The UN calls to “protect the lives” of those detained one year after the state of emergency

Having completed one year of the state of exception in El Salvadorthe office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of the UN called in a statement for the government of Nayib Bukele to protect the lives of the tens of thousands of detainees.

“States have a greater duty to protect the lives of persons deprived of liberty,” he said in a statement Marta Hurtado, spokesperson for the High Commissioner.

In March 2022, Bukele encouraged the Assembly to enable an operation to combat gang criminal activity that led to the imprisonment of some 65,000 suspected gang members, including minors and people no apparent criminal tiessome of which have been released.

Given the “limited information” in the Central American nation, the UN reports that at least 90 detainees allegedly died.

Although Hurtado claimed to understand the tough challenge of dealing with violence from illegal groups, the UN also urged the government to “do so in accordance with international human rights law.”

Social inequalities, marginalization and the lack of effective social policies and governance are pointed out by the UN as fundamental causes that must be tackled to prevent the proliferation of crime.

The Bukele government has defended a heavy-handed policy in applying the law, rejecting criticism from human rights organizations inside and outside the country, based on the high level of acceptance of his management, according to surveys.

“Now, one year later, we close with 0 homicides, and March 2023 is close to being the safest month in all of our history,” he said in a statement. Tweet the president on Monday, the anniversary of the emergency measure.

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