Post-election violence targets women in El Salvador

Photo: courtesy of CISPES

Following the February 28 legislative, municipal and Central American parliamentary elections in El Salvador, officials from the Bukele administration and members of his New Ideas party have continued to subvert the democratic process, bullying their way into a seat at the table to certify the final results in blatant violation of the Electoral Code.

Amidst the intimidation and aggression aimed at election workers, some of the most violent attacks were directed at two women candidates from the leftist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).

Daniela Genovez, candidate for the Legislative Assembly, and Karina Sosa, candidate for the Central American Parliament, were sexually harassed and verbally assaulted during the elections certification by a Nuevas Ideas activist with media credentials provided by a government radio network, who then shared the video online and continued to threaten them.

Though the perpetrator has been arrested, this climate of misogynist aggression must be confronted.

As the FMLN National Women’s Secretariat stated: “This is yet another example that the confrontational and hateful language and discourse initiated by the President of the Republic … is being replicated by his followers at all levels, leading to a climate of greater insecurity and violence. It shows that the president’s fans, even before the final election results are certified, believe they’ve won the right to violently attack women and anyone who thinks differently from them.”

Soon after, Salvadoran feminists took to the streets on March 7 for the yearly International Women’s Day march.

During the march, police attempted to detain two women, injuring one, while the government deployed military contingents and units of the riot police. Online, Bukele administration officials took to social media to discredit and disparage the march. 

This highly militarized response is deeply concerning and has been denounced by organizers as an intent to stifle collective action to demand justice and an end to misogynistic violence. 

Click here to send an email to El Salvador’s Attorney General and Human Rights Ombudsman echoing the demands of feminist leaders in El Salvador and calling on them to guarantee that the rest of election certification process can be carried out without violence or harassment. 

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