On the 43rd anniversary of the El Mozote massacre, the most horrific massacre in modern Latin American history, where nearly 1,000 civilians were brutally killed — others tortured, and still others victims of sexual violence — victims are still awaiting justice. Despite the 2016 repeal of El Salvador’s Amnesty Law, which opened the door for seeking criminal accountability, the El Mozote case has been plagued by delays in the court, political interference, and regressive judicial reforms. At this point, there is more than sufficient evidence for the case to go forward; it should move to the final sentencing phase.
The El Mozote case is but one of many from El Salvador’s internal armed conflict where justice remains elusive. In this short document we look at the judicial process, and the obstacles that exist to obtaining accountability.
