El Salvador lowers age for life sentences to 12
President Nayib Bukele has signed into law constitutional reforms allowing for life prison sentences for individuals as young as 12, following approval by the Legislative Assembly. This measure, which will take effect on April 26, applies to those convicted of serious crimes including homicide, femicide, rape, and gang membership. The reforms, criticized by rights groups as another severe step in Bukele’s anti-gang war, establish new criminal courts and mandate reviews for life sentences. This follows a prolonged state of emergency that has led to the detention of over 91,000 people, sharply reducing homicides but drawing accusations of human rights abuses and weakening democratic institutions.
John Q. Hosedrinker