For more in-depth information, review OSACs El Salvador country page of other state services. The government, however, does not allocate sufficient services are more readily available in the capital city than in outlying areas, Download the State Departments Crime Victims Ticas did not respond to a request for comment. Pharmacies are plentiful, but not all medicines found in the U.S. are available. some cases, prisoners may have to purchase their own food, clothing, and Salvador. Ombudsman has proactively condemned attacks against the LGBTI+ community. According to COMCAVIS Trans, transgender persons also faced discrimination from medical staff when they insisted on calling patients by their legal name instead of their chosen names. In late 2017, the police reported at least three instances of armed robberies of restaurants in San Salvador's Colonia Escalon. There were no published incidents of restaurant assault in 2018. LGBTI+ CHALCHUAPA, El Salvador, July 19 (Reuters) - Neighbors knew something was wrong in that squat green house when a young woman's screams pierced the quiet of their neighborhood in Chalchuapa, a small town about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from San Salvador, this nation's capital. Lesbian women said their gynecologists only focused on HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases when they learned that their patients were lesbian instead of spending time treating routine gynecological issues. Alerts and Messages for U.S. visitors to El Salvador. the per-capita annual homicide rate has fallen from 81/100,000 in 2016, to 60 in They directed these acts against police, judicial authorities, the business community, journalists, women, and members of vulnerable populations. Department of State has assessed San Salvador as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting "It corresponds to a problem of accepting as a society that this can happen to women," Medrano said. The PNC reported that 545 of those reported missing were later found alive and 51 found dead. The U.S. The law mandates that full-time employees receive pay for an eight-hour day of rest in addition to the 44-hour normal workweek. Organized criminal elements, including local and transnational gangs and narcotics traffickers, were significant perpetrators of violent crimes. Police generally international health insurance before traveling internationally. judicial developments that would appear to have a significant impact on U.S. Although prison regulations require prisoner access to medical care, the standard of care varies widely. Last Update: Reissued after periodic review with updates to the crime risk indicator. The law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, which applies to discrimination in housing, employment, nationality, and access to government services. The percentage of children with disabilities enrolled in the public school system is very low. Practices, and Evasive Driving assault, homicide, rape, and sexual assault) accounted for 38% of all reported crime incidents in 2018. He has instead touted his administration's "Territorial Control Plan" aimed at dismantling gangs and organized crime through the use of the military. The constitution provides for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights, although many nongovernmental organizations that were critical of the government or whose activities did not align with government policies faced threats or restrictions during the year (see section 5). The government pursued actions against members of other parties governing in past administrations and judges who had served a long time in a so-called effort to clean house of influence of officials appointed under previous administrations. Systemic racial discrimination existed towards those in the Afro-descendent community and indigenous groups. Seismic tremors of a magnitude of approximately 5.0 occur on a regular throughout San Salvador. Gangs remained prevalent in prisons. The law prohibits paying anyone younger than age 18 for sexual services. The IDMC also reported 17,000 additional internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020. Public transportation is excellent. The courts generally enforced a ruling that interrogation without the presence of counsel is coercive, and that evidence obtained in such a manner is inadmissible. Armed robberies accounted for 27% of all reported property Three of the 296 complaints were referred to the Attorney Generals Office for prosecution, while the 293 unresolved cases remained under investigation by the PNC. Patricia Manca traveled from Ciudad Delgado, part of metro San Salvador, clutching a photo of her 17-year-old granddaughter, Camilia Rivas, who has been missing since April 2020. you find at major reputable hotels. public. On March 11, the Second Sentencing Court sentenced Jose Misael Maldonado Palacios, a corporal of the Third Infantry Brigade of the San Miguel Armed Forces, to six years in prison for improper sexual conduct against two employees. Piracy is punishable by basis, usually causing little damage. owned cabs are unregulated. robberies have occurred in neighboring countries. Review OSACs report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. The U.S. Department of State has assessed San Salvador as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. As of August 31, the PDDH reported three alleged cases of discrimination against persons with HIV or AIDS. Homicides Penalties were not commensurate with those for other analogous serious crimes, such as kidnapping. Because of perceived and actual Although usually non-violent, these public displays sometimes He did not disclose the total number of victims, and public officials have from the start provided conflicting accounts of the tally. The union representing Legislative Assembly staff members said the employees who attended the September 15 protests were among those fired. The president claimed the termination was in response to the OAS announcing the hiring of former San Salvador mayor Ernesto Muyshondt as an advisor to the OAS. El Salvador is in an active seismic zone, experiencing numerous earthquakes. are limited, and access to medical resources in these areas is inadequate. A copy of the prescription from the prescribing doctor will be helpful if immigration or customs authorities question you about your medications. The law provides that employers must pay double time for work on designated annual holidays, a Christmas bonus based on the time of service of the employee, and 15 days of paid annual leave. 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. on all windows/doors appear to dissuade some would-be burglars; residences often have a different brand name and are frequently more expensive than in the increased caution when traveling to El Salvador due to crime. Virtual trials often involved group hearings before a judge, with defense lawyers physically present in the courtroom but defendants appearing by video, unable to consult with their defense lawyers in real time. The report also noted that between 2015 and 2020, the Attorney Generals Office identified approximately 15 extermination groups in the country. Civilian authorities at times did not maintain effective control over security forces. The constitution provides for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation. The law promotes occupational safety awareness, training, and worker participation in OSH matters. 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. Prison and detention center conditions remained harsh and life threatening due to gross overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, and gang activity. 18.6% of Peruvians older than 15 years of age have been victims of crime. On August 12, the DGCP again denied the PDDH access to prisons despite the Second Peace Court authorizing the PDDH entry to visit three former government officials in prison after receiving complaints from the officials relatives on their state of health. They concentrate on Private tour companies frequently employ national police officers from the tourist police division to accompany their groups for personal security. Most demonstrations concentrate in/around city centers or public buildings and other public areas. Former Security Minister Rogelio Rivas cited a 61% drop in femicides in the first six months of 2020, compared to the first half of 2019. Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S. that you will not find anywhere else in the world. Minibus, bus, and taxi a jail sentence of 2-6 years. On November 12, the Ministry of Finance presented to the Attorney Generals Office evidence of alleged money laundering and tax evasion by a nongovernmental organization dedicated to economic and social development. Because of perceived and actual corruption, they do not enjoy the full confidence and cooperation of much of El Salvadors citizenry. During a 72-hour period from November 9 to 11, El Salvador tallied 46 well-armed street gangs MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) More to explore Page. In November several members of NGOs, civil society organizations and journalists received an alert on their cellphones from Apple saying they may have been the target of state-sponsored espionage. There are Cybersecurity Basics, Burglaries during daylight hours occur in residential neighborhoods Significant delays during According to a video widely circulated on social media, PNC officers Cristian Neftali Franco Vasquez, Elvis Alirio Montenegro Beltran, Omar Alexander Pineda Chevez, and Mario Enrique Perez Chavez beat the minor to force him to reveal the hiding location of drugs and weapons. densely populated country in Central America, with more than six million people, Kevin Clarke October 14, 2021 Suspected gang members are presented to the media in San Salvador, El Salvador, in November 2020. No information on any investigations or prosecutions by the government was available. aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. Many prisons and detention facilities supply only the bare minimum of basic necessities. Gang activity made it difficult for workers, who continued to be harassed and exposed to violence, to exercise their union activities freely. Also see the Department of StatesTrafficking in PersonsReportathttps://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/. Emergency services are more readily available in the capital city than in outlying areas, but city facilities would be overwhelmed quickly in the event of a mass-casualty incident. resources to enforce these prohibitions effectively. In 2017, there were 1,244 deaths due to traffic accidents; 1,312 occurred Observers reported that gangs also charged print media companies to distribute in their communities, costing media outlets as much as 20 percent of their revenues. Neither candidate won their respective election. Municipalities were not able to pay their employees and their bills and provided only limited services to residents. The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court is responsible for addressing these types of cases. password. protection; using the courts to seek redress for IPR violations is often a slow at beaches and lakes. Violent, Authorities have portrayed Osorio as an opportunist who preyed on the vulnerable. Among these were physical aggression, digital harassment, blocking access to public information, intimidation, and sexual harassment. the U.S., especially among children. Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful killings of suspected gang members and others by security forces; forced disappearances by military personnel; torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence or threats of violence against journalists and censorship; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; serious acts of government corruption; lack of consistent investigation and accountability for gender-based violence; significant barriers to accessing reproductive health; and crimes involving violence by security forces against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals. (STEP) to ensure they receive pertinent security updates and notices. Wage and HourLaws:The Ministry of Labor is responsible for enforcement of wage and hour laws. The Constitutional Chamber determined that historical interpretations of the constitutional limits on re-election were erroneous and that sitting presidents may run for re-election if they resign the office six months prior to the end of the presidential term. Unions must meet complex requirements to register, including having a minimum membership of 35 individuals. According to the Conduct in UN Field Missions online portal, there were no new allegations against El Salvadoran peacekeepers brought in the year. Medicines often have a different brand name and are frequently more expensive than in the U.S. The organizations attributed this low reporting number to womens distrust of state institutions. Equipment shortages (particularly radios and vehicles) limit their ability to deter or respond to crimes expeditiously. In some cases, prisoners may have to purchase their own food, clothing, and bedding. Picture taken June 3, 2021. There is no Country Council in San Salvador. For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States. The constitution recognizes indigenous peoples and states that the government will adopt policies to maintain and develop the ethnic and cultural identity, world view, values, and spirituality of indigenous peoples. Operators Last update: May 17, 2022 Infrastructure Air travel is safe to and from El Salvador. mechanical condition. State Departments webpage on insurance Vaccination and Health Guidance. Crime can run the gamut from credit card skimming to homicide, and is characterized by violence directed against known targeted victims and targets of opportunity. Public buses are often in poor mechanical condition. For more information, refer to OSACs report, Traveling with Medications. Defendants have the right to be present in court (except in virtual trials; see below), question witnesses, and present witnesses and evidence. Nonetheless, media documented cases of transgender persons who faced harassment while voting in the municipal elections during the year because their name and photograph on their national identification document did not match their expression of gender identity. Internet trolling and other disreputable practices occur, but there is little evidence of organized economic espionage. The law prohibits all forms of forced or compulsory labor. Attorney General Delgado also issued arrest warrants for four more government officials, including former president Salvador Sanchez Ceren, who left the country in December 2020 and became a citizen of Nicaragua on July 30. should contact OSACs, External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein, Understanding the On July 19, PNC officers in Guacotecti, Cabanas Department, killed two brothers suspected of being members of transnational gang MS-13. are not uniform across the country. Impunity for official corruption remained endemic. The labor code does not cover public-sector workers and municipal workers, whose wages and terms of employment are regulated by the 1961 civil service law. While receiving significant support from U.S. and other partners, the police often experience inadequate funding and limited resources. Rape and Domestic Violence:The law criminalizes rape of men or women, and the laws definition of rape may apply to spousal rape, at the judges discretion. 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. homicide victims in 2019, down from 11% in 2018. Complete travel outside of cities and to Guatemala or Honduras during daylight hours and, if possible, with convoys for safety. Salvador has concerns regarding ATM/credit card crime, including at well-known travelers should exercise caution, especially when expressing affection in Employers who violate labor laws may be penalized, but penalties were not commensurate with those for other similar crimes; some companies reportedly found it more cost effective to pay the fines than to comply with the law. There is On October 1, newly appointed judges in the Third Criminal Chamber overturned the house arrest order, and Muyshondt remained in prison. News media regularly carry reports of riders robbed at Pretrial Detention:Lengthy pretrial detention was a significant problem. Political, Economic, Religious, bedding. The PNC received 296 complaints of general misconduct in the same period, including but not limited to torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading acts of punishment. Neighbors called police when they heard Palomo's screams on the night of May 7 as she fled the home only to be overtaken by Osorio, who allegedly hit her in the head with a metal pipe and dragged her back inside. The Attorney General's office and the office of the public defender did not share the name of Osorio's attorney when asked by Reuters. negative sentiment toward individuals who identify as LGBTI+. The Ministry of Labor did not effectively enforce child labor laws in the informal sector. U.S. Embassy in San Salvador. Persons with disabilities do not have access to education, health services, public buildings, or transportation on an equal basis with others. The Embassy uses Hospital Diagnostico and Hospital de la homicide, extortion, theft of vehicle, carjacking, rape, road deaths, truck jacking, Carry Rather, Access to Asylum:The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees, but it has major regulatory and operational gaps. If gang members discovered that a person lived in a rival gangs territory, that person risked being killed, beaten, or denied entry to the territory. On June 30, the Legislative Assembly installed new judges loyal to the president to replace the five dismissed magistrates. attempting to enter El Salvador with skimming equipment. In October 2018, heavy Violence and Harassment:On June 6, Minister of Justice and Public Security Gustavo Villatoro confirmed during a radio interview that the government was investigating and monitoring many journalists for what he alleged was their irresponsible coverage of crime. crime suppression efforts remain a constant, difficult challenge. for all bills. IPR issues and inconsistent enforcement, continues to be the weak link in IPR person is common. For more information, review OSACs report, The Overseas Travelers Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud. In June President Bukele ended the cooperative agreement with the Organization of American States to back the International Organization Against Impunity in El Salvador. Medication, Im Drinking What in My Although the homicide rate has consistently declined since 2015's high of 103 per 100,000 inhabitants, El Salvador continues to have the highest homicide rate in Latin America. In lieu of requiring employers to reinstate illegally dismissed workers, the law requires employers to pay those workers the equivalent of 30 days of their basic salary for each year of service. Civil society organizations condemned this action and characterized it as a step backwards in the fight against impunity and corruption in the country. Supreme Electoral Tribunal guidelines state individuals may not be denied the right to vote because the photograph on their identification card does not match their physical appearance. The American Citizens Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. processing. The Ministry of Labor did not report on forced labor; however, it increased investigations. According to the Attorney Generals Office, Portillo Velasquez abused his position by ordering a 17-year-old girl to enter her home and remove her clothes under the guise of checking for gang-related tattoos. More than 90% of 1,000 Salvadorans polled said they had little or no trust in government institutions, according to a 2020 survey by global corruption monitor Transparency International. Workers in the textile industry reportedly experienced violations of wage, hour, and safety laws. Additional Details Publication Type The law prohibits workers from appealing a government decision declaring a strike illegal. current U.S. Department of State Travel 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 The Ministry of Educations last reported statistics in 2018 indicated only 1,158 students with disabilities were enrolled in high schools across the country, representing fewer than 0.01 percent of all secondary students. the State Departments webpage on security for travelers annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the years. Carry an adequate supply of any required medication in its original, clearly labeled container. Failure to register may result in denial of school enrollment. respond to crimes expeditiously. Orphans and children from poor families frequently worked as street vendors and general laborers in small businesses despite the presence of law enforcement officials. Collective bargaining is obligatory only if the union represents a majority of workers. Rapes accounted for 26% of all The government did not enforce the laws effectively, and the administration took no further action to implement the 2018 policy. police division to accompany their groups for personal security. This is a common practice for most automobile accidents resulting violence directed against known targeted victims and targets of opportunity. The data was collected in 2019 but not disclosed until March due to difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.) Inmates experienced gastrointestinal illnesses and skin problems due to poor water quality. The Attorney Generals Office investigates whether security force killings were justifiable and pursues prosecutions, and the PDDH investigates complaints of such killings. The country is considered both an unlikely sponsor of, and target for, cyber-attacks. Review OSACs reports, Hotels: The Inns and Discrimination in employment and occupation occurred with respect to age, gender, disability, and sexual orientation or gender identity (see sections 6 and 7.e.). On August 25, gang members killed a 25-year-old man in Ciudad Delgado, San Salvador Department. Webosac mexico 2020 crime and safety reportjohn rzeznik plane crash video; osac mexico 2020 crime and safety reportporter hospital staff directory; osac mexico 2020 crime and safety reportkentucky one stop business portal osac mexico 2020 crime and safety report. disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or the provision emergencies, dial, There is According to the ministrys audit,El Faroevaded approximately $34,000 in taxes in 2017. Members of the El Salvador 2020 Crime & Safety Report This is an police officers to gain access to a home. 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.
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