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 | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today told the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva of more details that are emerging on the atrocities committed in El Fasher, in Sudan during and after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO
Sudan: UN Raises Alarm Over Mass Atrocities in El Fasher as Survivors Report Executions, Killings and Rapes
More details continue to emerge about atrocities committed during and after the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on 23 October. Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN Human Rights Office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR , UNDP , WFP , WHO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Ukraine: Russian attacks on energy terrorize population as winter starts; could trigger major ‘crisis within crisis’
The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine expressed concern on Friday about “continuous attacks” on energy production sites and distribution facilities.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA
The humanitarian situation In Ukraine: winter response, the energy crisis and next steps
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OCHA , OHCHR , UNCTAD , UNHCR , UNOG , WHO , WMO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the World Meteorological Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
1
1
1
Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO
‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives
Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNEP
UNEP Press conference: Minamata Convention on Mercury COP6