All persons are equal before the law in El Salvador, and in the two decades since the end of the country’s twelve-year civil war, progress has been made toward advancing the rights of women. With equal access to education and a National Assembly that is 31 percent female, El Salvador is taking meaningful socio-economic and political steps toward gender equality. However, work still remains. El Salvador has one of the highest rates of gender-based killings of women (femicide) in the world, and according to a UN report, 7 out of 10 women have experienced sexual or physical violence. Over the past few years, under pressure from groups like the Organización De Mujeres Salvadoreñas Por La Paz, the Salvadoran government has begun implementing progressive legislation criminalizing all forms of violence against women.
Women have equal access to sport in El Salvador; however, participation among women and girls remains low. Football is the national sport and in 2016, the Salvadoran Football Federation established El Salvador’s First Women’s Division Football League to strengthen the women’s game in the country.
Meet and support global leaders creating change in El Salvador:
Mercedes Navarrete
How does El Salvador compare to other countries?
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Women in Leadership
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT AS OF 2020
31%
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY POSITIONS AS OF 2020
33%
Has a Woman Ever Been Head of State or Head of Government?
No
HAS A WOMAN EVER BEEN SPORTS MINISTER?
Unknown
Title IX Timeline
1821
El Salvador gained independence.
1950
Women gained the right to vote (full suffrage).
1968
Eight swimming and athletics athletes became the first women to represent El Salvador in the Olympics.
1970
The Salvadorian Civil War began on October 15th.
1980
El Salvador signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
1981
El Salvador ratified CEDAW.
1992
The Salvadorian Civil War ended on January 16th with the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords.
2000
Claudia Marina Palacios became the first woman to represent El Salvador in the Paralympics.
2001
El Salvador signed the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.
Women in the olympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
8
-
0
-
2
-
1
-
16
-
8
-
2
Women in the Paralympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
3
-
0
-
1
Elite Sports Participation
First Year Women Participated In The Olympics
1968
Year Women’s Participation In Olympics Was Equal To Men’s
2000
First Time A Woman Won An Olympic Medal
The first woman could be you!
First Year Women Participated In The Paralympics
2000
Year Women’s Participation In Paralympics Was Equal To Men’s
2004
First Time A Woman Won A Paralympic Medal
The first woman could be you!
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1998
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
El Salvador created the first women’s division league in 2016. The league has since been dominated by the AD Legends.
FIFA is committed to the growth and development of women’s football around the globe.
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FIBA
Fédération Internationale de Basketball
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
2006
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Increasing the participation of women in basketball at all levels was named as one of FIBA’s eight strategic objectives (2019- 2027) and one of FIBA’s three strategic priorities (2019-2023).
For More Information
LOCAL
Sports
Initiatives
Community Organizations That Have Signed The Brighton + Helsinki Declaration
