Since the end of its civil war in 1992, El Salvador has worked to establish and maintain systems that protect and promote the human rights of its citizens. While the country has made encouraging progress, such as creating the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office and the National Civilian Police force, significant challenges remain. For many of its citizens, life in El Salvador is marked by chronic violence, discrimination, and abuse at the hands of security agents.

Counterpart has instituted two programs in the country to guard the rights and dignity of all in the country. The Rights and Dignity Project, funded by USAID, is being implemented from 2017 to 2025. The Rights and Dignity Project brings together governmental and non-governmental actors to collaborate on strengthening human rights protection systems to achieve a more equitable, just, and tolerant El Salvador. In pursuit of this goal, the project enhances El Salvador’s human rights systems with an emphasis on security, policing, and anti-discrimination.

In El Salvador, we also engage and strengthen the capacities of LGBTQI+ emerging leaders and groups currently underrepresented in the movement through another project. This work enhances the organizational capacity of the Salvadoran LGBTI Federation and other local groups. By strengthening these groups, the Salvadoran LGBTQI+ movement will be better positioned to defend the human rights of the diverse LGBTQI+ population in El Salvador.