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On October 31, 1989, a powerful bomb exploded at the headquarters of the labor federation FENASTRAS in El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador. The explosion ripped through the cafeteria, claiming the lives of nine people and leaving some forty others gravely injured. Among the dead were cafeteria workers, activists, and union leaders, including Febe Elizabeth Velásquez,… Continue reading “Newly declassified U.S. government documents released on 25th anniversary of FENASTRAS massacre”

After several years of research, we still have much to learn about the Yellow Book, a historic document of the military intelligence section of the Armed Forces of El Salvador. Why are some individuals known to have been victims of state repression listed in the Yellow Book, while others are not? What are the sources… Continue reading “Mysteries of the Yellow Book”

Civil war-era catalog of “enemies,” many killed or disappeared, will be made public on September 28th, International Right to Know Day.… Continue reading “UW Center for Human Rights, National Security Archive, & HRDAG release secret Salvadoran military intelligence document: the “Yellow Book””

This essay by international human rights advocate and Spanish  jurist Baltasar Garzón was published May 20, 2014 in El País. Baltasar Garzón is Puffin-ALBA Visiting Lecturer in Human Rights at the University of Washington, where he contributes his expertise as an advisor to the Unfinished Sentences project. Translated by Angelina Snodgrass Godoy and Ursula Mosqueira for Unfinished… Continue reading “Baltasar Garzón: “El Salvador: A New Opportunity for Peace””

Written by Maria Hoisington, translation by Norma Kaminsky Rochac Hernández et. al v. El Salvador On April 2nd, 2014, attorneys from Association Pro-Búsqueda presented the cases of five children who were forcibly disappeared by state agents during the Salvadoran Armed Conflict to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica. Pro-Búsqueda, representing… Continue reading “Inter-American Court of Human Rights hears case of disappeared children”

Celebrated March 26-28 in Santa Marta, Cabañas, the 6th International Tribunal for Restorative Justice in El Salvador brought together survivors of human rights violations committed during the country’s civil war to share their stories and call for justice. Read the Resolution of the Tribunal and experience the atmosphere of the event in a photo essay… Continue reading “Photos from the 6th Restorative Justice Tribunal, Santa Marta, El Salvador”

On April 11, the New York Times reported on immigration proceedings against General José Guillermo García, former Minister of Defense of El Salvador, who in February was ordered to be deported for his involvement in human rights violations including the murder of Archbishop Óscar Romero and the massacre of El Mozote: In an unusually expansive and scalding 66-page decision, Judge Horn… Continue reading “NYT: “Salvadoran General Accused in Killings Should Be Deported, Miami Judge Says””

Since 2009, survivors of human rights violations committed during El Salvador’s civil war have gathered each year to share their stories and demand justice for the crimes committed against them and their loved ones. This year, the Tribunal was celebrated in the community of Santa Marta in the department of Cabañas, target of a series… Continue reading “Resolution of the 6th Restorative Justice Tribunal”

Human rights organizations call for investigations, Supreme Court decision on amnesty law On the 34th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Óscar Romero, Salvadoran human rights organizations called for the intervention of Human Rights Ombudsman David Morales to ensure the justice system’s prompt response to the petitions of victims of crimes against humanity. Representing victims… Continue reading “David Morales: “There is no excuse to continue denying justice to victims””

U.S. citizen massacre eyewitness Dr. Philippe Bourgois to give declaration against retired officer, legislator University of Washington students and staff will travel to El Salvador March 26-28 for the sixth annual Restorative Justice Tribunal, organized by the Human Rights Institute of the Central American University (IDHUCA), where survivors from across the country will share testimony of wartime… Continue reading “Unfinished Sentences to Attend Restorative Justice Tribunal, March 26-28”