El Salvador's Anti-Gang Crackdown Leads to Mass Detention and Torture of Children

A Human Rights Watch report reveals that over 60 children in El Salvador have been arbitrarily detained, tortured, and beaten since the government declared a state of emergency to combat gangs. The report highlights severe ill-treatment, including deprivation of food, healthcare, and family contact, and coerced false confessions. The Salvadoran government has previously denied torture in its prisons. The state of emergency has led to over 80,500 arrests and a significant reduction in homicides, earning President Nayib Bukele strong popular support.