osac crime and safety report el salvador 2021
Regional "first class" or "executive" commercial bus travel is generally safe, although robberies have occurred in neighboring countries. to the 1988 United Nations Drug Convention. Department of State has assessed San Salvador as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or The victims father said his two sons previously received threats from police, claiming the PNC officers planned the shooting and told him, We are going to kill your children.. counterfeit and pirated goods and the equipment used to produce them. OSAC encourages travelers to use The CA-4 agreement between El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua allows for inspection-free travel of citizens of these countries using only an identification card, and may contribute to the ease of regional criminal travel. Review the State Departments webpage on security for LGBTI+ Laws against rape were not effectively enforced. There were no legal cases involving instances of terrorism affecting U.S. citizens or facilities brought before the judicial system in 2018, nor were there any judicial developments that would appear to have a significant impact on U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. On October 17, members of indigenous groups marched against the current administration, demanding visibility of their complaints a stop to the destruction of their sacred places and ceremonial sites such as Tacushcalco and Nexapan archeological sites and the Sensunapan River. Recognizing the threat posed by MS-13, the U.S. Department of Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Webtrelegy vs advair is stacey horst on vacation ducie technical high school manchester on osac crime and safety report guatemala. public. Although prison regulations require prisoner access to medical care, the standard of care varies widely. On June 21, Minister Villatoro accused independent media of causing anxiety and deceiving persons and asked citizens to inform themselves through state-owned media instead. Aviation Authority as compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization He was released the same day with no charges filed. On September 15, thousands of protesters marched against the Supreme Court ruling allowing the re-election of the president, the dismissal of justices older than age 60, bitcoin adoption as legal tender in the country, and other recent actions by the government. Gang activity made it difficult for workers, who continued to be harassed and exposed to violence, to exercise their union activities freely. you find at major reputable hotels. There is serious risk from crime in San Salvador. State Departments webpage on insurance disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or the provision Adults from neighboring countries were forced to work in construction, domestic work, and other informal sector jobs, sometimes under threat of physical violence. Nuevas Ideas candidates then campaigned to bring about improvements to the political and economic situation within municipalities. In November the president of the Association of Salvadoran Journalists (APES) stated at a journalism forum that journalists were seen by the government as enemies of the state. Professional and family visits, inspections of institutions, and visits by international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), churches, and others were suspended, although there were reports of sporadic entries granted based on personal connections with prison officials to members of the clergy and nonprofits. Cybersecurity Basics, On May 24, Elba Chacon, coordinator of the human rights program at the Network of Survivors and Persons with Disabilities Foundation, asked the government to update the statistics on persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Labor did not report on forced labor; however, it increased investigations. Factors contributing to impunity included politicization and general corruption. Jacquelinne Palomo Lima, 26, and her mother had been lured to the windowless dwelling by the man who lived there 51-year-old former policeman Hugo Osorio - who had promised them information about Palomo's missing brother, Alexis, a family member told Reuters. Previous government efforts to counter impunity were also eliminated. COI QUERY WebWe would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. There are few incidents of identity theft. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. OSACs report, Central reports. States. Equipment shortages (particularly radios and vehicles) limit their ability to deter or respond to crimes expeditiously. U.S. Embassy in San Salvador. OSAC encourages travelers to use In 2018, the Government of El Salvador commissioned the National Division for the Protection of Women, Children, Adolescents, and Other Vulnerable Populations; this agency employs prosecutors specially trained to investigate crimes against the LGBTI community. overseas. run the gamut from credit card skimming to homicide. Salvador is not considered a major transit point for illegal narcotics, though Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S. that you will not find anywhere else in the world. notably declined since 2015's high of 104 per 100,000 inhabitants, El Salvador As of September 13, the Attorney Generals Office had not revealed the details of those investigations. The IDMC also reported 17,000 additional internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020. U.S. citizens traveling to El Salvador should register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to ensure they receive pertinent security updates and notices. local attorneys. No information on any investigations or prosecutions by the government was available. generally only speak Spanish. The Office of the Human Rights In July the United Nations reported that women made 18 percent less than men in the same jobs. Police and gangs continue to commit acts of violence against LGBTQI+ individuals. As of August 31, the PDDH had received 13 complaints of torture or cruel or inhuman treatment by the PNC and one by the armed forces, compared with 15 and two complaints, respectively, as of August 2020. The law prohibits workers from appealing a government decision declaring a strike illegal. The polices investigative units have shown great No known international terrorist groups operate in El Salvador. current U.S. Department of State Travel facilities brought before the judicial system in 2019, nor were there any According to the Conduct in UN Field Missions online portal, there were no new allegations against El Salvadoran peacekeepers brought in the year. Unions may strike only to obtain or modify a collective bargaining agreement or to protect the common professional interests of the workers. The law mandates that employers take measures against sexual harassment and create and implement preventive programs. For more information, review OSACs report. El Salvador suffers a major earthquake approximately every 10 years. According to the Ministry of Labor, migrant workers have the same rights as citizens, but the ministry did not effectively protect their rights. Would you like to continue with this session or log out? The organizations attributed this low reporting number to womens distrust of state institutions. goods. Private tour companies frequently employ national police officers from the tourist police division to accompany their groups for personal security. El Salvador Failure to register may result in denial of school enrollment. In addition the budget approved by the Legislative Assembly for the PDDH in the coming year was again significantly cut. Allegations of corruption among labor inspectors continued. Judicial procedures are not always clear or easily understood. The government failed to allocate sufficient funding to the Unit of Attention to Victims of Internal Forced Displacement, the entity tasked with the implementation of the law. The prison system had a capacity for 30,864 inmates, but as of April 19, held more than 36,500 inmates. Check with insurance providers to ensure you have adequate medical On August 31, the Legislative Assembly approved reforms to the Law of the Judicial Career, establishing that all judges older than 60 years or with more than 30 years of service must be removed from their position. The response time is often less than ideal because of heavy traffic in San Salvador. Embassy health professionals Each major city, municipality, or town has a PNC News media occasionally Generals Office lacks a trained team of IPR investigators and prosecutors, On July 9, the DGME also denied the work permit of Roman Gressier, anotherEl Farojournalist. The arrest occurred minutes after the Second Investigative Court of San Salvador ordered house arrest for Muyshondt for the crimes of electoral fraud and illicit associations for allegedly negotiating with gangs in exchange for votes in the 2015 legislative elections. All cases were under investigation. On September 26, some judges claimed that they were transferred to preside in remote courts in retaliation for their participation in the September 15 protest. Satellite Phones: There were reports of children younger than age 16 engaging in the worst forms of child labor, including in coffee cultivation, fishing, shellfish collection, and fireworks production. law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and mental Crimes Central On April 7, the Foundation for Studies for the Application of Law released a study stating that the illegal practice of disappearing a person was no longer exclusive to gangs and that police, soldiers, and extermination groups viewed unlawful disappearances as a low-cost, effective way of resolving conflicts. On July 22, the PNC arrested five former government officials on charges of illicit enrichment for having received illegal side payments that exceeded their salaries authorized by law. air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy, Private hospitals without these features are targets of crime more frequently. Measles, armed security and the use of security features in homes have proven successful Gang members did not allow persons living in another gangs area to enter their territory, even when travelling via public transportation. His partner caught him in the act of rape and informed his supervisors. No homicide, extortion, theft of vehicle, carjacking, rape, road deaths, truck jacking, Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. Although the constitution separates public security and military functions, it allows the president to use the armed forces in exceptional circumstances to maintain internal peace and public security when all other measures have been exhausted. The military is responsible for securing international borders and conducting joint patrols with the civilian police. "My hope is that she is alive, but if she is not, what can I do?" On September 1, a vocal critic of President Bukeles proposal to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender of El Salvador was arrested without a warrant and without explanation of the reason of his arrest. On November 11, the EU, International Organization for Migration, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported that 27 percent of the indigenous population planned to migrate out of the country. On September 3, the Constitutional Chamber approved a ruling to allow for the immediate re-election of the president despite the express prohibition on re-election by the constitution. According to media reports, the Ministry of Labor rewarded like-minded unions with expedited credentials and punished unions critical of the government with delays in their certification. Passing on The National Council for Comprehensive Attention to Persons with Disability (CONAIPD), composed of representatives from multiple government entities, is the governmental agency responsible for protecting disability rights, but it lacked enforcement power. The law provides for access to the courts, enabling litigants to submit civil lawsuits seeking damages for, as well as cessation of, human rights violations. Avoid public transportation, especially local buses. The only one national police service: The, There are Workers in the informal sector were not protected by labor laws and were not inspected by the Ministry of Labor. Attorney General's Office and the National Civilian Police enforce trademark no Country Council in San Salvador. Review The law includes plans to create a new CONAIPD with greater autonomy to hear complaints and impose sanctions for noncompliance with the law; however, the ministry did not allocate a budget to carry out the law. WebFESPADs April 2021 report on the situation of disappearances stated that disappearances are a criminal phenomenon that happens in all departments and the vast majority of Cameras, concertina wire, and grilles El Salvador 'House of Horrors' killings shock nation In addition the attorney general and Supreme Court were given authority, at their discretion, to transfer prosecutors and judges between districts. mechanical condition. The law allows up to six months for investigation of serious crimes before requiring either a trial or dismissal of the case; this period may be extended by an appeals court. Minister of Labor Rolando Castro stated the delays were due to incorrect or incomplete information in their paperwork. Child Abuse:Child abuse remained a serious and widespread problem. Organizations of persons with disabilities protested outside the Ministry of Finance on August 30 to demand the government comply with the Special Law on the Inclusion Persons with Disabilities of that was implemented in January. Critics decried the ruling as an attack on democracy and pointed out that the Constitutional Chamber issuing the ruling was composed of five magistrates appointed by the Legislative Assembly on May 1 in a maneuver that was itself controversial. Since July, 2021 the United States has shared 3,188,570 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of El Salvador free of cost. While The law includes provisions to shield vaccine manufacturers from liability and allows the government to bypass procurement and transparency regulations. transiting the country in comparison with some regional neighbors, as well as In 2018, the Government of El Salvador commissioned the National Inmates experienced gastrointestinal illnesses and skin problems due to poor water quality. He has instead touted his administration's "Territorial Control Plan" aimed at dismantling gangs and organized crime through the use of the military. police in 2019, up 2% from 2018. The country is considered both an unlikely sponsor of, and target for, cyber-attacks. The specialized comprehensive care includes medical care, counseling, family planning, medical examinations, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections in victims of sexual violence and services were generally available throughout the country. of other state services. Homicides are not uniform across the country. During the first half of the year, the number of pregnancies among girls between the ages of 10-14 increased 9 percent as compared to the same period in 2020. transport themselves by private vehicle. Each major city, municipality, or town has a PNC delegation. All Censorship or Content Restrictions:On May 5, the Legislative Assembly reformed the printing law to eliminate tax exemptions on the importation of raw materials, machinery, and equipment for printing materials. Rogel suffered an obstetric emergency in 2012 when she slipped while washing clothes and was sentenced to 30 years in prison for aggravated homicide for allegedly having an abortion. The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court is responsible for addressing these types of cases. Review OSACs report, All That You Should There were 2,254 rape cases reported to the The Legislative Assembly used police to escort the dismissed employees out of their workplace. Political Parties and Political Participation:While the law prohibits public officials from campaigning in elections, the provision was not consistently enforced. of other state services. active efforts by Salvadoran authorities to combat transit routes, has kept El On April 19, a Mr. Wings restaurant in Soyapango, San Salvador Department, fired an employee for being pregnant. The PNC also has a number of specialized units that investigate specific crimes and traffic enforcement, anti-gang, civil disturbance, VIP protection, and other special operations units. The government did not enforce the laws effectively, and the administration took no further action to implement the 2018 policy. Hours of All court records have been sealed. 2017, 50 in 2018, and 36 in 2019; this new rate remains more than seven times the There were no reports of discrimination in marriage, divorce, child custody, education, and judicial processes. said Manca, 55. The number of inspectors was insufficient to deter violations. otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support. It is characterized by Extortion continues to be a common and lucrative criminal enterprise in El Salvador. routinely recommended immunizations for the U.S. should be up to date. On May 6, the Legislative Assembly approved the Law for the Use of Products for Medical Treatments in Exceptional Public Health Situations Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The government suspended visits to prisons in March 2020, which continued as of November. outside the capital after dark, for personal security and traffic safety A report by Association Communicating and Training Trans Women in El Salvador (COMCAVIS Trans) found that gangs were Except in some very rural locations, police are generally reconsider travel to the country due to crime. In 2020 extortion victims totaled 1,345 for the entire year, in which five months were mandatory national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. the five municipalities registering the most homicides. On January 11,Diario El Mundoreported that coffee farmers complained that gangs operating near the farms did not allow cutters from outside the neighborhood to enter the farms to work unless they paid an extortion fee. Physical Conditions:Overcrowding was a serious threat to prisoners health and welfare. What is not in dispute is that families from across El Salvador have traveled to Chalchuapa clutching photos of missing loved ones, hoping for clues and closure - through the items found by investigators in the mass grave. Minibus, bus, and taxi The document was compiled from various Pharmacies are plentiful, but not all medicines found in the U.S. are available. Head of CICIES Ronalth Ochaeta said CICIES sent 12 cases of possible corruption from five government institutions to the Attorney Generals Office on April 7. Before the February elections, the government failed to provide campaign finances to all political candidates as required by law, severely limiting the ability of the opposition parties to advertise their candidates. In 2019, the municipalities of San Salvador Local media have dubbed the dwelling the "House of Horrors.". Equipment El Salvador 2020 Crime & Safety Report OSAC is a partnership between the U.S. State Department and private sector security community that enables the safe operations of U.S. organizations overseas through threat alerts, analysis, and peer network groups. Home - OSAC Mobile Menu While direct hits by hurricanes occur less frequently, they are a concern. surreptitious theft of bags, backpacks, or purses. Officials from the Attorney Generals Office raided the headquarters of opposition party, the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) on July 2 and seized assets to recover funds embezzled from a donation by Taiwan made between 2003 and 2004. Females accounted for 11% of all homicide victims in 2018. The law prohibits domestic violence and generally provides for sentences for conviction ranging from one to three years in prison, although some forms of domestic violence carry higher penalties. As a result PNC authorities typically delayed questioning until a public defender or an attorney arrived. Recognizing the threat posed by MS-13, the U.S. Department of Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated MS-13 a Transnational Criminal Organization in its list of Specially Designated Nationals. Medicines no Country Council in San Salvador. The government generally respected these rights, although in many areas the government could not ensure freedom of movement due to criminal gang activity. They concentrate on street-level drug sales, extortion, arms trafficking, murder for hire, carjacking, and aggravated street crime. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and some assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, and other persons of concern, although this was often difficult in gang-controlled neighborhoods. the per-capita annual homicide rate has fallen from 81/100,000 in 2016, to 60 in Because of perceived and actual corruption, they do not enjoy the full confidence and cooperation of much of El Salvadors citizenry. operations. tour companies frequently employ national police officers from the tourist Recent regulatory changes that established price limits for pharmaceuticals may affect quality and availability of certain medicines. The government, however, did not enforce sexual harassment laws effectively. Crime In Belize: Is Division for the Protection of Women, Children, Adolescents, and Other No hospitals or medical offices will bill U.S. insurance World Report 2022: El Salvador | Human Rights Watch few private hospitals. Refworld | El Salvador: Kidnapping and abductions; If you read the US State Departments OSAC (Overseas Security Advisory Council) Crime & Safety Report for Belize in 2018, youll see the words exercise increased caution. The law requires parents to register a child within 15 days of birth or pay a small fine. There are few private hospitals. Candidates from the Nuevas Ideas party were not limited by the lack of government campaign financing because they had received campaign funds through private sources. Courts also may impose additional fines in cases in which the perpetrator held a position of trust or authority over the victim. There were reports, however, of security force involvement in extrajudicial killings of suspected gang members. The responsibilities of the secretariat moved to the Gender and Diversity Office in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, which has no authority to influence policy and insufficient support to implement programs. Workers at times engaged in strikes regardless of whether the strikes met legal requirements. container. Penalties country per year. After the killing of a bus employee on July 2, there was a seven-day work stoppage of public buses on Route 151 in San Jose Villanueva, La Libertad Department, forcing approximately 5,000 persons who used the 24 buses on the route to walk or find more costly detours. On December 1, the daily newspaperLa Prensa Graficareported the findings from a study by the OUDH showing that between June 2019 and June 2021, only four cases of missing persons ended in a conviction. Villegas was formally accused of sexual harassment of three women, including touching and improper sexual expressions. Previously based in Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires covering the Argentine debt crisis, the tussle for influence between the United States and China in Latin America and the coronavirus pandemic. The officials remained in prison while awaiting the investigation of their crimes and were denied visitation despite a court order granting visitation by family and attorneys. Several hours later they learned about the charges against them during a press conference. Campos said the DGCP received nine to 15 complaints daily, with 90 percent related to inquiries about health. Elsalvador.com reports that, according to the PNC, two cases otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support. In 2018 the government implemented thePublic Policy for Indigenous Communities in El Salvador, which focused on the inclusion of ethnic groups in all social and economic aspects. Recognizing the threat posed by MS-13, Road The country has long been a dangerous place for women. Review Seismic tremors of a magnitude of approximately 5.0 occur on a regular basis, usually causing little damage. As of August 31, the PDDH received 65 complaints of lack of a fair public trial, compared with 12 such complaints as of August 2020. El Salvador has long had one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world. Nongovernmental Impact:APES noted journalists who reported on gangs and narcotics trafficking were subject to kidnappings, threats, and intimidation. The families, some of whom had lived in Panchimalco for more than 40 years, feared their lives would be in danger after the gang threatened to hold the village responsible for the disappearance of a gang member. "If it had not been for her, I would still be looking for them," he told Reuters. accidents in 2019, down slightly from 20,378 in 2018. How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment. The government repeatedly defied a June 2020 judicial order to allow expert witnesses access to inspect military archives to determine criminal responsibility for the 1981 El Mozote massacre. El Salvador 2019 Crime & Safety Report | National Gang assess the standards of these hospitals to be less than those of the United In public. The law prohibits paying anyone younger than age 18 for sexual services. Police generally failed to act on these reports. years. The Labor Ministry received complaints regarding failure to pay overtime, minimum wage violations, unpaid salaries, and cases of employers illegally withholding benefits (including social security and pension funds) from workers. The government, however, does not allocate sufficient More than 200 judges were forced by the new laws to retire, including Judge Jorge Guzman Urquilla, the magistrate overseeing the prosecution of 13 surviving former military officers for the alleged El Mozote massacre of more than 800 civilians in 1981. See the Department of StatesTrafficking in PersonsReportathttps://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. password. OSACs reports, The Healthy Way, Public transportation is excellent.