The Timebomb That Exploded Twice: Behind The Massacres in Honduras' Women's Prison

On June 20, 2023, Honduras’ National Female Penitentiary for Social Adaptation (Penitenciaría Nacional Femenina de Adaptación Social – PNFAS) became the site of one of the deadliest massacres ever recorded in a women’s prison in Latin America. This tragedy was marked by institutional failures and driven by gender stereotypes, previous violent incidents, and a historical conflict between two of the most influential gangs in Central America: Barrio 18 and the MS13.

InSight Crime visited the prison two months before this event and interviewed dozens of inmates, staff, and authorities.

In our most recent investigation, we illustrate the dynamics among women affiliated with both gangs in this prison and explore how the conditions of violence and insecurity paved the way for the massacre.

For more information, read #PNFASMassacres here:

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