Human rights at risk
In El Salvador, the human rights situation has deteriorated significantly. A state of emergency has been in effect since 2022, increasingly restricting fundamental rights. Human rights defenders are being persecuted and criminalized. Our partner organization Cristosal, which has been fighting for human rights for over 15 years, was also forced to suspend its work in the country in July 2025. The escalating threats and the arrest of lawyer and colleague Ruth López put the staff in danger. From their exile in Guatemala, they are continuing their work with a new focus and a broader perspective on the region.
Together for justice
Over the years, Cristosal has built a strong network of journalists to raise public awareness of local issues and human rights violations. Together, we support networks of journalists in exile who denounce injustice and violence across borders and build alliances for the fight for human rights in the region. Those affected by the state of emergency also receive support and have a place to turn to. Through our project, we support Cristosal in expanding legal structures that, through targeted efforts, uncover systematic human rights violations and bring them to court. In doing so, we support the fight for social structures in which origin, economic circumstances, and sexual orientation do not determine opportunities, and where dissenting opinions are not considered a crime.
After fleeing into exile, Cristosal staff members are supported through psychosocial workshops as a space for them to process their experiences in the context of forced displacement and criminalization.
Cristosal documents and analyzes human rights violations in El Salvador. In their report, “The Price of Dissent: Criminalization and Political Persecution in El Salvador (2019–2025),” they describe the magnitude of the state of emergency.
The cases of Ruth López, José Ángel, and Alejandro Henríquez illustrate the systematic persecution of human rights defenders in El Salvador. Through joint actions, Cristosal raises awareness to prevent these cases from being forgotten.
Many families in El Salvador have been torn apart by the unlawful mass detentions of their loved ones. We support them in drawing attention to their situation and demanding fair and transparent legal proceedings.
Projectinfo
| Place/Region | Guatemala |
|---|---|
| Partner | Cristosal |
| Activities |
|
| Duration | 01.01.2025 – 31.12.2027 |
| Budget | 275.000 EUR |
| Sponsor | Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit (BMZ) / Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development |
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