In an alarming development that highlights the continued persecution of human rights defenders in El Salvador, the United Nations has condemned the use of Interpol red notices against two prominent activists currently seeking asylum in Spain. The issuance of these red notices by Salvadoran authorities against Ivania Cruz and Rudy Joya signals a dangerous abuse of international law enforcement mechanisms, extending political repression across borders under the guise of criminal justice. This analysis contextualizes these actions within the broader framework of El Salvador’s state of emergency, ongoing human rights abuses, and the international community’s response.
Background and Context of Repression in El Salvador
The state of emergency in El Salvador, declared in 2022 due to escalated gang-related violence, has been continuously renewed, resulting in a precarious legal environment that severely restricts fundamental rights. While ostensibly aimed at improving security, this emergency has morphed into an instrument for suppressing dissent and restricting civil society space. Human rights defenders, in particular, have become targets under the pretext of maintaining order and security.
The work of Ivania Cruz and Rudy Joya with the non-governmental organization UNIDEHC exemplifies legitimate activism facing state harassment. UNIDEHC advocates for communities affected by forced evictions and other human rights violations, particularly highlighting the plight of the La Floresta community since 2024. The criminalization of such efforts culminated in April 2025 when arrest warrants were issued against various community and environmental leaders, further narrowing the space for human rights advocacy under the emergency’s weight.
Misuse of Interpol Red Notices as a Political Tool
Interpol red notices, international alerts issued to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition, are intended for serious criminal cases devoid of political motivations. However, the Salvadoran government’s recent issuance of these notices against Cruz and Joya represents a stark misuse of this mechanism. The United Nations experts have unequivocally described this as
“an act of transnational repression,”
extending harassment into the safety of exile countries.
The experts observe that
“the charges brought against Ivania Cruz and Rudy Joya … appear to be without basis and in direct connection with their legitimate human rights work,”
emphasizing the politicized nature of these allegations. By targeting activists abroad, the government seeks to criminalize and intimidate human rights work well beyond its borders.
Interpol’s constitution explicitly prohibits the organization from engaging in activities of a political character and requires operations to be consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN experts’ call for Interpol to “immediately revoke the red notices and judicial sanctions” underscores how the misuse threatens to undermine the organization’s credibility and human rights safeguards.
Human Rights Violations Amidst the State of Emergency
The persecution of Cruz and Joya is symptomatic of the broader human rights crisis unfolding under the prolonged state of emergency. Over 85,000 detentions have been recorded, largely without due process, and more than 400 deaths in custody reflect severe abuses within the prison system. These figures reveal a climate where judicial independence and fundamental rights are severely compromised.
The crackdown extends beyond legal persecution to physical repression: Amnesty International reported the detention of UNIDEHC’s spokesperson Fidel Zavala and arrests of approximately 20 community leaders. Zavala’s detention is particularly troubling given his documentation of torture and cruel treatment in prisons. Authorities also targeted UNIDEHC offices and Cruz’s residence through searches, intensifying the pressure on the NGO’s operations.
These measures are part of a systematic effort to silence dissent, with human rights defenders being labeled “traitors of the nation,” a stigmatization that facilitates further marginalization and justification for punitive actions.
International Response and the United Nations’ Role
The international community, including the United Nations, human rights NGOs, and intergovernmental bodies, has voiced grave concern about El Salvador’s approach to dissent. The United Nations experts are actively engaged in dialogue with Interpol and governmental authorities in both El Salvador and Spain, urging adherence to human rights standards.
By calling on Spain to refuse to accept the red notice requests and ensure protection from forced return, the United Nations underscores the importance of international asylum norms and non-refoulement principles. The UN’s position sends a clear message that political persecution cloaked as criminality will not be legitimized through international policing mechanisms.
Analysis: Implications for Human Rights and International Law
The weaponization of Interpol red notices by El Salvador reflects a dangerous precedent in transnational repression, where states use international policing tools to intimidate and dismantle civil society activism abroad. This case challenges the international community to reinforce safeguards within Interpol’s mandate, ensuring its mechanisms are not exploited for political ends.
Moreover, the erosion of rule of law and fundamental freedoms under the prolonged state of emergency reveals how emergency powers can be manipulated to enable widespread rights violations rather than protect citizens. The situation calls for renewed scrutiny of emergency measures and stronger international mechanisms to monitor and hold governments accountable.
The United Nations’ condemnation highlights the centrality of protecting human rights defenders—whose work is vital for democracy and justice from harassment, detention, and exile. It also signals the need for enhanced collaboration among states to ensure that international tools intended for crime control do not become instruments of political persecution.
El Salvador’s systematic misuse of Interpol red notices against human rights defenders exemplifies a broader strategy of repression extending beyond its borders. The United Nation’s condemnation and the call for revocation of the red notices reinforce the principles of human rights and justice integral to international cooperation. This ongoing crisis demands vigilance, advocacy, and coordinated global action to protect defenders like Ivania Cruz and Rudy Joya and to uphold the integrity of international law.
