By Megan Abbot
Honduras has held the title for Murder Capital of the World for
the last several years running, but new data suggests that from 2014 to 2015
the murder rate has dropped about 30%, from 84 to 60 per 100,000 people. What
is behind the high rates of murder across Central American countries? What is behind such a significant decrease?
The answer is unclear.
Some point to intentional manipulation of the numbers. Others
to discrepancies in record-keeping. The Honduran government may point to mano dura or (“iron fist”) policing
techniques. But crediting hardline
policing is risky.
