Civil society in El Salvador operates in a severely restricted environment, shaped by the concentration of power in the executive, the weakening of judicial and legislative oversight, and the prolonged state of emergency in place since March 2022. Although the Constitution guarantees freedoms of expression, association and assembly, the exceptional regime has suspended key rights and procedural guarantees, enabled mass arrests and deepened fear, self-censorship and the criminalisation of dissent.

The approval of the Foreign Agents Law in May 2025 marked a further deterioration. The law imposes new registration requirements on organisations receiving foreign funding, applies a 30% tax on cooperation funds, and grants authorities broad powers to sanction, suspend or cancel organisations under vague criteria. This has generated legal uncertainty, financial pressure and a chilling effect on CSOs and independent media, with some organisations relocating, closing or suspending activities.

Access to sustainable resources has become increasingly difficult due to cuts in international funding and the risks created by the new law. At the same time, access to public information has progressively narrowed, participation spaces have been dismantled, and legislative processes often move forward without transparency or meaningful consultation.

Public discourse has also become hostile, with government narratives portraying independent civil society as political opponents or linked to criminal groups. Digital rights remain fragile due to surveillance risks, weak safeguards and laws that expand state monitoring powers. Despite these pressures, civil society actors continue to document abuses, support communities and defend rights in a highly disabling civic environment.