El Salvador's leading human rights organization, Cristosal, has announced the suspension of its operations within the country due to escalating government harassment and legal threats. The organization, which has been active in El Salvador since 2000, cited mounting persecution under President Nayib Bukele's administration as the primary reason for its decision to relocate staff to neighboring Guatemala and Honduras.
Executive Director Noah Bullock stated that the government's actions have left the organization with a choice between exile or imprisonment. He emphasized that the administration's recent wave of repression has led to the exodus of civil society leaders, professionals, and businesspeople from the country.
In June 2025, Ruth López, Cristosal's top anti-corruption lawyer, was arrested on charges of illicit enrichment, a move that the organization denies. López has been instrumental in supporting numerous cases alleging arbitrary detentions and unlawful actions by the government. During her court appearance, she declared her intention to seek a public trial, asserting her status as a political prisoner.
For years, Cristosal has documented human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and deaths in custody, particularly under the state of emergency declared in March 2022. The organization's decision to cease operations in El Salvador underscores the challenges faced by civil society organizations operating in the current political climate.
The Salvadoran government has not issued an official response to Cristosal's announcement. However, the situation highlights the growing concerns about the shrinking space for civil society and the increasing difficulties faced by organizations advocating for human rights and democratic principles in the country.