El Salvador
In Latin America, the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation cooperates with the Unión de Partidos Latinoamericanos (UPLA) – a cooperation organization for center-right parties in Latin America and a member of the International Democrat Union (IDU).
Population: 6.07 million (2011 estimate)
Area: 21 041 km2
GDP (PPP): 43,98 billion dollar (2010 estimate)
GDP per capita (PPP): 7 300 $ (2010 estimate)
Rate of growth: 1,2 % (2010 estimate)
Head of state and head of government: Mauricio Funes Cartagena
El Salvador gained its independence from Spain in 1821. It seceded from the Central American Federation in 1839. El Salvador was plagued by a drawn-out civil war, which finally came to an end in 1992, when the government and the leftist rebels signed a peace agreement. Human rights are generally respected although some problems still remain. For example, there are incidents of police brutality and even extrajudicial executions. However, these are not practices sanctioned by the state. A major problem in El Salvador is organized crime and as a consequence high levels of crimes of violence. The legal system is being reformed and the situation is gradually improving. Corruption, though, is still a major problem. Freedom of speech and freedom of press prevail and there is an independent media.
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America but its economy is the third largest. Rates of growth, however, have been modest in recent years. The government promotes liberal economic policies that have proved to be effective.
In May 2008, the Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (Unasur) was founded. It is a union of the South American nations modelled on the EU. The union already has twelve member states, though its function is, as of yet, mostly symbolic.
During the latter part of the 20th century, many refugees arrived in the USA from Central America, seeking refuge from the incessant conflicts. Some of these refugees turned to crime and were subsequently arrested by the US authorities, convicted and then repatriated. Today, in El Salvador there are many who share these experiences and who have failed to integrate into society. Drug trafficking operations benefit from the desperate situation these individuals find themselves in.
The Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation cooperates with Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (Arena), holding the presidency until June 2009. Former president Tony Saca, elected in 2004, pledged to crack down on drug trafficking and criminal gangs while improving relations with the USA. The 2008 elections resulted in a loss for the Arena candidate, Rodrigo Avila and saw Mauricio Funes – representative of a leftist coalition with its roots in the Marxist guerillas Frente Farabundo Marti – take over the presidency. The next presidential election will take place in Mars 2014.
Parliamentary elections are held every four years and there are 14 regional constituencies and one national. The latest election, held in January 2009, did not result in any clear majority. The next parliamentary election will take place in Mars 2012.
It is a stated goal of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation to educate female decision-makers. In the autumn of 2010, the conference Empoderamiento de Mujeres took place in Honduras. The participants came from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Venezuela and the Dominican republic. Concurrently with this conference a youth conference was arranged around a Jarl Hjalmarson publication entitled “Principles for a Free Society.”
