According to Transparency International, El Salvador was rated 3.4 (with 10 being the best) and ranked 63rd on a recent review of its corruption perceptions index (28 August 2002). Nevertheless, in 1996, El Salvador adopted and ratified "the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, the first anti-corruption treaty in the world" (OAS 2002). In addition, the America's Accountability Anti-Corruption Project has compiled a summary of efforts that El Salvador has taken to curb corruption (Casals & Associates March 2000). With respect to financial corruption,

The Salvadoran legislative assembly followed up its ratification of the Central American Convention Against Money-laundering (Convenio Centroamericano para la Prevención y Represión de los Delitos de Lavado de Dinero) by passing, late in 1998, a national money laundering law (ibid.).

In addition:

With assistance from USAID, the Government of El Salvador (GOES) promulgated in 1996 laws regarding its Integrated Financial Management System (known by its Spanish acronym as the SAFI Law) and the professional audit authority of the Court of Accounts (ibid.).

Moreover, according to the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, El Salvador has

...established an Internal Affairs Unit within the PNC [National Civilian Police] and an Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the Attorney General. Further, the GOES [Government of El Salvador] is in the process of setting up an Office of Government Ethics to control, identify, and prosecute public corruption. The USG [United States Government] provided specialized training to prosecutors and investigators of the Internal Affairs and Anti-Corruption units as well as to judges (March 2002).

The non-profit, non-governmental, anti-corruption organization, Probidad, has put together a compendium of observations and initiatives aimed at fighting corruption in El Salvador (2001). In terms of financial corruption, Probidad stated that the corporate sector has adopted a position of silence and has shown no interest in efforts by the government to reduce corruption and promote transparency (ibid.). Moreover, Probidad has claimed that when pressured by the media, public opinion or the international community, the government will address issues of corruption (ibid.). However, Probidad has also observed that the government and judicial system lacks the political will needed to combat corruption, usually resulting in impunity and overlooking corruption (ibid.).

According to Probidad, civil society groups and the media are leading the way in fighting against corruption (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Casals & Associates Inc. March 2000. "Compendium of National Efforts to Combat Corruption in the Americas." http://www.respondanet.com/english/anti_corruption/reports/compendio_en/index.htm [Accessed 3 Sept. 2002]

International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. March 2002. "El Salvador." http://www.state.gov/g/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2001/rpt/8478pf.htm [Accessed 6 Sept. 2002]

OAS - Department of Public Information 2002. "Combating Corruption." http://www.oas.org/XXXIIGA/english/key_issues/Gacorruption.htm [Accessed 29 Aug. 2002]

Probidad. 2001. "Actores anticorrupcion en El Salvador." http://probidad,org/local/iniciativas/actores.html [Accessed 22 Aug. 2002]

Transparency International. 28 August 2002. "Corruption Perceptions Index." http://transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2002/2002.08.28.cpi.en.html [Accessed 3 Sept. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

World News Connection

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