The State of Exception in El Salvador: Taking Stock
Hearing Notice
Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the human rights impact of the ongoing state of exception in El Salvador.
On March 27, 2022, following an explosion of gang-related violence that resulted in 62 homicides in a single day, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador requested, and the national assembly approved, a state of exception that suspended fundamental rights. In the 37 months since, the state of exception has been extended 32 times and several of its provisions have been written into law. More than 83,000 people have been arrested, in excess of one percent of the country’s population, including thousands of minors. At least 261 detainees have died in custody. Human rights organizations claim to have documented mass arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, and due process violations, including denial of access to counsel and mass trials. Some journalists have fled the country and human rights defenders have been threatened. In spite of a constitutional prohibition on reelection, Mr. Bukele ran for and won a second term in February 2024. His popularity is regularly attributed to steep declines in crime rates.
From November 15-18, TLHRC Co-Chair McGovern traveled to El Salvador, where he participated in the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the assassination of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter, and met with human rights groups and representatives of social movements. The witnesses will discuss the situation in El Salvador and offer recommendations for U.S. policy.
The hearing will be hybrid. Members of Congress will participate in person. Witnesses may participate in person or remotely via Cisco WebEx. The public and the media may attend in person or view the hearing by live webcast on the Commission website. The hearing will also be available for viewing on the House Digital Channel service. For any questions, please contact Kimberly Stanton (for Co-Chair McGovern) or Mark Milosch (for Co-Chair Smith).
Hosted by:
| James P. McGovern Member of Congress Co-Chair, TLHRC | Chris Smith Member of Congress Co-Chair, TLHRC |
Opening Remarks
- James P. McGovern, Co-Chair, TLHRC
Written remarks - Chris Smith, Co-Chair, TLHRC
Written remarks
Witnesses
Panel I
- Leonor Arteaga, Program Director, Due Process of Law Foundation
Written testimony - Noah Bullock, Executive Director, Cristosal
Written testimony - Ana María Méndez Dardón, Director for Central America, Washington Office on Latin America
Written testimony - Juan Pappier, Deputy Director, Americas, Human Rights Watch
Written testimony - Carlos Bernal, Professor of Law, University of Dayton; First Vice-President and Rapporteur for El Salvador, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Written testimony