Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his El Salvadorean counterpart on the 30-day state of emergency in that country; and what reports he has received on the potential impact of the state of emergency on (a) women and girls (i) in rural areas and (ii) generally and (b) other vulnerable groups.

Since the state of emergency was declared in March 2022, UK officials have continued to encourage the authorities in El Salvador to uphold international human rights standards and constitutional protections in respect of all groups, including women and girls. I [Minister Rutley] have discussed the security situation in El Salvador with counterparts including the Vice President and the Foreign Minister and have underlined the importance of a balance between the reduction of violent crime and the continued protection of human rights. Officials continue to engage with civil society to assess the wider impact of the state of emergency.