El Salvador’s Congress has approved a law allowing minors convicted of serious gang-related crimes to be housed in adult prisons, though in separate areas. The move is part of President Nayib Bukele’s ongoing crackdown on organized crime.
The new law applies to children under 18 who are gang members convicted of major crimes, including:
✔ Homicide
✔ Kidnapping
✔ Arms trafficking
📢 "This will prevent them from receiving the same criminal treatment as those who have committed less serious crimes," Congress said in a statement.
Why It Matters
Since 2022, Bukele’s government has implemented a state of emergency, suspending constitutional rights and introducing mass trials. His administration has also built a mega-prison to house thousands of detainees.
Rights groups allege that prisoners, including minors, have been tortured, though the government denies these claims.
Meanwhile, the United States is assessing a plan to send U.S. citizens convicted of crimes to Salvadoran prisons.
By the Numbers
📊 Official figures on detained minors remain scarce, but:
1,065 minors were convicted under El Salvador’s state of emergency (as of February 2023).
More than 3,300 children were detained between March 2022 and December 2023, according to Human Rights Watch.
Before the crackdown, the annual average for minors in juvenile detention centers was 805 (2018-2021).
What’s Next?
El Salvador’s hardline security policies continue to draw international scrutiny, with human rights concerns clashing against the government’s claim of restoring order.
NATO has strengthened its security to safeguard undersea infrastructure, since a suspected sabotage in January this year in the Baltic Sea. The allian...
TEKNOFEST opened its doors on Wednesday (17 September) at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, bringing together technology lovers, innovators, and entrepreneurs...
Venezuela will launch a large-scale, three-day military exercise near La Orchila island, involving thousands of troops, naval vessels, aircraft, and d...
Around 300 local and international media representatives will be accredited at the Media Centre established by the Baku City Circuit Operations Compan...
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next month in ...
NATO has strengthened its security to safeguard undersea infrastructure, since a suspected sabotage in January this year in the Baltic Sea. The alliance now deploys air and naval patrols, and warns that attacks will not go unpunished.
TEKNOFEST opened its doors on Wednesday (17 September) at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, bringing together technology lovers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
Venezuela will launch a large-scale, three-day military exercise near La Orchila island, involving thousands of troops, naval vessels, aircraft, and drones, amid heightened tensions with the United States over a recent maritime incident.
Around 300 local and international media representatives will be accredited at the Media Centre established by the Baku City Circuit Operations Company to cover this year’s Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
NATO has strengthened its security to safeguard undersea infrastructure, since a suspected sabotage in January this year in the Baltic Sea. The alliance now deploys air and naval patrols, and warns that attacks will not go unpunished.
Venezuela will launch a large-scale, three-day military exercise near La Orchila island, involving thousands of troops, naval vessels, aircraft, and drones, amid heightened tensions with the United States over a recent maritime incident.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next month in South Korea.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have formalised a mutual defence agreement, reinforcing a decades-long security partnership, Pakistani state television reported on Wednesday.
Britain’s King Charles and U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated the enduring “special relationship” between their countries during a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment