Team WOLA
May 9, 2025
The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) strongly supports Senate Resolution 195, introduced by Senator Tim Kaine and colleagues, which requests a report from the U.S. Department of State on the Government of El Salvador’s compliance with internationally recognized human rights under Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
This resolution is a critical step toward ensuring transparency and accountability in U.S. foreign policy. It rightly calls attention to mounting concerns regarding the erosion of democratic norms and widespread human rights abuses under President Nayib Bukele’s administration.
Over the past three years, El Salvador’s state of exception has led to the mass incarceration of more than 85,000 people, many without due process or access to legal defense. Reports of arbitrary detention, torture, and in-custody deaths are deeply troubling and demand urgent scrutiny. These violations not only impact those behind bars but impact the fabric of society in El Salvador, where countless families are impacted by these detentions without access to their family members.
WOLA has been closely monitoring the closing of civic space and attacks on independent press in El Salvador and is deeply concerned with the generation of an environment of fear that threatens democratic freedom in the country. The international community must not turn a blind eye to these violations.
We applaud this resolution’s demand for a rigorous assessment of the Salvadoran government’s human rights record and urge the current U.S. administration and Congress to ensure that U.S. aid and cooperation reflect a commitment to human rights, rule of law, and democratic accountability. WOLA stands ready to support efforts that uphold these values in El Salvador and across the Americas.
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