Cristosal Update - May 2025
St. Mary’s has had a long association with Cristosal. Prior to the increase in gang violence, several of us visited El Salvador and learned about Cristosal's work in human rights. Their executive officer, Noah Bullock, has visited St. Mary's several times prior to the pandemic. Recent changes in world leaders have had a significant impact on the work of Cristosal. I received this notice this week and wanted to share it with everyone at St. Mary’s. Please keep Ruith Lopez and Cristosal in your prayers.
~ Lea Starr, Cristosal Rep
Ruth López, a renowned human rights lawyer and Chief Legal Officer in Cristosal Anti-Corruption work, was detained by the National Civil Police late Sunday night. Up until the time of the writing of this letter, her whereabouts remain unknown. Her family and legal team have received no official information, no confirmation of where she is being held, or whether she is safe.
Ruth is one of the country’s most respected legal minds and a leading voice in the fight against corruption. Her work has challenged abuses of power and defended the rights of the most vulnerable. In 2024, BBC named her to one of the 100 Most Influential Women of 2024.
Now, she has become a victim of the same abuses of power she has long fought to expose.
And it is not an isolated event.
This past week, military police were deployed to suppress a peaceful protest for the first time since the end of El Salvador’s civil war. At the same time, President Bukele is advancing a Foreign Agents Law intended to silence civil society and criminalize dissent.
Ruth’s detention is part of a dangerous pattern where speaking out is punished, and those who defend human rights are targeted.
We demand that Salvadoran authorities provide immediate, official information about Ruth López’s whereabouts, grant her full legal access to her defense team, and ensure guarantees for her safety, dignity, and legal protection. And we ask you to join us in raising your voice:
Call your representatives and urge them to speak out against the criminalization of human rights defenders in El Salvador.
Share this with friends, colleagues, and networks.
Repost Cristosal’s statements on social media, and use your platform to elevate Ruth’s story.
Speak Ruth’s name. Demand accountability.
Her life, her work, and her voice matter. And she must not face this alone. We know we can count on you.
With deep urgency,
David Holiday, President of the Board of Directors, Cristosal
P.S. If you would like to read more about Ruth’s arrest, see today’s article in The New York Times (gift link) or this weekend’s excellent article about the broader context in the LA Times (behind a paywall, but should be public in a day or two).