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 | UNRWA , UNICEF , WHO
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , UN WOMEN , UNHCR , UNICEF , UNRWA , WHO
UN and NGO reps discuss impacts of war and mental health needs in various regions.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNECE
UNECE Press conference on the Ministerial Meeting on Housing Affordability and Sustainablility
On 8 October 2025, UNECE member States' ministers meet to focus on the urgent challenges and strategic priorities surrounding housing affordability and sustainability in the UNECE region. Ten years after the adoption of the Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing, ministers will highlight challenges and key priorities for the achievement of the Charter's objectives, and present good practice and strategic solutions in this regard. As the key outcome of the meeting, ministers will be invited to agree on practical commitments towards sustainable and affordable housing.
The meeting will take place as part of the eighty-sixth session of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management (8–10 October 2025).
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO
Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians
Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , UNHCR , UNICEF , UNOG , WHO , IPU
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, and the International Parliamentary Union.
1
1
1
Edited News
Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC
Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital
UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNHCR , UNICEF , UNIS , WHO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR
Report of the Independent Expert on Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic.
2
1
2
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.
The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF
Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire
UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.