Honduras confronts surge in child sexual abuse and trafficking

Government and NGOs report that a child in Honduras is sexually abused roughly every hour, a rate that far exceeds the official complaint frequency of one report every four hours and 52 minutes. In 2025, public prosecutors recorded 1,887 sexual offence complaints against minors, yet more than 90 % never reach the courts. Perpetrators are often parents, stepparents, relatives, neighbours or teachers.

The Secretariat of Childhood, Adolescence and Family (SENAF) highlighted 12 recent cases of child trafficking and noted that over 3,000 children and adolescents are currently under state protection because of abuse, violence or abandonment. Officials warn that the official figures understate the true scale, as many victims remain silent due to fear, intimidation or lack of awareness. The crisis has been described as a major social and human‑rights emergency, prompting calls for stronger legislation and more effective protection mechanisms.