Human rights in El Salvador, twelve years after the signing of the Peace Accords ending the 12 year civil war, are still in jeopardy. Land issues, police violence and corrupt legal and court processes are continuing problems. Even though the Accords required a National Human Rights Commission, this commission has worked these past 12 years under tremendous pressure, from a government who is not in favor of its existence, and from other political and economic powers who wish to do business as usual.

For this reason, other Human Rights agencies need to be developed, mostly by the churches and by other humanitarian groups, to work among the people with whom they have access, and to support the work of the National Human Rights Commission.

The Anglican Church of El Salvador has asked Cristosal to help them fund a church Human Rights Office: for the purpose of doing education around constitutional and human rights, and to help develop procedures for advocacy, helping people understand and obtain the legal and constitutional rights that are theirs.

Many people, especially among the poor, do not know their rights, and are used to the abuse for which they often feel they have no means to respond. Education around human and constitutional rights will be the first priority of the church office. From the educational work will come the role of advocacy, helping people in the legal process of obtaining justice, and working with other national groups in pressuring the government and legal system to keep faith with its constitutional and Peace Accord mandates.

The Anglican Church of El Salvador Office for Human Rights will be established with a director (currently staffed by a law student, who has worked with the Attorney General for Human Rights), a secretary, and a field worker in human rights education. Educational materials developed for popular use will also be part of the project.

It is estimated that the annual cost of this office will be about $37,000, which includes costs for salaries, office space and materials. Cristosal started this project in 2002, raising $15,000 or more for this-year start up costs, and but need to find continued support for the long haul.