A recent rights report has shed light on the actions of the government of El Salvador in its crackdown on street gangs, revealing concerning statistics and practices. According to the report, a total of 3,319 underage suspects have been arrested, with 579 of them sentenced to prison terms. The report highlighted that these minors have often been subjected to inhumane conditions, including being held in facilities alongside adults, lack of adequate food, health care, family contact, and protection from abuse.
As of January, 841 minors were still in custody, with allegations that authorities coerced some into making false confessions through abusive plea deals and mistreatment. Many of the convictions were for offenses like 'unlawful association,' which carry harsh sentences based on questionable evidence.
