8-9-2023 (SAN SALVADOR) The governments of El Salvador and the United States have agreed to revive the Peace Corps program in El Salvador after a seven-year hiatus. The decision comes as the U.S. agency determined that security conditions in the Central American country have significantly improved, putting an end to the freeze that was imposed due to escalating gang violence.
The Peace Corps, a renowned U.S. volunteer abroad program with roots dating back to the 1960s, suspended its operations in El Salvador in 2016 due to the rampant lawlessness prevailing in the nation.
The U.S. embassy in San Salvador announced in a statement on Thursday that the Peace Corps assignments moving forward will be centered around projects supporting community economic development, education, and youth.
Speaking at an event, Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn acknowledged the invaluable partnership of Salvadorans in previous initiatives, which fostered “deep and lasting friendships.”
In 2015, the year preceding the Peace Corps’ departure from El Salvador, the country witnessed an alarming record of 103 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, making it one of the nations with the highest murder rates at the time. The surge in violence was primarily attributed to the deadly clashes between the Barrio 18 gang and its rival, Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13.
Since early 2022, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has been championing emergency powers that have empowered security forces to apprehend over 70,000 suspected gang members. This significant crackdown has resulted in a remarkable decline in violent crime.
According to authorities and independent polls, the homicide rate dropped by nearly 60% last year compared to the previous year, instilling a sense of safety among the majority of locals who support President Bukele’s policies. However, it is important to note that the president’s tough stance on gangs has faced sharp criticism from human rights groups. These organizations condemn the suspension of certain constitutional rights, as well as raise concerns about arbitrary arrests and the reported deaths of 174 individuals in state custody following the enforcement of emergency powers.
The Peace Corps program was established by the administration of U.S. President John F. Kennedy nearly six decades ago, deploying volunteers to various parts of the world as ambassadors of goodwill and development.
