El Salvador has been upgraded to Tier 2 in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, as announced by the United States Embassy. While the Salvadoran government does not yet fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, it has demonstrated significant efforts towards compliance.
The government’s enhanced actions include prosecuting a considerably higher number of suspected traffickers, initiating more investigations, assisting more victims, and increasing training for frontline officials in proactive victim identification and referral. Additionally, access to justice for trafficking victims outside the capital was improved by expanding the mandate of Specialized Units for the Care of Women, Children, and Adolescents (UAEMNA) to include trafficking offenses.
Efforts also extended to warning potential migrant workers about fraudulent recruitment practices and educating the public on the risks of trafficking within the tourism sector. Despite these advancements, the government fell short in several critical areas. Unlike the previous year, no traffickers were convicted by the courts.
The government arrested and detained thousands of gang members on charges of illicit association, dismantling criminal networks that facilitated sex and labor trafficking, children affiliated with gangs were arrested and detained but were not assessed for potential trafficking indicators. Overall, victim services remained inadequate, particularly for children, men, and LGBTQI+ victims.
This report underscores El Salvador’s progress and ongoing challenges in combating human trafficking, highlighting the need for continued and enhanced efforts to protect vulnerable populations and prosecute traffickers.