The World's Worst Place to Be a Woman? Stacey Dooley Investigates

This programme contains scenes which some viewers may find upsetting

In Britain today, young women like me take our basic rights for granted.

But for millions of girls around the world just being female

can put their lives at risk.

In this series, I'm going to investigate

some of the toughest places in the world to be a girl.

In the Philippines, I investigate the latest trend

in the global sex trade - cyber dens.

But tonight I'm travelling to Honduras,

the country with the world's highest murder rate for women.

He took his gun and shot Maria Jose 12 times.

'I'll meet women who've been brutally attacked.'

TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH:

I'm in total disbelief.

-What's your name?

-Stacey.

-Beautiful name.

'I'll confront some of the men responsible.'

Tell me why you're inside.

-For rape?

-Yes.

'And I'll hit the road with young women...'

Stand up for what you believe in.

'..who are fighting back...'

This is all criminalised.

'..as I try to uncover why this country

'has become so dangerous for young women.'

The idea that so many of these crimes

just go unpunished is astonishing.

Tonight, I'm travelling to Honduras in Central America,

a small country south of Mexico.

Honduras recently hit the headlines

for having the highest homicide rate in the world.

If Britain had the same level of murders as Honduras

there would be 50,000 killings a year.

I've arrived in the country's second-biggest city, San Pedro Sula -

but when it comes to murder, it's the capital.

This is my first morning here in San Pedro Sula,

and I've picked up a couple of the local papers

just to have a nose, see what they're saying.

This paper, right, has got six pages -

four dead here, two killed here...

one killed here.

All these murders have happened in the last 24 hours.

It's mind-blowing.

And it's worth bearing in mind

that the headline, the front page on one of these papers,

is a demonstration saying, "We have had enough, stop killing our women,

"stop making it so we're finding our females in these rubbish bags."

Violence against women in Honduras is so common

these crimes even have their own name - femicide.

I want to get a taste of what life's really like here,

so I'm starting my journey at the local hospital.

Hola. Buenas tardes.

-Mucho gusto. Stacey.

-Carlos.

'Carlos is a med student who works in the hospital's A & E.'

'The first thing I notice is the heavy military presence.'

We were having some problems with security -

people who got shot,

they were criminals.

So it's as much security for them

as for us, and other patients.

'This time last year the hospital was overrun by gangs.'

So, on a typical Friday night, it's busy, I guess?

Yeah.

And with Friday night hotting up,

the ambulances start to roll in.

The guys have just wheeled off a lad who's been stabbed multiple times.

There's blood all over the stretcher.

Last year there were 6,000 murders in Honduras.

So, Carlos, what kind of a wound would that be?

He had a bullet wound

that went through his arm and chest.

-His arm and chest?

-Yes.

It goes right through.

After several hours, only a few women have been admitted,

but this is far from the norm.

We see young girls

who are wounded by gunshot.

From 9 to, like, 14, 16, or 17.

-Nine?!

-Wounded. Yes, wounded.

But now you are seeing more and more young girls,

more and more women coming through?

Sadly it's becoming more and more frequent.

In the last decade,

the number of murdered women here has nearly trebled.

Last year 1,100 were killed or disappeared.

Murder is the leading cause of death amongst young women.

I'm still left with the question

as to why it's so dangerous to be a female here.

So, with that said, I've arranged to go and spend some time

with a mother who has lost two daughters.

And this is the most infamous case in the country -

the murders were incredibly violent.

I'm travelling east to a town called Santa Barbara.

It's known for its beautiful women,

of which the most famous was Miss Honduras.

Maria Jose Alvarado!

'Last year, at only 19,

'Maria Jose Alvarado was crowned Miss Honduras

'and became the country's sweetheart.'

Just seven months later,

Maria Jose and her sister Sofia were brutally murdered.

Today I'm meeting their mum, Teresa.

Sofia.

La otra es Maria Jose.

And these are her crowns and trophies, are they?

TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH:

Maria Jose was days away from leaving for London

to compete in Miss World...

..when she decided to join her sister Sofia at her boyfriend's party.

An hour after arriving,

Plutarco killed both girls in cold blood.

Have you any idea why...

why he killed both your daughters?

What drove Plutarco

to kill the most beautiful woman in Honduras,

and her sister?

So I've asked if I can speak to the detective

that was looking after the girls' case.

I just want to find out more information,

I want to know where they were killed,

where their bodies were found.

At the minute I feel like there's all these questions

but not very many answers.

-Buenos dias.

-Hola.

-Como estas?

-Muy bien.

-Gracias.

Today, it's possible for me to spend some time with you?

'Detective Reyes was in charge of the initial investigation.'

I was wondering if I could see where the girls were murdered?

-At this moment we are waiting the patrol police.

-OK.

We need patrol police, police to go to the place.

OK, so, Vicente, this is our security,

and we're travelling in this car.

-That's right.

-Claro. Gracias.

The Miss Honduras case,

has that been the only femicide case here?

So many murders, mostly women.

In this moment, we are in the investigation

of a man who murdered 15 women.

15 women?

-15 women.

-One man murdered 15 women?

-Uh-huh.

-That's horrific.

We arrive at the spa where the party was held.

So, this is the place.

This is the crime scene.

-Where exactly? Can you take me to the exact spot? Can we go?

-This way.

This is the place where the Alvarado sisters were murdered.

'Maria Jose saw Sofia and Plutarco arguing and stepped in.'

Sofia was dancing with another man.

Then...her boyfriend...

-Yeah.

-..feel a...

rage of...

-Jealous.

-Jealous rage.

And he approach her, he took his gun

and shot Sofia several times.

After, he reloaded his gun

and shot again to Maria Jose 12 times.

It's unbelievable.

Incredible.

In Honduras, it's common.

And while all of this is going on,

there are other people at the party?

I think there are...

30...

30 persons.

None of the guests dared go to the police.

Some of the men even helped Plutarco bury the bodies.

This man who killed the two girls

must have serious power

to be so scary for so many people?

The bodies were found a week later and Plutarco was arrested.

Local papers claim he's a major drug dealer with powerful connection.

So, despite killing two women in front of many witnesses,

there are fears he could walk free.

Miss Honduras is one of just five models killed in recent months.

I want to know what it's like to work as a model under these conditions,

so I've arranged to meet some at a video shoot

for local hip-hop stars Phoenix and Falcon.

-He say if you want to model for the video?

-Me?

-Yeah.

-Do I want to model for the video?

Erm... My bikini is in London.

'I catch up with the crew during a costume change.'

Whoo! You look wicked.

Happy?

Como estas? Hola.

I know there have been lots of situations very recently

where models have been targeted specifically,

is that not a bit scary?

TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH:

Why?

Do you reckon it's dangerous to be a beautiful woman here?

TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH:

'In Honduras, 4.5 million people -

'almost two thirds of the population - live in poverty.

'And many wannabe models

'come from the roughest, poorest neighbourhoods in the city.'

'For many girls like Berenice,

'modelling is one of the few ways to escape poverty, if not violence.'

When you say they're not here any more, they're dead?

The majority of women murdered here are under 24

and come from poor urban areas.

These neighbourhoods are controlled

by violent street gangs and drug dealers.

Men who increasingly recruit women to do their dirty work for them.

I've been desperate to get into one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods

that everyone's talking about. They're often referred to as barrios.

But it's proved impossible to get in there without serious protection,

so the military police are going there this afternoon

and they've agreed that we can tag along, so we're en route now.

The military police are a new force here, specially set to tackle gangs.

They target the neighbourhoods with the bloodiest turf wars.

'And I catch up with them at a checkpoint.'

-Como estas?

-Muy bien.

Captain Varela Palma is in charge.

Senor, please may you talk me through this checkpoint?

Why is it here, what does it do?

TRANSLATION FROM SPANISH:

But while the police search the young men,

I notice the women slip through unchecked.

This is only the barrio outskirts.

We still need to travel into the heart of the ganglands.

Last year there were 209 murders in this district alone.

It's hard to describe the atmosphere because, sometimes,

when you're with people like the military police,

there's almost this false sense of security.

It's worth remembering that, you know,

this is often referred to as the most dangerous city on earth.

'In violent neighbourhoods like these,

'I want to know how gangs are using women.'

'Today, I've brought a translator with me.'

So, Captain, you said that the gangs were fighting over territory,

how does that affect the young women that live in these areas?

Right now there is a lot of women involved in the gangs

and working with the gangs.

And they use them because, in the checkpoint,

or places like that,

they don't search the women the same way they search the guys.

So perhaps the gangs target vulnerable girls?

It's easy to see how vulnerable young women can be recruited.

But what happens to them next?

Unbelievably, I've managed to secure a chat

with a girl from one of the most notorious gangs here.

We have to be in a neutral location,

she's had to ask her boss if she can take part in this conversation.

He's given her permission.

So I've no idea what to expect.

Juanita has come with two armed gang members who wait outside.

She's in disguise - if she's recognised, she'll be killed.

You always feel slightly apprehensive...

when you're involved in these kinds of conversations,

but I think we are cool.

'Juanita was abandoned when her parents ran away to America.

'In order to survive, the gang became her new family.'

So you and I are exactly the same age.

-Yeah.

-Very different lives.

'Young girls are lured into the gang with the promise of easy money.'

When you first start out, they're going to treat you well,

and then they start giving you work

and sending you places.

And, yeah, eventually you have to sleep with people.

Many are chosen for their looks and are used for sex.

Truth - I only slept with four, no more.

But this other girl, she slept with ten,

and that was pretty much for nothing.

They still ended up killing her.

'Juanita's boss chose her as his gang wife.'

Do you love him?

Mmm...

No.

Truthfully, never.

I've never been in love with him.

Anyway, he has his wife and his kids.

One only lives with him because, you know, he's in the gang.

'Now she's forced to work as a honey trap,'

'targeting enemy gang members.'

Once the guy's into you, you know, you set up a date

and then the boss and the rest of the gang, they show up.

And when it's time to kill, you're also involved.

How many people do you think, in all honesty,

you've killed over the years?

Well, since I began,

I must have, like, killed,

but mostly women...

only about, you know, 42, like.

To put it bluntly,

you have been responsible for murdering...

many women who are as vulnerable as you once were.

Are you not riddled with guilt?

Yeah, sure. You feel bad.

You go to the house at dawn when everyone's asleep

and the worst part is when they scream, you know?

"Don't kill the kids."

As we say, everyone's to the slaughter.

Every day you were deciding

who gets to live and who should die.

How do you live with that?

There's nothing to do.

Work's work.

You have to do what they say, otherwise YOU die.

You have such mixed emotions

having a conversation with someone like that. You know,

on the one hand, you are completely repulsed...

and you cannot believe the amount of lives she has taken.

But on the other hand, you almost pity her.

She was so young and so vulnerable and so impressionable

when she joined that gang.

But that's it now, that's her life, there is no way out for her.

She has to deal with the constant killings

and the constant death forever.

Juanita's fate is totally in the hands of the men who control her.

But it's not just the girls who join gangs who are under attack.

I've come to Danli Prison in the south of the country.

I want to hear from the prisoners themselves why they raped

and killed women.

I understand this machoism exists,

but I don't fully understand how these

guys can justify it to themselves in their own minds.

So I've come to this prison - there are over 600 men here -

to try and get some answers.

98% of this prison's population is male.

And testosterone levels are high.

-What is your name?

-Stacey.

-Stacey.

-Beautiful name.

-Thank you. Thank you.

-Do you have a boyfriend?

Yeah. Boyfriend in England.

And tell me why you're inside.

-For rape?

-Yes.

-Did you rape her?

-No, no.

She is just lying?

'I'm told that there are over 80 men jailed for violence

'against women here.'

Gracias.

Oh, is that for me? Gracias.

Oh, I'm OK, thank you. Muchas gracias.

So, are any of you guys in here for killing a woman?

'Guilty or not, I still want to get some straight answers.'

Tell me why you think some men are so violent towards women

here in Honduras?

So your woman going to another man, having an affair,

having sex with someone else, that's reason enough to kill her?

That is nonsense, though. That doesn't make any sense.

If you love someone...

..you know, you don't punish them,

you don't hurt them, you don't murder them.

Wow. Remind me never to date a jealous Honduran man.

THEY LAUGH

As I spend more time here, I realise it's not just gang members

and drug dealers who are violent to women.

Homer is serving a 30-year sentence.

He was jailed two years ago for brutally murdering his wife.

-Hola.

-Buenas tardes.

-Buenas tardes.

Como estas? HE SPEAKS SPANISH

Nice to meet you. I'm Stacey.

And can you explain to me a bit more about what happened

when you killed your wife?

'Homer attacked his wife after an argument.

'He demanded that she stay home and cook and clean for him.'

Do you believe that jealousy and passion, as you describe it,

justifies murdering a woman here?

'Homer slashed his wife's throat, and she bled to death.'

And you make it sound like it is her fault she is now dead.

Do you take any responsibility for killing her?

Of course I find it hugely frustrating.

I am a woman, so I'm sat in front of this man

and he is essentially saying that she brought it on herself.

She deserved...

to be murdered because she didn't behave in the way

he expected her to, and she had the audacity to want to go to work,

when he could have just provided for her.

She should have been grateful for that.

And, unfortunately, that mentality, them egos,

that's how so many men think here.

And some of the women have been forced to sort of accept that,

which is even more depressing.

This macho culture means many men

think violence against women is acceptable.

I want to know how many are getting away with it.

Mi amiga. Heydi. I'm Stacey. Nice to meet you.

'Heydi has just left hospital...

'after being horrifically attacked by her husband.'

This was just over a month ago.

Are you at a stage where you're healing a little bit now? Can I see?

SHE SPEAKS SPANISH

'Heydi's husband attacked her with a machete.'

Gracias.

So are you still in pain? You're still sore?

Can you talk me through the night that...

..he attacked you?

Heydi's two young daughters watched while her husband swung the machete.

Heydi is lucky to be alive, but her ordeal is not over yet.

Too poor to afford a lawyer, today Heydi is meeting a women's

rights organisation, who are the only ones who can help.

She wants her husband to face the maximum penalty,

40 years behind bars, for femicide.

So, can I ask you, ladies,

Heydi's story, Heydi's situation,

is this something that you are used to hearing?

And what do you suggest Heydi does now?

'This means he could be out in less than two years.'

I am in total disbelief that they would even entertain

the idea that this could be GBH.

'Fewer than 3% of domestic violence cases are ever resolved here,

'so he could be out even sooner.'

If this man does get out earlier, and he comes back,

or he makes more threats, are you in a position to be able to help her?

For me, the specifics that make me

feel most angry...

are the levels of violence, the brutality

of the crimes here, but also the idea that so many of these crimes

just go unpunished. It is astonishing.

95 to 97% of cases against women

won't end with a conviction.

I mean, that is just...you know, the officials, the authoritative figures

giving these guys the thumbs up.

You kick on, you do what you like because, realistically,

the chances of you spending any time inside are very, very slight.

In a country where it's so easy to get away with murder,

where can women go when their lives are in danger?

I've tracked down one of only three refuges for women

in the whole country.

So, I'm on my way to go and spend some time

at the only women's refuge in this city.

You can see for yourself how high the security needs to be,

it's covered in barbed wire, they have armed security.

I know there was an incident last year,

so I'm keen to see how they are now getting on.

'This refuge has been running for over 19 years

'and has housed over 4,000 women and their children.'

So, Ana Cruz, you are the boss around here?

SHE TRANSLATES THE QUESTION

Si.

Is it possible for me to have a look at some of the rooms?

WOMAN SPEAKS SPANISH Gracias.

'Last year, the authorities forced the refuge

'to take in a woman wanted by the gangs.

'Knowing the risks, Ana Cruz objected, but to no avail.

'And just days later, armed men stormed the building.'

They wrap her, you know, in a quilt and they took her

and they were with weapons, you know, with the ski masks.

They...kidnapped her and they took her with them.

'Both the woman and her two-year-old baby were thrown into a car.'

The lady that was taken by the masked men,

she left us a message right here.

So, she had just enough time to...

leave you that message before they took her.

'They were never heard from again.'

We don't know if they were sent by the district attorney

or they were hit men or... We don't know.

It sounds like it can't be real. You know what I mean? It's staggering.

Welcome to Honduras! That's how we live, here in Honduras.

Terrified by the attack, all the other women fled.

Almost a year later, the refuge remains shut.

What can you do when you haven't got support from the government...

-From anybody.

-..authoritative figures?

This trip is going to send me loopy.

I've got nothing but admiration for these women

because every single morning you wake up and you think, "Here we go again."

You know what I mean? "I wonder if I'll survive today.

"I wonder if someone will shoot me, if I'll get raped.

"I wonder if I'll get kidnapped."

With so many women under attack, are any fighting back?

It's 3am and I'm going to go and meet

a group of girls who are really courageous women, actually.

They are willing to break the law to try and get their voices heard

and actually I have learned very quickly that that is a big deal here.

You don't want to upset anyone in Honduras.

We've agreed to meet at a petrol station in the centre of town.

Because of the risks involved, the girls are in disguise.

Hello. Hola. Como estas? Nice to meet you all.

You look amazing. I love your mask!

Oh, bonita!

So, girls, explain to me tonight what the plan is,

what are you hoping to do?

Tonight we are trying to put some posters up.

We want to talk about the issues like birth control,

abortion and the right to be, just be women and be happy.

Oh, my gosh! It is so refreshing to hear somebody speak so openly,

you know, about these issues that really do matter.

I could not agree with you any more,

but here in Honduras it is difficult to say these things.

This is all criminalised.

To stand up for what you believe and talk about it

is like the worst thing that you can do.

'The government recently imposed

'the strictest ban on emergency contraception in the world.

'These girls are fighting back.'

Are you not frightened?

I try not to think about it, or else I wouldn't be doing it.

Just another night in Honduras! Rattling round.

Following a group of really awesome women.

So, we've had to stay a little bit further behind.

They are concerned that if they're seen entertaining a film crew,

the repercussions for them could be much worse.

It has to be done really, really quickly

because the minute someone sees you, you've got to vanish.

The girls are replacing posters that have been defaced.

And with over 20 posters to stick up,

it doesn't take long before someone spots them

and phone calls are made.

There is a car behind us. We need to go.

And the girls have spotted it too.

WOMAN SPEAKS SPANISH

We've got to cut this short.

There's a car behind us, there's a car in front of us.

The security guards have just come out,

they're reaching for their guns and we've got to go.

THEY CHEER AND CLAP

I mean, these posters simply say,

"We should have the right to choose what we do with our own body,"

and I don't know how any reasonable, sane person...

..can have any issues with that.

In Honduras, the conservative and Catholic government

is rolling back women's rights.

It has cut sex education in schools.

Both abortion and the morning after pill have been made illegal.

Today I'm going to the local hospital's maternity ward

to see the consequences for myself.

Sofia has come in for a checkup with her mum.

She was raped when she was only 15.

So, tell me how you're feeling. Nervous? Excited?

A little bit. What are you feeling most?

'Sofia was baby-sitting to help her mum with bills

'when she was raped by a family friend.

'She kept it a secret for five months.'

So, essentially, you've been forced into complete silence?

'Graduating was Sofia's best hope for a good job,

'but forced to have the baby, she's had to drop out of school.'

Do you know what you're having? Nino? Nina?

What would you like?

But Sofia is not alone.

Rape happens more frequently than murder here

and the majority of victims are under 14.

I'm keen to find out what options the hospital offers to these girls.

Dr Gomez is in charge of the teen pregnancy clinic.

So, if a young girl finds herself pregnant through no fault of her own,

she has been raped, what are her choices here?

The government is saying to all of these young girls,

"If you are raped and you fall pregnant,

"you have absolutely no choice whatsoever,

"you have to continue with the pregnancy

"and you have to live with that for the rest of your life."

It just seems so unfair, you know?

If a woman has been raped, I think she should choose

whether or not she wants to continue with that pregnancy

and the girls here, they just have no choice whatsoever.

In fact, not only is it illegal, it has now been criminalised,

so if she did take the pill,

if she did go to a backstreet alley for an abortion,

she would go to prison for up to six years.

And statistically, the perpetrator, the guy who raped her

and put her in this position, would walk scot-free.

I'm unexpectedly invited to the labour ward.

I tell you, this morning I had absolutely no idea

that I'd be going into the delivery room.

Didn't have a clue.

I'm a little bit nervous. I don't know why.

-You OK?

-Yes.

Of course you are!

'Since the morning after pill was made illegal in 2009,

'the number of teens giving birth in this hospital has more than trebled.'

Hola. Como estas?

'Sylvia is the youngest girl on the ward today. She is only 13.'

I can sit with you for a moment? Si?

And are you at the hospital alone, are your family here?

Is the father around?

She moved in with her boyfriend when she was 11.

And what age is your boyfriend?

OK.

Sylvia is just one of 50,000 teenage mums giving birth each year.

There are so many girls here today,

they are forced to give birth side-by-side.

Two of them are only 16.

They are both coming at the same time with their babies?!

Sylvia has been rushed to surgery.

So, as you can see,

all the surgeons are just prepping her now for theatre.

They are going to try and get this Caesarean done

as quickly as possible.

Sylvia is clearly petrified.

It's easy to forget that, at only 13, she is only a child.

For girls this young, it's often too dangerous to give birth naturally.

So Sylvia's baby must be delivered by Caesarean...

BABY CRIES

..and two months prematurely.

It's a nina. Perfecto.

Bueno.

To be honest with you, I've never...

experienced such a momentous day.

You know, the idea of doing that, for me,

frightens the life out of me and I'm 28 and I'd have my support network.

She's just been such a trooper and you can't help but think,

you know, the two of them have battled it out today,

but realistically, Honduras is a tough place to be a female

and it's going to be a struggle for the pair of them, of course it is.

You hope and you pray that it goes the other way, but...

statistically...

the chances are, it's going to be a tough slog.

It's easy to see how girls like Sylvia

can get caught in a vicious cycle,

becoming mothers so young and dependent on men.

When the odds are so stacked against them,

is there any way out for young women like these?

I'm about to meet someone who I hope can tell me more.

We can't be seen together,

so we are meeting behind closed doors in a photography studio.

-Hola.

-Hola.

-Como estas?

-Muy bien.

-Si?

Ana Maria's life is under threat.

She has a plan, but for it to work, she needs an ID

and for that, a photo.

Three months ago, her life changed for ever

when a young man burst into her house.

And just because you saw what happened, your life is now in danger?

What's your plan now? What are you going to do?

Her sister fled two years ago

when she was targeted to become a gang wife.

-Happy?

-Si.

'We decide to meet up again,

'when Ana Maria will make a run for the border.'

Perfecto.

-Bonita!

-Gracias.

Your ticket, eh? To hopefully get out of here.

For many girls like Ana Maria, their only option is to leave the country.

On the way back to the hotel,

I spot a van making a drop-off at the morgue.

It's another brutal murder.

This is the 865th body they've had here in four months.

TEARFULLY: It starts to become just numbers.

Then when you see the bodies, you know, that is someone's mum,

that is someone's sister, that is someone's baby.

I find it...

..impossible to understand,

how they can continue to live like this.

Cos I'm only here a short time and I'm...I'm struggling.

Shocked by the levels of violence and death that women face here every day,

I want to know why the government isn't doing more to protect them.

I've been promised an interview at the general attorney's office.

They are responsible for making sure that justice is served.

But when I get there,

the man they put forward doesn't want to play ball.

We have filmed so many women here in Honduras

and we've heard so many things,

so we are giving you the right to reply.

I would hate to come here, just speak to women,

not give you the opportunity to give your point of view

and then me leave for England tomorrow.

OK, so just so I'm completely clear,

we wrote formally to the district attorney's office,

asking for an interview.

They accepted, we came, we came to the place that they told us to,

we came at the time they told us to,

we have now sat down to do the interview

and you are refusing to take part?

I just need to know because if that is the case, I can leave.

Ooh, wow!

OK, thank you for your time. I appreciate your honesty.

Well, that went well(!)

I'm just frustrated. I've just got the hump.

I just was so keen to speak to somebody of authority

that could answer some of these questions.

I came to the place they told me to, I came at the correct time,

as soon as I get here, it's game over.

You do feel like you've learned more,

you've understood more, spending time in a prison

than you do speaking to people that work for the government.

And I'm from a formal foreign organisation, the BBC. You know?

And I've been completely blown out,

so imagine if you are a young, poor girl from the barrios

and you want to lodge a complaint?

On my way to meet Ana Maria, I get an urgent phone call.

Last time I spoke to Ana Maria,

we both decided that we were going to meet tonight at the bus stop.

She was going to get the bus down to the border and she was going to

meet her sister and try and cross into Guatemala.

For whatever reason, she just rang me, she's incredibly upset,

she said that's now not the plan.

We are to meet at a completely different location.

I don't know what's gone on.

You know, and I am...

I'm really worried for her because my understanding was...

leaving the country, escaping, that was her only option,

so now she's not doing that, I don't know where she's going to go.

We meet a few hours north of San Pedro Sula.

She's come with a friend.

Explain to me why you're not going to

go to the border today. What's happened?

So your sister has just gone missing?

So, what are you going to do? Where are you going to go?

So, we're just relying on your sister, really?

Is it worth us trying her again?

This is her number, yeah?

-Si?

-Mm-hm.

'It goes straight to voicemail.'

The machine.

Gracias.

When I met her the first time, I thought her situation

was pretty hopeless, but now there is nowhere for her to go.

You know, the refuge I visited has closed down,

we've had a thorough look and there are only two others in the country

and they are both full.

One of them takes five girls, one of them takes ten.

I...

I can't help her.

So, what's next? Do you need me to take you anywhere?

Where do you want to go?

ANA MARIA SPEAKS SPANISH

I feel really frustrated and helpless.

A friend has offered to take Ana Maria in for the night,

but it's dangerously close to where the gangs are.

Gracias. Take care. I'll call you, OK?

'With her chance of escape gone for now,

'I can only hope that Ana Maria's sister gets in touch soon.'

STACEY SIGHS

So, that's them off.

It's crazy. It's totally... totally insane, her situation.

It's midnight at San Pedro Sula central bus station.

This is where I was going to meet Ana Maria and travel to the border.

Lots of young women who are trying to escape Honduras,

trying to escape San Pedro Sula,

their journey will start here

and it's a really frightening and dangerous one.

Many pay human traffickers, known as coyotes,

to get them to the US border.

There's a lady here,

she's got four kids in total, she's got no luggage whatsoever.

There's probably also a coyote involved

because people keep ushering her in the opposite direction.

And with many of the women under the control of coyotes,

they are too frightened to speak to me.

Even paying thousands of dollars doesn't guarantee a safe passage.

The risk of being raped en route means some women even get

a contraceptive injection before departure.

Many are also kidnapped and then killed

if their families don't pay the ransom in time.

But despite all these dangers,

last year, 11,000 underage Honduran girls

were stopped, trying to cross the US border.

I don't blame them. I would do the same.

If I lived here and I was poor and I was scared

and I was being beaten by my husband and I was raped, I would try.

I would.

In my short time in Honduras, another 16 women have been murdered.

Until something is done to make it safer,

this bus station will remain full of women

desperately trying to flee the country.