MUN FINAL EXAM

PRESENTATION:
EL SALVADOR
By: Farrah Molina

COUNTRY PROFILE: EL SALVADOR

Geography
El Salvador is located on the Pacific Coast of Central America and the surrounding
countries are Honduras and Guatemala. Compared to neighboring countries, it is
considered quite small.
Culture
They mostly speak Spanish and are said to have a very formal culture. Being an
Salvadorian also means you have a strong sense of pride. Customs of El Salvador,
include arriving late to parties and shaking hands which you might figure is similar to
our culture.

COUNTRY PROFILE (CONTINUED)

Historical Background
There was a civil war in 1980-1992
The assassination of the Archbishop
Oscar Romero in 1980
There was also an international
outcry, caused by the rape and
murder of four US church women.
The 1989 Jesuits Massacre, which
incudes the murder of six Jesuit
priests, their housekeeper, and her
daughter.

Politics/Government
The country of El Salvador is a republic
whos president is Salvador Sanchez
Ceren.
Religion
17% of the country does not have a
religion, while more than half of the country
is Roman Catholic.

ECONOMY
El Salvador has been dealing with economic issues for the past year, as a
result of the civil war that took place. Although their economic system is
having trouble, literacy rates and infant mortality rates are increasing and US
AID as well as other organizations have helped El Salvador solve many of their
economic problems.

HISTORICAL CONFLICTS &

CURRENT CHALLENGES
There are many huge problems El Salvador is currently dealing with relating to
poverty, high crime rates, gang activity, and their vulnerability to natural
disasters.
Most of the high crime rate is of course affiliated with the high levels of gang
activity, as well as the increasing emigration rates.

Israeli Aid to
Earthquake victims
in El Salvador 2001

STATUS OF WOMEN
Gender inequality can be found in various areas of the Salvadorian lifestyle,
including health ,employment, education, political participation, and family life.
Even though women in El Salvador get the right to equal protection under
law, they are often at a disadvantage when it comes to their male
counterparts. In the area of politics, women have the same rights as men but
you wouldnt think so comparing the percentages of women in office to men.
As of for education, the percentage of males with at least a secondary
education in 2010 was about 48, while the females totaled to around 40
percent. Much progress has been made since the Salvadorian Civil War ended
in 1992, but there is still more to be done in improving womens equality in El
Salvador.

BIGGEST CURRENT ISSUES

As I stated before, there are very high levels of gang activity that are causing
homicide rates to go up. El Salvador is also known as the homicidal capitol of
the world.
They are listed as a major on the list of drug producing and smuggling
countries.
There is also a big issue concerning the vast amount of immigration of
minors to the US.

LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACTION

Increasing literacy rates are becoming a main focus locally, as President
Salvador Ceren stated Literacy is clearly a labor of love
Although El Salvador still faces many human right problems, there are local
actions being taken as of adding new strict laws to the constitution, relating
to abortions and miscarriages .
Children also went missing during the civil war and the UN committee on the
Rights of the Child called on Salvadorian authorities to trace them.

FUTURE AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

As a solution the immigration problem, Family reunification is a common
theme not only with the El Salvadorian President Salvador Sanchez Caren,
but with Honduras and Guatemalas President as well. Salvadoran President
Salvador Sanchez Ceren told reporters after a meeting with Vice President
Joe Biden last month, that it should be easier for immigrant parents in the
U.S. to legally reunite with the children who are trying to join them, according
to the Associated Press.
As of for the status of women, there are many steps that need to be taken in
order to give Salvadorian women a higher sense of place in their society, one
of them being the prioritization of their literacy skills over men.

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
Ancient Mayan city of Tazumal, Santa Ana, El Salvador

Monumento al Salvador del Mundo