Why have anti-gang campaigns in El Salvador raised human rights concerns?

Anti-gang campaigns in El Salvador, particularly under the administration of President Nayib Bukele, have raised significant human rights concerns due to the suspension of fundamental civil liberties and the erosion of democratic checks and balances.12

Since March 2022, a state of emergency has granted police and military forces expanded powers, including the ability to monitor communications and conduct arrests without informing individuals of the charges or providing access to legal counsel. These measures have led to the incarceration of approximately 75,000 people, with critics and international organizations reporting that innocent citizens are frequently ensnared in raids, families are separated, and detainees face abuse.12

Conditions within facilities like the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) have drawn further condemnation. Detainees are often held in overcrowded cells for up to 23.5 hours a day, denied family visits, and cut off from legal representation. Experts have described such facilities as "black holes" for human rights, noting that they lack rehabilitation programs and effectively remove individuals from society indefinitely without due process.3