El Salvador's mass trials hamper legal defence amid case file access struggles

Defence attorneys in El Salvador are facing mounting challenges in preparing cases for hundreds of defendants caught up in the country's expanded gang prosecution programme, according to findings by the international human rights organisation Human Rights Watch.

The organisation has documented systemic difficulties in case file access, creating what legal experts characterise as substantial barriers to adequate legal representation. Lawyers have reported delays and restrictions in obtaining evidence and procedural documents necessary to build defence strategies for their clients.

The difficulties underscore broader concerns about the pace and scope of mass criminal proceedings underway in the Central American nation. El Salvador has significantly expanded prosecution efforts against gang-related offences in recent years, leading to large numbers of cases moving through the judicial system simultaneously.

The access restrictions reported by defence counsel raise questions about compliance with fundamental legal standards requiring defendants to have adequate time and resources to prepare their cases. International legal frameworks emphasise the importance of defence counsel having meaningful access to case materials to ensure fair trial procedures.

Human Rights Watch has called for El Salvador's authorities to address the structural impediments limiting lawyers' ability to effectively represent their clients in these proceedings.