El Salvador
Tuesday 15.10.2019 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Bukele’s government restricts press access to events
On 6 September 2019, a group of journalists, including Gabriel Labrador and Fernando Romero, from El Faro and Factum Magazine respectively, was denied access to an official press conference. On 10 September 2019, El Salvador’s Mesa de Protección a Periodistas (Board for Protection of Journalists) highlighted the restrictions against El Faro and Factum in a statement expressing deep concerns about the situation of freedom of expression in El Saldor. The Board outlined a number of reasons for concern, including restrictions on press, increasing expressions of hate on social media against journalists who criticise the government, and lack of transparency and access to information. Read more
Tuesday 27.8.2019 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Salvadoran women HRDs face online harassment and threats
Smear campaigns against three women HRDs and two journalists, as well as online harassment encouraged by government authorities, raise concerns about freedom of expression in El Salvador under the Nayib Bukele government. This update covers civic space developments from 03 July 2019 to 15 August 2019.
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Saturday 6.7.2019 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Intimidation of activists and journalists in El Salvador
On 27th May 2019, activists from Colectiva Amorales received subpoenas from a Salvadorian court; they are accused of slander by Professor Ricardo Mendoza of the University of San Salvador. Colectiva Amorales is an organisation that uses art to publicly denounce cases of violence against women. In 2016 the movement denounced Mendoza for taking advantage of his role and status as a theatre professor to sexually assault his students. Colectivo Amorales issued a statement asserting that this recent court case is an attempt to censor and silence human rights defenders. Read more
Thursday 21.3.2019 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
LGBTI community targeted in El Salvador
The regional initiative IM-Defensoras reported that two LGBTI activists, Andrea Ayala and Barbara Romero, have been subjected to a defamation campaign through social media. Read more
Friday 23.11.2018 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Dozens of demonstrators injured and one killed in clashes with the National Police
On 8th November, clashes between street vendors and the National Police were reported in Santa Tecla. This happened after the vendors failed to reach an agreement with the Mayor regarding the relocation of the vendors. Read more
Wednesday 26.9.2018 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Access to information limited during former president's trial
Asociacion de Periodistas de El Salvador reported that a court in El Salvador banned any type of recording devices during the hearing against the former President Elias Antonio Saca. Read more
Monday 27.8.2018 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Journalist receives death threats
On 15th June 2018, Asociación de Periodistas de El Salvador (Journalists’ Association from El Salvador - APES) reported that the journalist Warner Velásquez from El Salvador Times received death threats. Read more
Tuesday 19.6.2018 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Protest over privatisation of water service leads to clashes with police
A protest against the privatization of water took place on June 14th. It was reported that demonstrators clashed with the police. Read more
Friday 20.4.2018 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Journalists obstructed from polling stations in March general elections
During the legislative and municipal elections, civil society organizations documented 25 freedom of the press violations. Read more
Wednesday 7.2.2018 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Incidents of state surveillance of journalists reported in media
A report by media organisation El Faro reveals the use of a government institution to monitor the work of journalists. Read more