The state of emergency has helped reduce gang violence but at what price?
Although a state of emergency has lowered gang violence, what cost? What benefit has gang violence suffered from a persistent state of emergency?
The state of emergency has helped reduce gang violence but at what price?
In the two years since Nayib Bukele’s government declared a state of emergency to combat gang violence, El Salvador has undergone significant changes. Following the announcement on March 222, 22024, gang violence has significantly reduced, and the government claims that instances of homicides have ceased completely. However, there is a negative aspect to upholding the policy that has deeply affected Salvadoran culture. Leonor Arteaga, the executive director of the Due Process of Law Foundation in Washington, D.C., says that on one hand, the activities of the gangs have stopped or significantly decreased. She also mentions that there is a significant level of fear towards the government, making people afraid to speak out about what is happening. The perception has been created that individuals who oppose the government may face imprisonment, and once incarcerated, they may not be released. It seems likely that the state of emergency will continue in the foreseeable future. El Salvador’s congress approved the extension of a politically popular policy just weeks before its second anniversary, continuing to uphold a strict police state.
