In the framework of the state of emergency in effect in El Salvador since March 2022, with the backing of the Congress dominated by the ruling party Nuevas Ideas (NI), human rights violations have occurred that «could constitute crimes against humanity,» according to a report released this Tuesday. The report, presented at a public hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in Guatemala, concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity are being committed within the state of emergency, in accordance with Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Furthermore, «documented cases indicate the existence of a policy of police and military action, known and even promoted by the highest levels of the government of President Nayib Bukele». Leonor Arteaga, of the Due Process Foundation (DPLF), an organization based in Washington (USA), stated during the hearing that «El Salvador has been presented as a success story in reducing crime. However, victims, civil society organizations, and journalists have suffered firsthand the high costs of this publicized success». «Arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, massive violations of due process, and acts of torture have become systematic practices in the country».
