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CIS
Colonia Libertad,
Avenida Bolívar # 103
San Salvador, El Salvador
Teléfonos:
(503) 2226-5362
(503) 2235-1330
e-mail: cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com
Why send letters through the CIS? Why El Salvador?
The CIS takes a strong position on violations of human rights in El Salvador. The CIS actively supports those Salvadoran institutions that seek to make structural and political changes, which are a real possibility in the near future. These changes could be an inspiring example for those struggling for social and economic justice throughout the world.
Human rights abuses in El Salvador did not end with the Peace Accords
Since the signing in 1992, the ARENA government has failed to implement many aspects of the Accords. Neither has it implemented the suggestions made by the UN-sponsored Truth Commission Report. One of the proposals of the Peace Accords was the establishment of a civil society forum to allow for participation and consensus building in formulating social and economic policies. Since oppressive economic policies, the lack of opportunities for democratic participation and extreme violations of human rights were the underlying reasons for the armed struggle, this Accord was essential to the end of the conflict. However, the ARENA government has neglected the Accord, and continues to pursue economic policies which perpetuate violent poverty.
The ARENA government is currently implementing the policies of international financial institutions, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization, which support privatization and give multinational corporations control over the Salvadoran economy. These multinationals take advantage of cheap labor, a repressive militarized state, and lenient environmental laws, while leaving El Salvador with few social or economic benefits. The government is also privatizing its public services which is leading to increased rates on utilities and to massive firings, specifically in unionized sectors. The economic policies currently being pursued by the ARENA government are human rights abuses because they exacerbate poverty and social injustice.
The reversion of the democratic process threatens the biggest gain of the Peace Accords.
Not only has the government refused to carry out key accords, such as the creation of the social economic forum, but it has also attempted to deteriorate democratic institutions, and reforms to institutions, that were created by the Peace Accords.
The Legislative Assembly recently created and passed a new National Civilian Police (PNC) law to replace the old laws, which were born out of the Peace Accords. The new law eliminates many of the gains won out of the negotiations. Such an undemocratic and exclusive process of changing the nature of the PNC is an attack on the peace process. The new law, instead of fortifying control mechanisms, concentrates power in the hands of the President and the PNC Director. Additionally, ARENA has taken steps to weaken and break the Human Rights Procurator's Office, an institution also created by the Peace Accords. The Right block in the Legislative Assembly passed a law calling for the "purging" of the office without any objective evaluation mechanisms and it allotted a debilitating amount of funding to the Human Rights Procurator's Office in the 2002 budget. These revisions, among many others, threaten the democratic spaces that were established as part of the Peace Accords.
CIS, through the Human Rights Program, participates in campaigns with Salvadoran organizations that confront these human rights issues.
The CIS's involvement in these campaigns includes organizing forums, attending demonstrations, holding press conferences, and supporting legislation that defends human rights. The overall goal of the Human Rights Program is to assist in the creation of a more just society. The Human Rights Network plays an important role in the Human Rights Program. The Network provides international support for the concrete demands of Salvadorans working towards social justice.
As a member of the Network, you authorize the CIS to send letters in your name about these human rights abuses.
We receive information from a Salvadoran organization, community, or union about a human rights abuse. We then visit the site and investigate the case. After a thorough investigation we write a letter on your behalf to the appropriate target (the President of El Salvador, the President of the United States, International Financial Institutions, CEOs etc.) Lastly, we send the letter to you as a Network member. We encourage Network members to write additional letters and to get community leaders, church leaders, members of Congress, union leaders, and friends to write letters as well.
As a member of the Network, your name is automatically signed to the monthly letters, and you support the investigating that informs the letters and bulletins. If you have ideas or would like further information, please email our human rights coordinator directly at derechoshumanos_cis@yahoo.es.
The CIS Human Rights Network is also dedicated to raising consciousness among the world's inhabitants by sending out action alerts, and distributing our monthly update of social and political affairs in El Salvador.
Praise for the Network
Thanks to the CIS, union members from Hospital Rosales were rehired and we (SIGESAL) are already working for better work conditions in the hospital.
- Mario Arévalo, Secretary of Organization, SIGESAL
The whole community thanks the CIS because they were the only ones who supported us. Without the Human Rights Program I don't know what would have happened because the authorities respect the Human Rights Program. Thanks to the CIS they (the authorities) didn't respond with so much violence.
-Sara Rodriguez Mejia, Board Member of the Communities of Las Victorias, Coastal Zone of La Paz
After 12 years of war, the work that the CIS is carrying out against the U.S. military base in El Salvador forms an integral part of the struggle for peace and democracy.
-José Isidro Rodriguez, former Mayor of Zaragoza,
survivor of the Rio Sumpul Massacre