A recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has exposed severe human rights violations against minors under the state of emergency imposed by President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador since March 2022. The report reveals that over 3,000 minors have been arbitrarily detained and subjected to trials with due process violations. More than 1,000 of these minors have been convicted, often based on uncorroborated police testimonies and forced confessions.
The 114-page document, titled 'Your son does not exist here': Human rights violations of children and adolescents during the emergency regime in El Salvador,' is founded on over 90 interviews with victims, their families, lawyers, judges, and other relevant stakeholders. HRW's investigation highlights that many detained minors had no apparent connection to gang activities, yet faced ill-treatment, including acts of torture, deplorable detention conditions, and prolonged provisional detention.
The HRW report details harrowing accounts of abuse. For instance, Nicolás, a 16-year-old student, was detained without evidence and remains in custody two years later. Similarly, Óscar, a 17-year-old, endured five months of abuse before being released. Carolina, another minor, was coerced into pleading guilty to gang affiliation under threat of extended imprisonment.
HRW criticizes the Salvadoran authorities for failing to protect detained minors from violence, including beatings and sexual assaults by other detainees. The organization calls for an effective security policy that respects human rights, dismantles gangs, prevents the recruitment of children, and provides them with protection and opportunities.
Despite these allegations, the Bukele administration attributes the significant reduction in violence in El Salvador to its security measures, including the state of emergency. Official figures indicate a drop in the homicide rate from 106.3 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 to 2.4 in 2023. However, HRW urges the government to review the cases of detained minors and end practices of torture, arbitrary detentions, and inhumane conditions.
- HRW's report underscores the need for the Salvadoran government to implement a mechanism that prioritizes the review of cases involving detained minors. This mechanism should aim to release those captured without concrete evidence against them.
- The organization also recommends ending torture, arbitrary detentions, and inhumane detention conditions. HRW emphasizes that a security policy respecting human rights is crucial for dismantling gangs and protecting vulnerable children from recruitment and abuse.
