NCJ Number
133347
Date Published
1989
Length
190 pages
Annotation
Based on a year-long study of human rights and the administration of justice in El Salvador, this report updates several earlier Lawyers Committee for Human Rights studies, examines unresolved humans rights cases, and renews previous Lawyers Committee analyses of El Salvador's efforts to reform its judicial system.
Abstract
The report's four chapters review failed prosecutions for the 1979-1984 period; consider the 1984-1989 judicial reform project; address the escalating violence of the 1987-1989 period in terms of recent political attacks, attacks on the legal and human rights communities and other targeted sectors, and conditions in detention; and discuss police training. On the basis of examination of El Salvador's judicial system and the country's current human rights situation, the Lawyers Committee concludes: there has been a disturbing increase in the number of political killings in El Salvador in the last year; the number of political prisoners and administrative detainees has declined appreciably in the last few years, but those who are detained often are subjected to physical and psychological abuse; and a review of the investigations into recent human rights cases and prior violations reveals a record of almost total failure. The report proposes recommendations to the Government of El Salvador. 438 footnotes