HRW documents El Salvador state of emergency abuses against children
El Salvador’s state of emergency, now over two years old, “has led to severe human rights violations against children of low-income communities,” according to a new Human Rights Watch report. Over 80,000 people—representing over 1% of the population—have been arrested, including over 3,000 children, and allegations and convictions have been conducted without due process, often including “overly broad charges.”
Based on field work and interviews with over 90 people in El Salvador, HRW documents cases of abuses, pressure, and violence against minors. In one case they describe, “Police and soldiers arrested a 17-year-old student from a rural town in Sonsonate state on July 1, 2022, without showing her a warrant. On January 9, 2023, a judge pressured her and seven other children to jointly plead guilty to collaborating with the MS-13 gang in exchange for reduced sentences. Fearing longer sentences, they pleaded guilty and were sentenced to a year in prison. “We didn’t have an option,” she said. “We all wanted to see our mothers.””
“Despite the well-documented human rights abuses committed during the crackdown, improvements in security have helped make Bukele one of the region’s most popular presidents,” notes The Guardian, highlighting his skirting of constitutional limits to run for a second term.
Regional Relations
A new Americas Quarterly special report explores the relationship between the US and Latin America ahead of the US presidential election on November 5th. Articles include a timeline of US-Latin America relations under Trump and Biden, a call for greater attention to the region, opinions of Latin American politicians and former high-ranking officials, and analysis of what the candidates may do if elected:
Brazil
A now unsealed recording reveals former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro “discussing sensitive intelligence to help his eldest son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, avoid criminal prosecution.” (The Brazilian Report)
“Brazilian authorities launched a mega-operation in Rio de Janeiro that sent a force of nearly 2,000 military and civil officers into 10 low income neighborhoods Monday seeking to regain control of areas dominated by organized crime… The operation, which also seeks to carry out arrest warrants, has no end date,” reports AP.
Venezuela
“Over 70 people linked to Venezuelan opposition arrested in 10 days of election campaigning” (El País)
Indigenous Communities
Amid a lack of government action, Indigenous communities in Honduras are “rising up against the criminal forces behind an unprecedented wave of deforestation and colonisation in their territory,” reports The Guardian.
“What was meant to be an occasion for celebration for the Tupinambá de Olivença Indigenous people – the long-awaited reunion with a sacred cloak taken from Brazil more than three centuries ago – has turned into a moment of frustration… Tupinambá de Olivença leaders have complained they were prevented from performing the necessary rituals to receive the relic, which is considered sacred,” notes The Guardian, adding that several more cloaks remain “scattered across European museums” with no indication if they will return, too.
Guatemala
“Taiwan hopes to “deepen” cooperation and strengthen its “friendship” with Guatemala” after a visit from Guatemalan Congress President Nery Ramos,” reports Prensa Libre.
Caribbean
“Another 200 Kenyan police officers have left for Haiti under a UN-backed mission to try to quell rampant gang violence in the troubled Caribbean nation,” says France24.
Thousands remain displaced from Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, I explain at my Americas Migration Brief newsletter.
Migration
“A landmark ruling from Colombia’s Constitutional Court, T-232, is the first decision by the Court to rule on, and protect, the rights of a child born through surrogacy to prevent risk of statelessness, per a press release.” (via Americas Migration Brief)
“Cuba's population fell by 18% between 2022 and 2023, mainly due to migration… according to an independent demographic study ready for publication to which EFE has had access.” (via Americas Migration Brief)
Bolivia
Bolivia has discovered a “mega field” of natural gas, reports AP, noting that the Andean country’s natural gas production has slowed in recent years.
Uruguay
The center-left Broad Front coalition has the momentum in Uruguay’s upcoming presidential elections, says WPR.
Football
“The French Football Federation (FFF) plans to complain to FIFA about racist chants from members of Argentina's Copa America winning team,” reports AFP, explaining that some players were celebrating on a live video and singing “a chant that dates back to the 2022 World Cup final that Argentina won against France that targets France's star striker Kylian Mbappe and includes homophobic insults.”
Critter Corner
“The chinampas of Mexico’s Xochimilco neighborhood host the endemic axolotl, an endangered freshwater salamander. In recent decades, its population and habitat have decreased dramatically as a result of urbanization, poor water quality and new predator fish species being introduced in the canals. Scientists are working with local farmers to preserve and study the axolotl population for its potential contribution to medical research,” explains Mongabay.