Twenty-first anniversary of the signing of the El Salvador peace accords : pending measures to overcome impunity

Abstract

Twenty-one years after the signing of the Peace Accords of El Salvador, the political and public perceptions about the treatment of the crimes committed in the recent past, show signs of a possible reversal of the position of deep forgetfulness and denial to rights to truth, justice and reparation for victims of armed conflict, which has prevailed so far in various sectors of Salvadorian society. The constant pressure from human rights organizations and victim’s movements, as well as strong results in proceedings brought before international tribunals have caused to be discussed for the first time, as a ballot ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, the validity of the Amnesty Act, and valued render it ineffective. The article explains how the failure of overcoming impunity measures embodied in the Peace Accords, had a negative impact on national reconciliation and strengthening democratic institutions, not being able to promote the rule of judicial and other measures to prevent and social control violence and crime, one of the main concerns of Salvadorans.