Human rights group Amnesty International has raised concerns about the human rights crisis in El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele’s war on gangs. They reported that Bukele’s campaign has resulted in 235 deaths in state custody and 327 cases of enforced disappearances as of February 2024. Amnesty emphasized that reducing gang violence with state violence cannot be considered a success and criticized the Salvadoran government for adopting disproportionate measures and concealing human rights violations.
Bukele initiated his war on gangs in March 2022, which led to a significant reduction in homicides, but also involved suspending civil liberties such as the need for arrest warrants and the right to a fair trial. This has resulted in prison overcrowding at 148 percent, according to Amnesty. Despite winning a landslide victory in February’s election and consolidating power, Amnesty warned that the situation may worsen if corrective measures are not taken. The rights group expressed concerns about the possibility of the criminal process being instrumentalized and a policy of torture being established in the prison system.
Minister of Justice and Security Gustavo Villatoro has pledged to continue the government’s campaign against gangs and eradicate what he described as an “endemic evil”. He stated on state television that the war against these “terrorists” will persist. However, Amnesty’s Americas director Ana Piquer criticized Bukele for creating a false illusion that he had found a simple solution to the complex issues of violence and criminality. Piquer called on the international community to respond robustly and condemn any model of public security that is based on human rights violations, noting that the current response has been timid.
The situation in El Salvador under Bukele’s leadership highlights the delicate balance between combating gang violence and upholding human rights. While the reduction in homicides is a positive outcome, the use of state violence and denial of civil liberties raises serious concerns about the government’s approach. Amnesty International’s findings indicate a troubling trend of human rights violations and a lack of accountability. The need for a comprehensive and rights-based approach to addressing gang violence is paramount, and international pressure and condemnation may be necessary to ensure the protection of human rights in El Salvador under Bukele’s administration.
