Honduras Celebrates Lower Crime Rates, Vows to Keep Fighting

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández announced that Honduras is on track to cut its 2011 homicide rate nearly in half by December.

"This is a momentous achievement for Honduras," said President Hernández. "The government's actions to combat violence and arrest criminals have saved lives. But our work is not done."

Hernández stressed that Honduras must continue its efforts to reduce violence in the country. He vowed to curb domestic violence, construct new prisons, and arrest corrupt former public officials.

President Hernández said that he intends to fight gang violence by developing community spaces and expanding economic opportunity for young people.

One initiative that's already been launched is Vida Mejor, or A Better Life. The program works with the Inter-American Development Bank to provide cash transfers, housing assistance, and family counseling to poor Honduran families. Since its inception in 2015, Vida Mejor has reached 2 million Hondurans.

In addition, President Hernández stressed the importance of education, saying, "Parents must work closely with teachers and community leaders to bring principles and values back to schools."

The president also pushed for other reforms to enhance public safety, including the construction of new prisons. He noted that Honduran prisons were essentially crime planning centers and drug trafficking stations before he took office. 

The Hernández administration has transferred dangerous prisoners from San Pedro Sula to maximum-security prisons El Pozo 1 and 2, with the goal of stopping prison breaks and isolating prisoners from their criminal networks. The government is also building El Pozo 3 and 4 in some of the remotest areas of the country.

"My administration's efforts have made Honduras a much safer place," Hernández said. "But we will not rest until all Honduran families feel secure in their homes."

Media Contact:
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SOURCE Republic of Honduras