El Salvador’s most prominent human rights organization officially ceased operations in the country Thursday due to increasing repression against civil society groups. The organization, Cristosal, cited the “criminalization of human rights defenders, the imposition of [a] Russian-style Foreign Agents Law (LAEX), and the weakening of institutional independence” as key reasons for its decision. While operations in El Salvador are suspended, Cristosal confirmed it will continue its mission in Guatemala and Honduras.
According to Cristosal, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s administration has sharply curtailed basic rights, including the rights to free expression, peaceful protest, and civic engagement. The May arrest of Ruth López, Cristosal’s head anti-corruption lawyer and human rights defender, marked a turning point. López was detained after advocating for transparency and speaking out against corruption. During her detention by the National Civil Police, López was allegedly denied access to her lawyers, which is an act Cristosal condemned as a serious breach of due process and international legal standards. In response to the short-term enforced disappearance, Cristosal called on National authorities to comply with their constitutional and international obligations. Cristosal argued that López’s case is part of a broader strategy of exemplary punishment meant to intimidate.
Cristosal also reported ongoing government intimidation, including legal harassment, surveillance of both its activities and the private homes of staff, and various administrative obstacles. In May, a Foreign Agents Law was approved in El Salvador, requiring organizations receiving funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents” and imposing a 30 percent tax on donations received by non-governmental organizations whose activities are financed internationally. Cristosal called El Salvador’s Foreign Agents Law an authoritarian measure designed to punish independent civil society groups through excessive regulation, punitive taxes, and state monitoring.
Despite the decision, Cristosal reaffirmed its dedication to defending human rights throughout the region.
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