UN Women technical assistance strengthens the response of the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic in El Salvador to sexual violence
In the context of March 8 and the global call “Rights, justice and action for all women and girls,” efforts are advancing in El Salvador to strengthen the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic to improve the investigation and criminal prosecution of sexual violence crimes, a key priority given the persistence of these forms of violence and existing gaps in access to justice.
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Authorities and participants during the event. In the image: Rodolfo Delgado, Attorney General of the Republic; Marina de Ortega (wearing orange), Deputy Attorney General for Women, Children, Adolescents, and Vulnerable Groups; and Lourdes González-Prieto (wearing blue), UN Women Representative in El Salvador. Photo: UN Women/María del Mar Martín
The technical assistance provided by UN Women included the development of two key tools for investigative processes: a protocol for the investigation and criminal prosecution of sexual violence crimes, and a manual on the legal and doctrinal grounding of sexual violence offenses. These instruments represent an improvement in institutional conditions to respond to one of the most prevalent and severe forms of violence affecting women and girls.
This progress strengthens the Attorney General’s capacity to conduct more rigorous investigations, build stronger cases, and provide more consistent responses to ensure access to justice through a survivor-centered approach. In cases of sexual violence, clear technical guidelines directly influence the quality of evidence, the strength of prosecutions, coordination among prosecutors, and the reduction of revictimization risks throughout criminal proceedings.
The technical assistance focused on strengthening concrete institutional capacities within the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The process contributed criteria, standards, and tools oriented toward prosecutorial practice, to improve performance across all stages of criminal proceedings, from initial investigation through litigation, under a human rights and due diligence approach.
Rodolfo Delgado, Attorney General of the Republic, during his remarks at the event, accompanied by authorities and guests. Photo: UN Women/María del Mar Martín
The development of these instruments included document review, legal and jurisprudential analysis, and the incorporation of good practices and consultation spaces with prosecutorial staff and other actors linked to the justice system. This work enabled the content to be tailored to operational realities in the territories, the everyday challenges of investigations, and the practical demands of litigation in sexual violence cases.
The new protocol establishes a common framework for action to guide the investigation and criminal prosecution of sexual violence crimes. Its purpose is to standardize practices, enhance the technical quality of investigative procedures, and strengthen case-building within the institution.
The manual, meanwhile, deepens the legal grounding of these crimes and serves as a support tool for prosecutorial argumentation. Its contribution aims to consolidate a stronger legal approach, facilitate the structuring of arguments in court, and reinforce criminal prosecution by providing a more consistent technical foundation.
Main panel of the event, featuring the participation of the UN Women Representative in El Salvador, Lourdes González-Prieto, alongside authorities from the Office of the Attorney General. Photo: UN Women/María del Mar Martín
This progress represents a concrete contribution to strengthening institutional access to justice in El Salvador. It also highlights the role of specialized technical cooperation in transforming practices and building sustainable capacities within the justice system. In a context where violence against women remains a structural challenge, having instruments that improve institutional responses is essential to ensuring that rights can be effectively exercised.
The initiative received technical assistance from UN Women, in coordination with state institutions, reinforcing interinstitutional collaboration in addressing violence against women. The process combined technical expertise, institutional coordination, and a rights-based approach, leaving a stronger foundation for the investigation and litigation of sexual violence crimes in the country.
Within the framework of March 8, this outcome aligns with the international emphasis on rights, justice, and action by promoting institutional changes to improve public responses and ensure effective access to justice for women and girls.