Guatemala interoceanic corridor launches tokenization in El Salvador

A recent controversy has been generated following the statements of Ingrid Escobar, a militant of the FMLN and auton -raised Defender of Human Rights, who described as “unconstitutional” the use of deprived of liberty for community work, particularly in tasks of reconstruction and improvement of public schools.

Escobar pointed out that the inmates who participate in these programs are “forced” to work, which, according to their interpretation, contravene constitutional precepts related to human rights. Their statements have generated various reactions, both in support and in criticism, within the national public debate.

What some sectors indicate as a violation of rights, others see it as an opportunity for social rehabilitation for those deprived of liberty, especially in a country where historically it has lacked an effective policy of penitentiary reintegration.

Currently, hundreds of inmates in El Salvador participate in working days in which they manufacture at least 2,000 daily pieces that are used for the construction and renewal of schools. This initiative is part of a government program focused on giving a second chance to those who meet sentence and, at the same time, improve educational infrastructure conditions throughout the country.

The products made by prisoners include desks, windows, doors, and other metal structures that allow progress in the dignification of educational spaces that were abandoned by the authorities for decades.

It should be remembered that during the governments of the FMLN and sand, many public schools were built with precarious materials, including metal sheets and land floors. This was harshly criticized by teachers, parents and entire communities who saw the quality of the educational process limited.

According to official reports, thousands of Salvadoran students attended their basic education in improvised classrooms, without adequate ventilation, without access to decent health services and, in some cases, exposed to unhealthy conditions that directly affected their academic performance.

The current situation contrasts with that reality. The Government has prioritized the improvement of school infrastructure and has involved inmates as an active part of the process, under strict supervision, with the aim of contributing to social transformation from the prison system.

Related