Femicides in El Salvador rise 18% in first five months of 2026

Femicides in El Salvador saw an 18% increase in the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with 13 cases recorded, according to data from the Salvadoran Women's Organization for Peace (Ormusa).

The NGO's Observatory on Violence Against Women, which analyzes local media reports, found that 54% of the killings were committed by the victim's partner or ex-partner. May saw the highest number of incidents, with five femicides occurring that month. The majority of these crimes involved bladed weapons (23.1%) or asphyxiation (15.4%).

Ormusa's report indicates that six femicides occurred in the department of Santa Ana and three in San Salvador. The organization reiterated the urgent need to strengthen protection measures and early detection of high-risk situations to prevent gender-based killings. Despite a 33% reduction in femicides in 2025 compared to 2024, the issue remains critical.

Notably, El Salvador's security authorities do not officially categorize these murders as femicides and have restricted access to data on violence, including information on these deaths. Ormusa recorded 26 femicides in 2025, down from 38 in 2024, with August being the most violent month that year.