U.S. Groups Condemn Proposed Foreign Agents Law in El Salvador

November 18, 2021

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DPLF, along with civil society organizations in the United States, strongly condemn the Foreign Agents Law proposed by the Salvadoran administration of Nayib Bukele on November 9, 2021. The proposed law is another step by President Bukele to silence critics, curtail freedom of speech, and criminalize independent media and human rights groups. If enacted, individuals and organizations that receive funding from external sources will have to register with the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Development in a yet-to-be established Foreign Agents Registry that will have broad discretionary powers.

Under the guise of promoting transparency, the bill targets organizations that have been critical of the Bukele government and that have championed the rule of law, judicial independence, freedom of the press, human rights, and anti-corruption measures. 

Read the full statement here.