| El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America, is a significant state in the region due to its dense population and strategic location. San Salvador, the capital and largest city, is the country’s main center of governance, economic activity, academia, and civil society. The 1983 Constitution recognizes fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to life, equality before the law, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly, while El Salvador is also party to several major international and regional human rights instruments. However, since the declaration of a state of exception in March 2022 and the adoption of extensive anti-gang policies, concerns have emerged over mass arrests, fair trial guarantees, prison conditions, and restrictions on civic and media space, despite a notable decline in violent crime. As a result, El Salvador has become an important case for examining the balance between public security, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights in Central America. |
