According to the government Website of the Legislative Assembly, the personal idenitifcation card (carnet de identificacion personal) is an identification document (ID) made specifically for young persons older than ten years of age and under 18 years old (El Salvador 11 Feb. 1981). The Law of Personal Identification for Minors Under Eighteen Years of Age (Ley de Identificacion Personal para los Menores de Dieciocho Anos de Edad) was passed by Decree on 15 October 1979 and outlines various articles that governs the youth ID's usage (ibid.). Specifically, the carnet is issued by the Municipal Mayor (Alcalde Municipal) from where the youth resides and must be renewed every two years (ibid.).

However, the law states that the "procurement of this youth ID will not be compulsory" (la obtencion de este carnet no sera obligatoria) (ibid.). The youth ID law also provides a list of data features that should appear on the carnet such as the applicant's name and last name, the applicant's birth date and location, the applicant's parent's names, and the applicant's photo stamped with seal of the Mayor's office (ibid.).

With regard to the difference between the carnet and the personal identity card (cedula de identidad personal, CIP), the carnet is prepared especially for youth under 18 years of age whereas the CIP is an ID document prepared for persons 18 years and older (El Salvador 24 Oct. 1996).

Additional and corroborating information about the carnet de identificacion personal could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

El Salvador. 24 October 1996. Asamblea Legislativa. Ley de Cedula de Identidad Personal. (UN Website) http://www.acnur.org/biblioteca/pdf/1874.pdf [Accessed 4 Apr. 2005]

____. 11 February 1981. Asamblea Legislativa. Ley de Idenitficacion Personal Para los Menores de Dieciocho Anos de Edad. http://www.asamblea.gob.sv/leyes/19810589.htm [Accessed 30 Mar. 2005]

One oral source could not provide the information requested.

Sites Internet, y compris : Amnesty International, Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS), Country Reports 2004, El Diario de Hoy [San Salvador], Embassy of El Salvador in Washington, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, La Prensa Grafica [San Salvador], World News Connection.