The Rights and Dignity project strengthens governmental and non-governmental human rights protection systems for a more tolerant, just, and equitable El Salvador, where Salvadorans believe they can have a better life without migrating.

Some of the most acute human rights challenges addressed by the project include justice and security sector concerns: prison conditions; arbitrary and abuse of pre-trial detention; excessive use of force, including allegations of extra-judicial killings; discrimination against minorities; gender-based violence; and restitution and justice for abused victims.

Through the project, USAID strengthens human rights advocacy and monitoring of the security sector on these issues and to prevent discrimination and exclusion of vulnerable groups and improve their access to services. Project activities help bring together government, civil society, the private sector and academia to develop collaborative roadmaps on human rights in El Salvador.  This effort will be bolstered by the creation of a Human Rights Observatory that will collect, produce, and disseminate information related to human rights and serve as a resource for policy making.

The project also awards competitive grants to human rights groups working on citizen security, police reform and access to justice.  Training and technical assistance on human rights standards will be provided to security sector entities.

In support of the government’s national security plan, the project works in priority municipalities under the plan to help ensure the protection of human rights as a key component in reducing crime and violence.  A series of focus groups, roundtables, town halls, and workshops will provide communities an opportunity to discuss the impact of the national security plan on human rights and to develop a community collaboration plan that will strengthen human rights protection at the community level.

Finally, the project promotes social inclusion and ameliorates the marginalization and stigmatization of vulnerable groups by raising awareness on human rights laws, including a national anti-discrimination campaign that brings together key segments of society (private sector, media, government and human rights organizations).  The project will also inform victims of their rights and available services.