Although Honduras has made progress toward achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals, nearly two thirds of the nation's population still lives below the poverty line.
Infant, under-five and maternal mortality rates remain high, with over one-third of infants are malnourished. Children are vulnerable to violence, sexual exploitation and trafficking, and can also fall victim to sex tourism and child labour.
Honduras has also been hit unusually hard by tropical storms and hurricanes in recent years. Although loss of life has been contained, many roads, schools, health centres and crops were severely damaged or destroyed.
UNICEF is working with Honduras's government to improve health, education and social protection for it's most vulnerable children:
* The child-friendly school model endorsed by UNICEF has been expanded to 80 schools in 21 municipalities; several of its elements have been incorporated into the national education curriculum.
* More than 150 health centres in 56 municipalities have been equipped to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
* UNICEF has helped the government develop national strategies to combat gang-related violence and the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children. The criminal code was reformed to address sexual exploitation, and a national office was created to prosecute sex crimes against children.
