The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN Human Rights spokesperson Marta Hurtado made the following statement on El Salvador (available in EN and SP):
“We recognise the complex challenge El Salvador faces in tackling criminality, as well as the grave suffering inflicted by the country’s gangs.”
The gangs have murdered, raped, robbed and extorted the population for decades.
“However, weakening the rule of law and the integrity of the legal system by derogating from fair trial rights is not the answer.”
“At least 68,000 people have been jailed in El Salvador since the state of emergency came into force. Of these, at least 1,600 people are under 18 years of age.”
“According to a recent report by a leading NGO (Cristosal), at least 153 inmates have died in prison since the state of emergency was implemented – nearly half of them violently.”
“Civil society groups doing human rights work and media outlets continue to face risks and attacks.”
In 2022, civil society organizations documented 182 incidents of human rights defenders and journalists being targeted. On 14 April this year, El Faro, an online news outlet, announced that it was moving its staff from El Salvador to Costa Rica, citing the intimidation and smear campaigns they faced because of their work.
“We call on the authorities to lift the state of emergency and review the measures they have introduced. We also call on the authorities to immediately investigate all deaths in custody in line with international standards, to hold those responsible to account, and to guarantee justice and redress for the victims’ family.”
Script in Spanish:
“La reiterada prórroga del estado de excepción en El Salvador -que ya lleva en vigor desde marzo de 2022- es muy preocupante, sobre todo por las consecuencias que tiene para los derechos humanos de las personas.”
“Reconocemos el complejo reto al que se enfrenta El Salvador para hacer frente a la delincuencia, sin embargo, debilitar el Estado de derecho y la integridad del sistema legal derogando el derecho a un juicio justo no es la respuesta.”
Al menos 68.000 personas han sido encarceladas en El Salvador desde que entró en vigor el estado de excepción. De ellas, al menos 1.600 son menores de 18 años.
Según un informe reciente de una destacada ONG al menos 153 reclusos han muerto en prisión desde que se implantó el estado de excepción, casi la mitad de ellos de forma violenta.
Los grupos de la sociedad civil que trabajan en favor de los derechos humanos y los medios de comunicación siguen sufriendo riesgos y ataques.
“Pedimos a las autoridades que levanten el estado de excepción y revisen las medidas que han introducido. También pedimos a las autoridades que investiguen de inmediato todas las muertes bajo custodia conforme a las normas internacionales, que hagan rendir cuentas a los responsables y que garanticen justicia y reparación a los familiares de las víctimas.”
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact:
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
Tag and share
Twitter @UNHumanRights
Facebook unitednationshumanrights
Instagram @unitednationshumanrights
Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights
- Exterior shot: Palais des Nations
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The repeated extension of the state of emergency in El Salvador – which has now been in force since March 2022 – is seriously concerning, especially given the consequences for people’s human rights.”
- Cut away: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “However, weakening the rule of law and the integrity of the legal system by derogating from fair trial rights is not the answer.”
- Cut away: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “At least 68,000 people have been jailed in El Salvador since the state of emergency came into force. Of these, at least 1,600 people are under 18 years of age.”
- Cut away: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “According to a recent report by a leading NGO (Cristosal), at least 153 inmates have died in prison since the state of emergency was implemented – nearly half of them violently.”
- Cut away: Briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Civil society groups doing human rights work and media outlets continue to face risks and attacks.”
- Cut away: Briefing room.
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We call on the authorities to lift the state of emergency and review the measures they have introduced. We also call on the authorities to immediately investigate all deaths in custody in line with international standards, to hold those responsible to account, and to guarantee justice and redress for the victims’ family.”
- Exterior shot : Palais des Nations
- SOUNDBITES (Spanish)—Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “La reiterada prórroga del estado de excepción en El Salvador -que ya lleva en vigor desde marzo de 2022- es muy preocupante, sobre todo por las consecuencias que tiene para los derechos humanos de las personas.
- Reconocemos el complejo reto al que se enfrenta El Salvador para hacer frente a la delincuencia, sin embargo, debilitar el Estado de derecho y la integridad del sistema legal derogando el derecho a un juicio justo no es la respuesta.
- Al menos 68.000 personas han sido encarceladas en El Salvador desde que entró en vigor el estado de excepción. De ellas, al menos 1.600 son menores de 18 años.
- Según un informe reciente de una destacada ONG al menos 153 reclusos han muerto en prisión desde que se implantó el estado de excepción, casi la mitad de ellos de forma violenta.
- Los grupos de la sociedad civil que trabajan en favor de los derechos humanos y los medios de comunicación siguen sufriendo riesgos y ataques.
- Pedimos a las autoridades que levanten el estado de excepción y revisen las medidas que han introducido. También pedimos a las autoridades que investiguen de inmediato todas las muertes bajo custodia conforme a las normas internacionales, que hagan rendir cuentas a los responsables y que garanticen justicia y reparación a los familiares de las víctimas.”
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | UNIFIL
Damaged roads, disrupted services and renewed military activity are putting civilians at risk in south Lebanon, UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) warns.
The UN peacekeeping mission is urging restraint and renewed political engagement to prevent further escalation.
2
1
2
Press Conferences | UNIDIR
Launch of the 2026 Arms Trade Treaty Monitor report
1
1
1
Edited News | ICRC , UNODA
Amid unconfirmed reports that fully autonomous and AI-guided drones are now being used on the battlefield, UN chief António Guterres and the President of the Red Cross on Tuesday renewed their urgent call for stricter controls, before it is too late.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | ICRC , OHCHR , UN , UNICEF
UN/ICRC: Renewed Call from UN Secretary-General and ICRC President to Adopt Rules on Autonomous Weapon Systems; OHCHR: Human rights situation in Myanmar new report; UNICEF: Worsening child nutrition crisis in Afghanistan
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR , Treaty Bodies
UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) publishes findings on Finland, Honduras, India and Kuwait
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Somalia: child hunger surges as humanitarian aid dries up – UNICEF
The global funding crisis for vital lifesaving work is taking a growing toll on the most vulnerable children in Somalia, where hundreds of health and nutrition facilities have been forced to close, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
As the deadliest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s history continued spreading on Friday, UN responders renewed their urgent appeal for immediate international support, with existing funding for lifesaving work critically low.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , WMO , UNICEF
OCHA: 100-day mark of the Ebola outbreak declaration, progress and challenges in the
response; UNICEF: Devastating impact of aid cuts on children in Somalia;
WHO: Ebola update; WMO: El Niño update
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC: In the fight against Ebola, bikers transporting dead bodies hold key to community engagement - WHO
From the frontlines of the deadliest-ever Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) shared details on Tuesday of a massive push for community engagement, a day after yet another ambulance attack.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , WHO , UNHCR
OCHA: World Humanitarian Day - legal framework, impunity and commemoration of aid workers killed in line of duty, drone use in attacks on aid workers; WHO - Healthcare in armed conflict, Bundibugyo virus update from Bunia, DRC - scaling up the Ebola response in DRC, the fastest growing outbreak in history, DRC; UNCHR: Lebanon update
1
1
1
Edited News | UNFPA
Sudan: The harrowing reality of giving birth in a war zone
Sudanese women about to give birth are losing their babies and sometimes their own lives because of a lack of specialist healthcare support, amid the ongoing war, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WHO , UNHCR , WFP , UNFPA , UNODA
WHO: update on Attacks on Health Care; UNFPA: Maternal health challenges in Darfur;
WFP/ UNHCR: Critical funding shortfalls threaten life-saving food, nutrition, and other assistance for refugees in South Sudan