Carlos Barrera - Life and Death in a Country Without Constitutional Rights | World Press Photo

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A man is taken into custody by police on the day the El Salvadoran Legislative Assembly approved the “state of emergency.” Since that day, more than 80,000 people have been arrested. Santa Tecla, El Salvador, 27 March 2022
A group of arrested people awaits entrance to Ilopango jail. Many will spend over a year behind bars without due process. Trials are conducted in groups rather than on a case-by-case basis. Ilopango, San Salvador, El Salvador, 27 September 2022
Cecilia Abrego holds a T-shirt with photographs of her sons, who were detained and imprisoned in May 2022. Cecilia has cancer and must find money to send to her sons and for her own treatment. San Salvador, El Salvador, 12 May 2023
A boy (16) was captured, beaten, and tortured by members of El Salvador’s naval force. Usulután, El Salvador, 8 November 2022
Maria Elena Lozano mourns at her son’s coffin. Maria Elena’s son, Marvin Diaz Lozano, became sick in jail, was released after photographs of his mistreatment went viral on social media, and later died due to lack of proper medical treatment while imprisoned. Usulután, El Salvador, 29 July 2024
Alba (28) was living with her parents and getting ready to travel to the United States on a work visa program when she was arrested by National Civil Police without evidence or a warrant. In prison, she was abused and tortured, witnessing death and miscarriages among the other inmates. San Salvador, El Salvador, 28 June 2024
Andrés (28) is the first college graduate in his family. Months after obtaining his degree as an engineer, he was arrested by state agents without explanation. During his eight-and-a-half months in prison, he witnessed hundreds of cases of severe malnutrition. On the day of his release, he was arrested at the gates of the prison, again without explanation. Usulután, El Salvador, 15 May 2023
Mothers of hundreds of those captured during the “state of emergency” march in protest, demanding better conditions for the prisoners. San Salvador, El Salvador, 9 December 2024

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