El Salvador is back at the center of international debate after a penal reform that allows life imprisonment for minors from age 12 when they are convicted of crimes considered serious, such as homicide, femicide, sexual violence, terrorism, or participation in gangs.
The measure, signed into law by President Nayib Bukele in April 2026, is part of the hardening of the security policies that the country has been implementing since the state of exception was declared in 2022 to combat gangs. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been detained, and the Salvadoran state has strongly expanded its prison capacity.
For the government, this reform aims to punish the most serious crimes more firmly and prevent minors involved in criminal structures from going unpunished. Its supporters say the measure responds to a reality shaped by years of violence and gang control in many communities.
However, international organizations such as the UN and UNICEF have expressed concern about the consequences of applying such severe penalties to children and adolescents.
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