Women in El Salvador

Today in El Salvador, the same number of people will be killed as during the height of the Civil War. Yet, even this shocking comparison overlooks an unrecognised problem here; gender based violence and abuse.

We met a leading Salvadorian feminist, Morena Herrera, who shed light on the position of women in Salvadorian society and the problem that issues affecting them are seemingly invisible to the state. For instance, the number of sexual abuses reported each year is equal to the number of murders reported (3,600 cases). However, a survey conducted by Morena Herrera suggest that because of the stigma attached to sexual abuse in El Salvador, with the suggestion victims “deserved it,” only around 10% of cases are reported. This means sexual abuse is a far greater problem in El Salvador, one which targets women and one which could claim 36,000 victims a year in silence.

On the surface El Salvador is rated as a medium income country, which many countries in the world do not believe is in need of significant development assistance. This is a dangerous assumption to make; a recent UN Women report placed El Salvador top in the world for rates of femicide, after an increase of 197%. Murders against men have remained stagnant. The massive division between the few rich and the many poor in El Salvador has exacerbated the violence and the unequal position of women in society has seen them targeted. Women earn on average $3,043 per year, while mean earn $7,543 per year. Women have more savings accounts than men, but men have double the amount of savings. Women have a long way to go.

The rights of women in El Salvador went unrecognised until the Civil War; when a small number of feminists, including Morena Herrera, began to press for change. A turning point came during the war, when an intervention attempting to bring an end to the conflict introduced a programme of land redistribution. Beneficiaries of the land distribution should have been those who fought on both sides and those who had contributed to the war effort. Women however, were not equal beneficiaries; land they earned was signed over to their husband or eldest son and had women’s organisations not intervened it is unlikely any women would have benefited. In the end 5% of the beneficiaries were women; a far cry from the 30% of women who made up the guerrilla army and the 60% of women supporting the guerrillas though farming and delivering supplies.

Another area where there is significant room for improvement is sexual and reproductive rights; this forms a significant part of our work here with the Salvadorian organisation IMU. Abortion is illegal in El Salvador and as such a criminal offence, with no exception even if the mother’s life is at risk, the foetus is dead or the conception was a result of rape. The Salvadorian Government has signed up to many international agreements on sexual and reproductive rights but has always entered significant exceptions. This means today there are at least 124 women in adult prisons with sentences up to 30 years. Morena Herrera was not allowed access to the juvenile prison, but with teenage pregnancy making up 30% of conceptions the number of young girls imprisoned is likely to be shocking.

Some progress is beginning to be made in El Salvador, notably with two new laws passed by the Government and due for implementation in 2012. The first recognises violence against women is a problem and sets out provisions to outlaw it. A significant step in that it acknowledges that gender based violence is not isolate to the private family sphere. The second is a law of equality to eradicate discrimination against women. Morena Herrera acknowledges that these are steps in the right direction but notes that El Salvador has a very long way to go.

One last statistic to leave you with; 19% of the Salvadorian Parliament is made up of women; in the UK it is 20%. Worldwide women have significant hurdles to jump and in the UK we must press our Government to examine both the position of women in our own country and to put pressure on El Salvador to address their gender divide, as women do after all make up 50% of the world’s population.

Women in El Salvador

Today in El Salvador, the same number of people will be killed as during the height of the Civil War. Yet, even this shocking comparison overlooks an unrecognised problem here; gender based violence and abuse.

We met a leading Salvadorian feminist, Morena Herrera, who shed light on the position of women in Salvadorian society and the problem that issues affecting them are seemingly invisible to the state. For instance, the number of sexual abuses reported each year is equal to the number of murders reported (3,600 cases). However, a survey conducted by Morena Herrera suggest that because of the stigma attached to sexual abuse in El Salvador, with the suggestion victims “deserved it,” only around 10% of cases are reported. This means sexual abuse is a far greater problem in El Salvador, one which targets women and one which could claim 36,000 victims a year in silence.

On the surface El Salvador is rated as a medium income country, which many countries in the world do not believe is in need of significant development assistance. This is a dangerous assumption to make; a recent UN Women report placed El Salvador top in the world for rates of femicide, after an increase of 197%. Murders against men have remained stagnant. The massive division between the few rich and the many poor in El Salvador has exacerbated the violence and the unequal position of women in society has seen them targeted. Women earn on average $3,043 per year, while mean earn $7,543 per year. Women have more savings accounts than men, but men have double the amount of savings. Women have a long way to go.

The rights of women in El Salvador went unrecognised until the Civil War; when a small number of feminists, including Morena Herrera, began to press for change. A turning point came during the war, when an intervention attempting to bring an end to the conflict introduced a programme of land redistribution. Beneficiaries of the land distribution should have been those who fought on both sides and those who had contributed to the war effort. Women however, were not equal beneficiaries; land they earned was signed over to their husband or eldest son and had women’s organisations not intervened it is unlikely any women would have benefited. In the end 5% of the beneficiaries were women; a far cry from the 30% of women who made up the guerrilla army and the 60% of women supporting the guerrillas though farming and delivering supplies.

Another area where there is significant room for improvement is sexual and reproductive rights; this forms a significant part of our work here with the Salvadorian organisation IMU. Abortion is illegal in El Salvador and as such a criminal offence, with no exception even if the mother’s life is at risk, the foetus is dead or the conception was a result of rape. The Salvadorian Government has signed up to many international agreements on sexual and reproductive rights but has always entered significant exceptions. This means today there are at least 124 women in adult prisons with sentences up to 30 years. Morena Herrera was not allowed access to the juvenile prison, but with teenage pregnancy making up 30% of conceptions the number of young girls imprisoned is likely to be shocking.

Some progress is beginning to be made in El Salvador, notably with two new laws passed by the Government and due for implementation in 2012. The first recognises violence against women is a problem and sets out provisions to outlaw it. A significant step in that it acknowledges that gender based violence is not isolate to the private family sphere. The second is a law of equality to eradicate discrimination against women. Morena Herrera acknowledges that these are steps in the right direction but notes that El Salvador has a very long way to go.

One last statistic to leave you with; 19% of the Salvadorian Parliament is made up of women; in the UK it is 20%. Worldwide women have significant hurdles to jump and in the UK we must press our Government to examine both the position of women in our own country and to put pressure on El Salvador to address their gender divide, as women do after all make up 50% of the world’s population.

Tres Veces Mojado los Tigres del Norte - Young People in El Salvador

Almost a third of the population of El Salvador live illgally in the US; 3 million individuals who have endured both a mentally and physically challenging journey, across 3 countries, in search of employment and opportunities not available in El Salvador.

Today, we heard a first hand account of such a journey; from a Salvadorean who returned last year after 3 years living and working illegally in the US. His story encompassed the lost hope of the Salvadorean youth, a group of people who have little prospect of employment, no matter how educated or skilled they are. Of the 27,000 who apply to the subsidised University every year, only 9,000 are able to take up places. Yet, an education has little purpose in El Salvador with graduate jobs virtually non-existent and any job in scarce availability, there seems little point.

Faced with the choice of unemployment in El Salvador or a dangerous journey to the US and the prospect of a job, it is understandable why so many choose the latter. If they survive the journey to the US and find employment, they are able to support their families in El Salvador and build a future if they choose to return.

The other viable option for youth in El Salvador is to join a gang and with no opportunities it is easier to understand why many do. Despite this, instead of investing in providing opportunities for young Salvadoreans the government has put in place stricter security measures and a greater police presence. An election winning formula perhaps, but not one which which will act as a preventative measure. 

The ability of the Salvadorean government to neglect invest in the future of 60% of the population (under 25s) is not a problem isolated to El Salvador. The issue of youth unemployment and a lack of opportunities is something we can see mirrored in the UK and beyond. Young people can be exploited by governments when it is convenient and cast aside when they are no longer need, with no consequence.

Interesting Links

Tres Veces Mojado los Tigres del Norte - A song/video about the Salvadorean journey to the US, where they are illegal in 3 countries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL6DYsQx9b0

Sin Nombre - a film incorporating the issues of migration and gangs. A good film, really worth a watch as it reflects the experiences we have heard first hand about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTSi0pKjC5g

Country Initiation and Training

During the thunder storm which hit Suchitoto this afternoon the training venue was hit by a stray piece of lightening, no one was hurt, but the sound of the lightbulb blowing was enough to send us all jumping out of our seats! These first few days in El Salvador have challenged and surprised us all and we are just at the beginning of this amazing experience.

The 10 days of training are delivered by the Global Platform programme in Succhitoto and involves comprehensive sessions on all elements of development work from the Millienium Development Goals to country specific information about El Salvaodor's past. We are also attending Spanish lessons every morning in the local Spanish School, the teachers may speak no English but it is the best language course I have ever been on!

Salvadorians have been very open to sharing with us their painful and still raw experiences during the Civil War (1980 to 1992) and this has confirmed my resolve to improve my Spanish in order to find out more. Hearing first hand accounts of the atrocities which took place here is shocking and upsetting, but you then begin to understand how far this country has come and the challenges it still faces. The Salvadorians who have shared their reality have been very proud and keen to welcome visitors to their country who want to learn about their history.