- The organization ASPIDH has documented 922 assaults against LGTBI people in El Salvador between 2023 and 2025.
- In 30% of the cases, there are state agents involved, mainly security forces.
- Only 58 cases resulted in formal complaints. 93% were never reported.
LGTBI assaults in El Salvador have been increasing, with 2024 as a breaking point. This is concluded in the report presented by the Solidarity Association for Human Development (ASPIDH) on September 24 in San Salvador, which documents 922 cases between 2023 and 2025.
What does the ASPIDH report reveal?
The report, titled “Restriction of rights and structural violence against LGBTIQ+ people in El Salvador (2023-2025)”, documents 922 assaults that have intensified steadily. According to ASPIDH, the escalation occurs in a context of continuous extension of the state of exception, concentration of state power, and progressive weakening of public space.
The state of exception has been in effect in El Salvador since March 2022, under the pretext of combating gangs.
The figures, one by one
Discrimination is the most frequent violence, with 454 cases, almost half of the total. Followed by threats (154), harassment (102), physical assaults (66), and domestic violence (64).
The report also records 21 illegal detentions, 19 extortions, and 16 internal displacements, in addition to one case of malpractice and another of kidnapping. In three out of ten incidents, state agents are involved, mainly security forces.
Why does almost no one report?
Only 58 of the 922 cases, 6.3%, ended in formal complaints. 93% never reached the institutions. Researcher Loidy Guardado attributes this to the lack of effective responses, fear of reprisals, and the sense of impunity.
According to the report, the institutional response was practically nonexistent and by 2025 it became null. When part of the violence comes from those who should protect, reporting no longer seems a safe option.
Own data against official silence
The director of ASPIDH, Mónica Linares, emphasizes that this data allows for firsthand knowledge of the reality of the community. And it marks a clear contrast with the State, which according to Linares does not provide data on this violence.
That is why the documentation by social organizations becomes the only available snapshot of what LGTBIQ+ people experience in the country.
Frequently asked questions
How many LGTBI assaults does the report document?
922 assaults between 2023 and 2025.
Who prepares the report?
The Solidarity Association for Human Development (ASPIDH).
What percentage involves state agents?
30% of the incidents, mainly security forces.
How many cases were reported?
Only 58, 6.3% of the total.
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