El Salvador

National Coalition

CIDEP leads the national coalition for GCAP in El Salvador, under the slogan “No More Excuses, No More Poverty in Central America”.

If your organisation would like to get involved in the coalition please contact:

Claudia Hernandez 
llamadoelsalvador@yahoo.com
claudia.hernandez@cidepelsalvador.org 
(503) 2225 4133 / (503) 2235 1340

Events in 2005

WHITE BAND DAY II - Wake-Up to Poverty! on Saturday 10th. September

Photo gallery

Activities for this second key day of GCAP global mobilisation begin on 9th September with a public forum on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) and events in the town hall from 9-11.30am. On 10th, the iconic "Momumeto al Salvador del Mundo" will be wrapped in a white band and there will be testimonies from local people directly affected by the decisions made at the Summit on the achievement of the MDG's.

A further debate will take place 13th September on the progress of the government to fulfil the MDG's.

For more information on these events and how you can get involved please contact Mario Paniagua or Rocio Serrano at cidep@cidep.org.sv

BACKROUND

The coalition in El Salvador has expanded rapidly from 22 organisations to 40. These representatives have been meeting on a weekly basis and have agreed to focus the campaign on the following areas:

• 1. Sustainable and decent employment, with full respect to human rights and ILO conventions and fair remuneration, and rejection of the sweatshops called "maquilas" in Central America, free zones were volatile capitals offer undecent, inhuman, exhausting and precarious jobs, particularly to women.
• 2. A significant increase in the Education and Health Budget.
• 3. ERRADICATE CORRUPTION. It is estimated that a very large proportion of the social expenditure budget is misused by corrupted bureaucrats.

Each of the 40 organizations have agreed to use the white logo in all their organizations events. They have also agreed that 50.000 white bands will be produced, with the text: "Let's erradicate poverty."

FRIDAY JULY 1, WHITE BAND DAY

On 1st. July, thousands of Salvadorians came together and marched along the main streets of San Salvador to demand: "No excuses, No more poverty in El Salvador". This formed part of White Band Day I where the G8 leaders were put under immense pressure to eradicate world hunger and poverty.

The country's actions began as early as 26th June with a eucharistic celebration held in the Metropolitan Cathedral's Crypt. The setting of the activities had particular importance to Salvadorians as Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero is buried there. He was murdered 26 years ago for denouncing the oppression and injustices committed against the nations poor. Hundreds of people participated in the Eucharist and strong emphasis was placed on the governments lack of will to commit themselves to erradicating poverty.

Various media sources also supported the Global call in El Salvador such as the Journals Association and television channels. Channel 33 worked with young people and helped them express their thoughts on poverty issues.

Thousands of people participanted in Literacy Circles in the east of the country and dedicated time reflect on the causes of poverty. In the University of El Salvador, students delivered white bands and information about the GCAP in El Salvador.