who are 
victims of commercial sexual exploitation to ensure their human 
rights are not violated.  In accordance with its objectives, the 
process groups together four focus areas: a) Detection and Registry; 
b) First Class Intervention; c) Second Class Intervention; and d) 
Monitoring and Evaluation. 
 
IHNFA also manages the program of Intervention and Social Protection 
in order to protect and restore the rights of the children whose 
lives or integrity are in danger.  This is implemented with a 
central focus on Human Rights and the reintegration of those 
victimized into their families and society.  The victims of 
commercial sexual exploitation are attended through a process 
consisting of three elements: 
¶1. Homes of Protection: residential centers with caretakers 
specialized in guaranteeing the observance of the four areas of 
children's rights under protection. 
¶2. Family Protection: exposure to the traditional nuclear family 
when possible. 
¶3. Family Consultation: to ensure full recuperation, re-orientation 
to family life and family participation through their recuperation. 
 
Since 2001, IHNFA has attended to 433 victims of commercial sexual 
exploitation from all parts of Honduras.  The majority (85 percent) 
of victims have been reintegrated into their families while others 
have received care from private centers of protection. 
 
The investigating and monitoring of the families of the child 
victims of commercial sexual exploitation is performed by the 
"consejeras de familia enfatizada."  These investigations are 
carried out to determine whether or not a return of the victim to 
the family is in the best interest of the victim. 
 
From December of 2003 to October of 2008, Casa Alianza (CA) attended 
to 393 minor female victims of commercial sexual exploitation of 
whom some were victims of TIP.  According to CA, 80 percent of these 
victims have had their fundamental rights restored and have been 
re-integrated into the formal educational system, a non-formal or an 
alternative education system.  Ninety percent of these victims have 
been reintegrated in their families and ten percent are being 
attended to temporarily in residential programs while their family 
situations stabilize.  The ultimate goal of the CA program is that 
the children who are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation 
recuperate their self-esteem and initiate a process of emotional 
recuperation and physical recuperation from all the traumas they 
have experienced. 
 
¶A. Does the country have victim care facilities which are accessible 
to trafficking victims? 
b. Foreign Victims have access to facilities? 
c. Where are child victims placed? 
d. Specialized care for adults and children? 
e. Specialized care for male and female victims? 
f. Specialized facilities dedicated to TIP victims? 
i. Are these facilities operated by govt.? 
ii. Funding source? 
iii. Amount spent? 
 
According to GOH, IHNFA was created to attend to child victims of 
crimes and children at the margins on society and at social and 
physical risk.  There are no programs or centers specifically 
oriented for victims of trafficking.  Rather, trafficking is 
addressed within programs and centers oriented to combating the 
broader problem of commercial sexual exploitation.  In 2008, the 
same as 2007, the only center for victims of commercial and sexual 
exploitation and trafficking was run by the NGO Casa Alianza, which 
received funds from various international donors including the USG. 
 
 
¶B. Are TIP victims provided with access to legal, medical and 
psychological services? 
g. Is so, specify the kind of assistance provided. 
h. Does GOH provide funding to NGOs to provide services? 
i. Numbers? 
j. Federal budget?  Local budgets? 
 
The government of Honduras provides medical services to victims of 
TIP, funded by the government at local public hospitals.  It has 
also pledged to provide funding to Casa Alianza's victim's 
assistance centers. 
¶C. Does govt. assist foreign trafficking victims, how? 
 
The application of the "Protocol for the Repatriation of children 
and adolescent victims or those vulnerable to trafficking in 
persons" tasks the government with providing care to victims which 
includes secure and adequate accommodation, a healthy balanced diet, 
medical and psychological attention including educative and 
recreational programs, taking into consideration the protection of 
their security, and considering any pertinent personal information 
for each and every victim. 
 
To ensure their safety, repatriated victims of trafficking must have 
their family situation verified as safe and stable.  This is done 
through investigations and communication between the various 
 
entities of IHNFA with the parallel Institution in the victim's 
country and presumably the victim's family.  In the case that a 
victim is Honduran, the IHNFA works to verify their family situation 
and establish communication with the family and, when verified, 
arrange the victim's reintegration with the family. In 2008, IOM 
assisted in the repatriation from Mexico of two boys and four girls, 
and one girl from Guatemala.  Most of these children were 
reintegrated to their families. 
 
¶D. Does govt. provide longer-term shelter to victims or other 
resources to aid the victims in rebuilding their lives? 
 
The GOH has no specialized shelters for rehabilitation and 
reintegration of victims.  This is an urgent need.  IHNFA appoints 
special personnel to assist under age victims that are repatriated. 
 
¶E. Does the govt. have a referral process to transfer victims 
detained, arrested, or placed in protective custody by law 
enforcement authorities to institutions that provide care? 
 
The government does have a process for ensuring that victims are 
cared for during their transfer or while in custody.  In 2008, the 
GOH elaborated a protocol for repatriating children and adolescent 
victims or those vulnerable to trafficking in persons.  It is 
managed by INHFA and the costs of the extradition are covered by the 
receiving nation. 
 
¶F. Total number of trafficking victims identified during reporting 
period? 
 
According to IHNFA, in 2008, two victims of TIP crimes were 
identified and protected by NGOs until they were reintegrated to 
their families. 
 
k. Of these how many were referred to care facilities? 
l. Total number of victims assisted: by govt.-funded and 
non-govt.-funded care? 
 
¶G. Formal system of proactively identifying victims of trafficking 
among high-risk persons with whom they come into contact? 
 
There is no formal mechanism.  However, there have been significant 
efforts in training government officials. 
 
¶H. Are the rights of victims respected? 
m. Are trafficking victims detained or jailed? 
n. How long? 
o. Fines? 
p. Prosecuted for violations of other laws? 
 
While it is not always the case, IHNFA has sought to ensure that 
victims' rights are recognized and respected.  The GOH is working to 
train and sensitize justice system employees and all who may come 
into contact with victims so that they will be able to observe their 
rights; they have insisted that the victims are not detained or 
imprisoned.  GOH authorities have been ordered to ensure the 
victim's protection and speed the return of victims to their 
families ensuring security. 
 
¶I. Does govt. encourage victims to assist in the investigation and 
prosecution of trafficking? 
q. How many assisted? 
r. Civil cases allowed? 
s. If victims are material witness, permitted to leave country, get 
a new job? 
t. Victim restitution? 
 
The government has begun taking an active role in encouraging 
victims to participate in the prosecution of traffickers.  However, 
it has not been successful because the victims approached by the 
prosecutor's technical team rarely agree to collaborate in the 
investigation or judicial proceeding of the traffickers. 
Oftentimes, victims retract statements out of fear for their lives 
and a mistrust of the police as well as a fear that the police have 
been infiltrated by criminal organizations. 
 
¶J. Does govt. provide specialized training to govt. officials to 
identify TIP victims and for victim's assistance? 
u. Training to its embassies abroad? 
v. # of TIP victims assisted by embassies? 
w. Type of assistance? 
 
The capacity building workshops on identifying and assisting victims 
have been carried out through regional programs with USAID, IOM and 
ILO by various institutions in the Honduran government as well as 
NGOs. 
 
¶K. Does the govt. provide assistance to its nationals who are 
repatriated as victims of TIP? 
¶L. Which international orgs. / NGOs, work with TIP victims? 
x. Types of services? 
 
In fiscal year 2008 Casa Alianza (CA) hosted 245 young girls in 
their centers for abused children or victims of sexually 
exploitation.  A portion of these minors and children were victims 
of TIP.  However, CA does not differential between victims of sexual 
abuse, commercial sexual exploitation and TIP. 
 
y. Cooperation from local authorities? 
 
CA provides support for the victims of sexual exploitation through 
their Residential Centers for victims of commercial sexual 
exploitation.  From 2003 to 2008, they had attended to 236 children 
and adolescent victims of commercial sexual exploitation, 
trafficking and sexual abuse in general. 
 
Of these victims, CA has provided educational opportunities, 
recreation, health and other capacity building and care.  Ninety 
percent of the victims have been reinserted into either the formal 
education system, non-formal education or alternative education 
systems.  With technical help and financing from ILO, CA has 
developed a Plan of Action with a focus on rights for the attention 
of children and adolescent victims and those vulnerable to 
commercial sexual exploitation.  In total, 157 victims of commercial 
sexual exploitation and 105 children vulnerable to commercial sexual 
exploitation have been helped since September 2006. 
 
------------- 
¶9. PREVENTION 
------------- 
 
¶A. Did govt. conduct anti-trafficking information or education 
campaigns? 
a. Describe them 
b. #s of people reached 
c. Targeted campaigns at at-risk victims or demand for trafficking? 
 
The government of Honduras has conducted various campaigns against 
commercial sexual exploitation including campaigns against 
trafficking in persons. 
 
These campaigns include holding forums to inform the public and 
government workers on the problems of commercial sexual 
exploitation, trafficking, and irregular migration, including the 
following actions: 
¶1. Launching national campaigns to prevent commercial sexual 
exploitation of children and adolescents. 
¶2. Designing, elaborating and distribution of public materials 
including: posters, comic strips, flyers, for all audiences. 
¶3. Holding national forums 
¶4. Presenting videos on regional issues with help of the ILO, such 
as: 
a. "Attack on the Dream," 
b. "What I hoped turned out to be fiction," 
c. "The shadow of the region," 
d. "To know that you can," 
e. "It is a crime." 
 
According to IHNFA, some institutions have developed campaigns such 
as PM's three informative regional campaigns called "Prevention of 
Transmitting Children without Proper Documentation," which was 
related to the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking in 
persons. 
 
¶B. Govt. monitor immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of 
TIP? 
a. Do border officers screen people? 
 
The specialized training received by migration and border police 
authorities has improved border controls. In 2008, over 10 boys and 
girls from Ecuador were rescued and assisted by the authorities. 
These children were traveling with people who were not relatives. 
 
¶C. Mechanism for coordination and communication between various 
agencies, internal, international, and multilateral on TIP-related 
matters? 
 
The GOH has developed mechanisms for coordinating communication 
through various institutions and agencies.  This is done through 
CICESCT which meets monthly to advance the progress made on 
trafficking.  A victim's assistance protocol was established by the 
Intra-Institutional Task force on Trafficking.  The GOH also 
coordinated with NGOs and IOM to place victims in shelters and 
provide them with reintegration assistance. 
 
The CICESCT was established in 2003 and is made up of 52 
governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and 
international organizations including: 
 
Participant Institutions, Agencies and organizations: 
¶1. National Congress of Honduras: Commission for Children and 
Family 
¶2. Supreme Court of Justice 
¶3. Public Ministry 
¶4. Special Prosecutor for Children 
¶5. Special Prosecutor for Women 
¶6. Secretary of State for the Office of Governance and Justice: 
General Department of Migration and Immigration: Pact for Childhood 
Program 
¶7. Secretary of State for the Office of International Relations 
¶8. Secretary of State for the Office of Security 
¶9. Strategic Department of Planning and Coordination 
¶10. General Department of Preventive Police 
¶11. DNIC 
¶12. DNSEI 
¶13. Secretary of State in the Office of Health: Division of Mental 
Health 
¶14. Secretary of State in the Office of Education 
¶15. Secretary of Finances 
¶16. IHNFA 
¶17. Honduran Institute of Tourism 
¶18. National Institute of Women 
¶19. Municipal Government of the Central District: Social Management 
 
¶20. Casa Alianza Honduras 
¶21. Save the Children Honduras. 
¶22. Private Institutions Promoting Children's Rights in Honduras 
(CIPRODEN) 
¶23. National Forum for Migration in Honduras (FONAMIH) 
¶24. UNICEF 
¶25. IOM 
¶26. ILO 
¶27. Save the Children Alliance 
¶28. Plan Internacional 
¶29. AECID 
¶30. United States Embassy 
 
According to IHNFA, the victim's assistance protocol provides 
performance measures but only for children and adolescent victims of 
trafficking. 
 
¶D. National Plan of Action for TIP? 
a. Agencies involved? 
b. NGOs consulted? 
c. What steps have been taken to implement it? 
 
According to IHNFA, there is not a National Plan of Action 
specifically to counter trafficking in persons.  The National Plan 
is broader and includes trafficking under the theme of commercial 
sexual exploitation.  The Inter-Institutional Commission has been 
charged with specifically fighting commercial sexual exploitation 
and trafficking. 
 
¶E. Govt. actions to reduce demand for commercial sex acts? 
 
The government has not specifically worked to reduce the demand for 
commercial sex acts as Honduras is not considered a destination for 
TIP victims.  However, different institutions of the GOH (such as 
the PM, the Secretary of Security and IHNFA) carried out capacity 
building workshops on the prevention of trafficking with various 
sectors of society, police, judges, prosecutors, professors, 
migratory police, local municipal governments, as well as others. 
 
The GOH has also executed operations with businesses in the 
transportation sector and nightclubs in order to promote the 
prevention and detection of cases of commercial sexual exploitation 
and trafficking.  In 2008, the GOH also implemented the protocol for 
attention to victims of trafficking and commercial sexual 
exploitation.  The GOH has also worked to publicize the problems of 
trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation with government 
employees whose work is related to trafficking as well as programs 
on the radio and television. 
 
¶F. Govt. measures to reduce the participation in international child 
sex tourism by its nationals 
 
Honduran nationals are not "consumers" in the international child 
sex tourism industry.  However, the government of Honduras has made 
efforts to reduce Honduran participation in the child sexual tourism 
industry.  For instance, the National Chamber of Commerce for 
Tourism, UNICEF, ILO and Honduran hotel owners have participated in 
capacity building workshops on the prevention of sexual tourism. 
 
Henshaw