Juanita Goebertus, Director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch, presents a declaration regarding inhumane prison conditions in El Salvador, specifically addressing the detention of individuals under the 1789 Alien Enemies Act at the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT). The declaration outlines overcrowding issues, lack of legal rights, instances of torture, and severe violations of due process, particularly within the context of a prolonged state of emergency. Human Rights Watch emphasizes the need for adherence to international human rights standards.
Fast Summary:
Juanita Goebertus, Director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch, presents a declaration regarding inhumane prison conditions in El Salvador, specifically addressing the detention of individuals under the 1789 Alien Enemies Act at the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT). The declaration outlines overcrowding issues, lack of legal rights, instances of torture, and severe violations of due process, particularly within the context of a prolonged state of emergency. Human Rights Watch emphasizes the need for adherence to international human rights standards.
Article Body:
I, Juanita Goebertus, declare under penalty of perjury that I am the Director of the Americas Division at Human Rights Watch, having joined the organization in 2022. With degrees in Law and Political Science from the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia and an LLM from Harvard Law School, I oversee Human Rights Watch’s operations in El Salvador and have visited the country several times, most recently in 2024.
Individuals deported under the 1789 Alien Enemies Act are confined at CECOT, which was initially designed for 20,000 detainees, but the Salvadoran government later increased this capacity to 40,000. Human Rights Watch expressed concerns to the UN Human Rights Committee regarding the challenges posed by such overcrowded conditions in delivering appropriate treatment to inmates, as it contravenes the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
Detainees at CECOT and other El Salvadoran prisons endure restrictions on communication with their families and legal representatives, and they are typically subjected to online court hearings held in groups of hundreds. The Salvadoran government labels individuals in CECOT as “terrorists,” asserting they “will never leave”. Human Rights Watch has noted the absence of released detainees from this facility.
Access to prisons is denied for human rights organizations, with journalists and social media influencers being allowed entry only under strict conditions. Videos from these visits indicate alarming practices, including prisoners being allowed out of their cells for only 30 minutes daily, and some being held in complete darkness in solitary confinement.
While CECOT may possess superior technology and facilities, the treatment of detainees reflects similar issues observed in other prisons, such as Izalco and Santa Ana, including torture, inhumane conditions, and inadequate healthcare and nutrition.
The dire prison conditions are a result of a three-year state of emergency in El Salvador that has suspended constitutional rights. Since March 2022, security forces have reported the detention of 85,000 individuals, approximately 1.4% of the population. Despite the government denying access to data on detainee numbers, Human Rights Watch estimates over 109,000 individuals are currently imprisoned, although the official capacity is only 70,000.
There are reports of over 350 deaths in prisons since the state of emergency’s inception, as documented by groups like Cristosal. Moreover, in July 2024, Human Rights Watch reported abuses against over 3,300 children detained during this period, many of whom were not connected to gangs.
Interviews conducted by Human Rights Watch reveal harrowing accounts of mistreatment within prisons. For instance, an 18-year-old detainee reported severe beatings by guards, overcrowding, and dangerous conditions. Another detainee detailed horrendous treatment during a police lock-up, including severe overcrowding and physical abuse.
Further, evidence collected for the report “We Can Arrest Anyone We Want” notes that over 240 detainees suffer from health conditions, facing unsanitary environments that lead to tuberculosis and other ailments. Among the 350 documented deaths, at least 11 have been investigated, revealing potential foul play and human rights violations tied to medical neglect.
Human Rights Watch has previously reported on deported nationals from the United States who experienced severe abuse in Salvadoran prisons. Accounts from these individuals detail beatings and life-threatening conditions that highlight the dangers faced by deportees.
Conclusion:
Juanita Goebertus’s declaration paints a dire picture of the human rights crisis within El Salvador’s prison system, particularly emphasizing the severe overcrowding, lack of due process, and cruel treatment of detainees. Human Rights Watch’s findings highlight the need for international oversight and adherence to humane treatment standards in the context of the enduring state of emergency. Continued advocacy for these prisoners is vital to ensure accountability and reform within a beleaguered penal system.
In conclusion, the declaration by Juanita Goebertus highlights the severe violations of human rights occurring in El Salvador’s prison system. Overcrowding, mistreatment, and denial of legal rights are systemic issues exacerbated by the ongoing state of emergency. Human Rights Watch’s documentation calls for urgent international attention to address these humanitarian concerns and uphold the standards of humane treatment for all detainees.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
