El Salvador's Children: Victims of Arbitrary Detention Amid Gang Crackdown

Over 60 children in El Salvador have faced arbitrary detention, torture, and beatings since the government initiated a state of emergency two years ago to combat gangs. Human Rights Watch highlights severe ill-treatment and dubious legal proceedings, with over 1,000 minors sentenced to lengthy prison terms based on questionable evidence.

More than 60 children in El Salvador have been arbitrarily detained, tortured, and beaten since the government declared a state of emergency over two years ago to combat gangs, a report by the Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

Police and soldiers have detained 3,319 children and teenagers from March 2022 to April this year, during the state of emergency period that suspended certain civil rights, according to the New York-based rights group. 'Many children who have been arrested and detained had no apparent connection to gangs' abusive activity,' the report stated. 'In detention, authorities subjected children to severe ill-treatment, amounting in some cases to torture.'

The Salvadoran government did not immediately reply to Reuters' request for comment, but previously asserted that torture does not occur in its prisons. The report, based on over 90 interviews, indicated that jailed children were deprived of adequate food, healthcare, and family contact, often coercing them into false confessions.

Human Rights Watch pointed out that authorities have taken minimal steps to shield children from violence by other detainees, including beatings and sexual assault. The group documented 66 cases of minors subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, and police harassment, noting that arrests seemed to be based on physical appearance and socioeconomic status rather than credible evidence.

The report also noted that more than 1,000 minors have been sentenced to up to 12 years in prison for broadly-defined crimes in trials lacking due process. Over 80,500 individuals have been arrested under the state of emergency, reducing homicides significantly and garnering President Nayib Bukele strong popular support.

Last week, local rights group Cristosal reported that at least 265 people have died in state custody, including four babies.

(With inputs from agencies.)