Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report Tuesday claiming that children’s rights in El Salvador have been violated since the country declared its state of emergency in 2022. The report reveals that children in low-income communities have been arbitrarily detained, tortured, and faced severe mistreatment as a result of the country’s “war on gangs.”
The report, “Your Child Does Not Exist Here”, details that since the state of emergency roughly 3,000 children were arbitrarily detained in what witnesses describe as “indiscriminate sweeps.” Over 90 people were interviewed by HRW, who described coercion at the hands of police, among other human rights violations. The interviewees recounted that police forces would detain them for questioning for up to 7 days at a time, often holding them alongside adults.
HRW states detained children confronted overcrowding, inadequate food and healthcare, and were frequently denied access to their lawyers and family members. Additionally, children were subjected to beatings and sexual violence from other detainees. The majority of children subjected to these human rights violations are from low-income communities, with higher rates of gang violence and presence. The report emphasizes:
For decades, pervasive poverty, social exclusion, and lack of educational and work opportunities have left few viable paths forward for children, enabling gangs to recruit and exploit them and security forces to stigmatize and harass them.
President Nayib Bukele requested the state of emergency, which began on March 27, 2022, as a measure to combat criminal gangs. The decree allows the government to temporarily restrict constitutional freedoms and was extended on July 10 for another 30 days.
HRW argues that instead of detaining children in an effort to fight gang activity, thereby “doubly-victimizing” children who have already been targeted by gangs, the government should implement a comprehensive security strategy that includes rehabilitation programs and reintegration support. HRW is advocating for the establishment of mechanisms to review detentions that occurred during the state of emergency.
Both HRW and other human rights bodies are urging the international community to respond to the human rights abuses against children in El Salvador. Juanita Goebertus, HRW’s Americas director, stressed that “the government’s harsh targeting of children risks perpetuating the cycle of violence in El Salvador” and urged foreign governments to press the Salvadoran government to halt these human rights violations and protect the lives and futures of children.
Read more at JURIST.