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STORY: OHCHR / EL SALVADOR HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 02:46
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SPANISH / NATS
DATELINE: 02 JUNE 2023, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
02 JUNE 2023, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The repeated extension of the state of emergency in El Salvador – which has now been in force since March 2022 – is seriously concerning, especially given the consequences for people’s human rights.”
3. Med shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“However, weakening the rule of law and the integrity of the legal system by derogating from fair trial rights is not the answer.”
5. Med shot, Hurtado
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“At least 68,000 people have been jailed in El Salvador since the state of emergency came into force. Of these, at least 1,600 people are under 18 years of age.”
7. Med shot, Hurtado
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“According to a recent report by a leading NGO, Cristosal, at least 153 inmates have died in prison since the state of emergency was implemented – nearly half of them violently.”
9. Med shot, journalist
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Civil society groups doing human rights work and media outlets continue to face risks and attacks.”
11. Med shot, journalists
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We call on the authorities to lift the state of emergency and review the measures they have introduced. We also call on the authorities to immediately investigate all deaths in custody in line with international standards, to hold those responsible to account, and to guarantee justice and redress for the victims’ family.”
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
13. Pan right, exterior, Palais des Nations
02 JUNE 2023, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
14. SOUNDBITES (Spanish) Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The repeated extension of the state of emergency in El Salvador - which has been in force since March 2022 - is very worrying, especially due to the consequences it has for people's human rights. We recognize the complex challenge that El Salvador faces in tackling crime, however, weakening the rule of law and the integrity of the legal system by derogating from the right to a fair trial is not the answer. At least 68,000 people have been jailed in El Salvador since the state of emergency came into effect. Of these, at least 1,600 are under 18 years of age. According to a recent report by a leading NGO, at least 153 inmates have died in prison since the state of emergency was introduced, almost half of them violently. Civil society groups working for human rights and the media continue to face risks and attacks. We ask the authorities to lift the state of emergency and review the measures they have introduced. We also call on the authorities to immediately investigate all deaths in custody in accordance with international standards, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure justice and reparation.”
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
15. Pan right, exterior, Palais des Nations
A spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today (2 Jun) recognised “the complex challenge El Salvador faces in tackling criminality,” but stressed that “weakening the rule of law and the integrity of the legal system by derogating from fair trial rights is not the answer.”
The spokesperson, Marta Hurtado, said, “at least 68,000 people have been jailed in El Salvador since the state of emergency came into force. Of these, at least 1,600 people are under 18 years of age.”
According to Cristosal, a leading NGO, Hurtado said, “at least 153 inmates have died in prison since the state of emergency was implemented – nearly half of them violently.”
She said, “civil society groups doing human rights work and media outlets continue to face risks and attacks.”
In 2022, civil society organizations documented 182 incidents of human rights defenders and journalists being targeted. On 14 April this year, El Faro, an online news outlet, announced that it was moving its staff from El Salvador to Costa Rica, citing the intimidation and smear campaigns they faced because of their work.
The spokesperson called on authorities “to lift the state of emergency and review the measures they have introduced” as well as “to immediately investigate all deaths in custody in line with international standards, to hold those responsible to account, and to guarantee justice and redress for the victims’ family.”
