2009 HONDURAS TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT

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.

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5. HONDURAS'S TIP SITUATION
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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.

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6. Setting the Scene for GOH's Anti-TIP Efforts
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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.

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7. INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS
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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