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In an open letter to the President of El Salvador, Mr Nayib Bukele (pictured), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has called on him to take action to uphold the rule of law and respect fundamental human rights whilst measures are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Co-signed by IBAHRI Co-Chairs, the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG and Anne Ramberg Dr Jur hc, the letter was penned in response to reports of President Bukele’s arbitrary measures taken as part of the lockdown imposed on El Salvador on 21 March.
In a separate statement, International Bar Association (IBA) President, Horacio Bernardes Neto, said: ‘The situation in El Salvador is of concern. While certain measures are necessary to curb the spread of COVD-19, there has been a severe disregard for the rule of law.’ He added, ‘As the world faces an unprecedented crisis, the IBA is committed to continuing to defend the rule of law, and, with the cooperation of independent journalists around the globe, will highlight unnecessary and disproportionate disruptions to the administration of justice.’
As of 7 April, it is reported that over 850 people have been unnecessarily detained in containment centres for breaching lockdown. It has also been communicated to the IBAHRI that the Minister of Justice and Public Security made a statement threatening citizens who break domiciliary quarantine with being taken to a detention centre where they ‘might catch COVID-19.’ Furthermore, there are more than 4,000 citizens who are unable to return to El Salvador due to travel restrictions imposed by the government. Some of those who returned before the travel ban are being held in proper sanitary conditions in hotels, while others have been sent to detention facilities where conditions are not fit for mass confinement as they lack access to hygiene amenities, food or water.