Authorities have arrested more than 36,000 people, including 1,190 minors, since the state of emergency was declared, according to official statistics.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (ECHR) again urged the El Salvador government on Friday to respect the rights and dignity of the thousands of people detained during the state of emergency declared in late March to crack down on protesters. .
“The Commission reiterates its call (…) to ensure that actions related to the security policy of citizens and prisons are carried out within the limits and procedures that guarantee respect for human rights and dignity,” the DEAD said in a statement. its announcement.
The Commission, an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), recalled El Salvador’s “international obligation” to ensure “compliance with judicial guarantees”, at a time when human rights groups have complained of arbitrary, mass arrests based on age, socio-economic status.
Salvador’s parliament, which holds a majority of seats in President Najib Boukele’s party, declared a state of emergency in late March following a wave of 87 killings attributed to the so-called “maras” gangs. On May 25, the measure – which suspends fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution – was extended, for the second time, for another 30 days.
Authorities have arrested more than 36,000 people, including 1,190 minors, since the state of emergency was declared, according to official statistics.
At least 18 people have been killed while in police custody, Amnesty International said on Thursday, citing “massive human rights abuses” and expressing concern that the death toll could rise.
More than seven out of ten people in El Salvador support the measures taken by the government of forty-year-old President Bouquet, according to opinion polls. But Mr Boukele’s drive for authoritarianism is a growing concern for the opposition, part of the international community and NGOs who say it undermines democracy.
