United Nations experts have expressed concern over El Salvador’s alleged misuse of the Interpol law enforcement system, namely by issuing red notices against two exiled human rights defenders. The red notices came against Ivania Cruz and Rudy Joya, who have sought refuge in Spain, on grounds that appear unsubstantiated and intricately linked to their advocacy efforts with UNIDEHC, a Salvadoran NGO known for highlighting human rights abuses by the government.
The impetus for these international alerts stems from El Salvador’s political maneuvering during a state of emergency declared in 2022 due to escalating gang violence. This state of emergency has seen continuous extensions, drawing widespread scrutiny from international human rights groups. Cruz and Joya, actively involved in campaigns to protect vulnerable communities and expose government actions, fled their home country amid fears of legal persecution targeting human rights activists.
UN experts are particularly critical of these developments, pointing out that Article 3 of the ICPO-INTERPOL Constitution prohibits any actions of a political nature. Concurrently, Article 2 emphasizes Interpol’s commitment to adhering to the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They urge Interpol to retract the red notices against Cruz and Joya promptly and call upon Spain to decline complying with these notices, ensuring the safety of the activists.
This predicament spotlights a troubling pattern in El Salvador, where recent legal reforms have reportedly been exploited to stifle dissent and suppress human rights defenders. Reports from Irish-based Front Line Defenders reveal that individuals engaged in defending human rights are often labeled as national betrayers by state authorities. This trend is evidenced by the issuance of arrest warrants against environmental and community leaders earlier this year.
Focusing on UNIDEHC’s activities, the organization had been at the forefront of supporting residents of La Floresta, a community facing forced evictions. In February 2025, approximately 20 community leaders were detained, including UNIDEHC spokesperson Fidel Zavala, as reported by Amnesty International. Zavala’s detention is particularly alarming, given his vocal opposition to documented instances of torture and inhumane treatment within prison centers, which he had previously reported.
These developments are part of broader international discourses on the potential misuse of Interpol’s mechanisms. Advocacy groups and international observers are increasingly scrutinizing how political agendas may interfere with legal instruments designed to promote global security and cooperation.
The original discussion of these issues can be found in a report on the JURIST website. This instance serves as a critical reminder of the delicate balance between national security and the preservation of human rights in international law enforcement collaboration.