A/HRC/45/45/Add.2
V. Historical memory
55.
As part of the reparations programme, the Government has adopted a series of
measures aimed at disseminating historical memory in the educational, cultural, and media
spheres. The Ministry of Education has revised the curricula in basic and secondary
education in order to strengthen the teaching of historical memory, encouraged teachers and
students to commemorate historical dates, provided training on the subject for 1,500 teacher
trainers, urged each educational centre to reflect on historical memory and held academic
forums on truth, memory and reparation.
56.
In the area of culture and the media, the Secretariat for Culture has introduced
measures to safeguard the sites of the massacres at El Calabozo, Bermuda, Santa Cruz and
Sisiguayo and declared them cultural properties, made progress towards making similar
declarations for the sites at La Quesera and Col. San Francisco de Ayutuxtepeque and
inaugurated the temporary installation “El olvido está lleno de memoria” (Forgetfulness is
full of memory) at the National Museum of Anthropology, together with academic and film
events. The Communications Secretariat has produced the national television and radio
programme “Memoria Viva” and provides journalistic coverage of activities organized by
victims’ organizations. The relevant judgments of the Inter-American Court of Human
Rights have also been published, at the request of the Court, as has the report of the Truth
Commission.
57.
As part of the compliance with the rulings of the Inter-American Court of Human
Rights, schools have been named after child victims, and 29 March has been decreed
“National Day for Children Disappeared during the Armed Conflict”; the date has been
added to the school calendar. In addition, commemorative plaques have been put up in
schools in the departments of Morazán, San Vicente and Santa Ana.
58.
For over 15 years, organizations searching for the victims of enforced
disappearances have been calling for 30 August to be declared “National Day for Victims
of Enforced Disappearance”, in line with the international day established by the United
Nations General Assembly. In August 2017, victims’ organizations presented a proposal for
a legislative decree on the subject, which was supported by the Office of the Human Rights
Advocate in August 2017.28 Although no progress has been reported to date, the Special
Rapporteur has received information that the Justice and Human Rights Commission of the
Legislative Assembly may be working on proposed legislation on this matter.
59.
The Special Rapporteur had the opportunity to visit certain sites of historical
memory. While some of them were erected by the State, other sites, such as the monument
to memory and truth in Cuscatlán Park, were built by victims’ organizations without State
support. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the establishment by the authorities of the
Municipality of San Salvador of a corridor facilitating access to the site; nonetheless, he
noted with concern the lack of maintenance and the deterioration of the monument, which
reflects the general situation for sites of memory.
60.
In his meetings with victims, they insisted on the importance of continuing to
document historical memory and to compile the testimonies of all the victims. Thousands
of victims are dying without having been heard, without having had the opportunity to tell
their truth and without having been able to share their stories with current and future
generations. The State can and should do much more in this regard, with the assistance of
international cooperation if needed.
VI. Guarantees of non-recurrence
A.
Security sector reform
61.
The reform of the armed forces undertaken as a consequence of the 1992 Peace
Agreement included the nominal subordination of the armed forces to civilian authority and
28
12
Report submitted to the Special Rapporteur by the Office of the Human Rights Advocate, 29 April
2019.
GE.20-09158
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