The legacy of Saint Oscar Romero in El Salvador
Local experts working with CAFOD in El Salvador continue to stand up for peace, against injustice and repression, in Oscar Romero’s name.
CAFOD has worked in El Salvador since the 1970s. We focus on agriculture, promoting a culture of peace and justice, and empowering women.
The civil war in El Salvador ended in January 1992. Today El Salvador is a more democratic country. However, poverty, high unemployment and gang violence still make life very difficult, especially for women and young people. El Salvador is one of the most dangerous places in the world for women. Sexual attacks against women and girls are common and are often linked to gang culture. An outbreak of coronavirus, and a nation-wide lockdown is likely to increase the incidence of violent and sexual attacks.
Crime, violence and few job opportunities mean that many people feel their best chance is to migrate to find work or to flee the violence.
Farming communities are struggling to grow their crops on poor land. Climate change is causing more extreme weather in El Salvador with floods, droughts and tropical storms becoming more frequent. El Salvador also faces many natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
CAFOD has worked with local partners and communities in El Salvador since 1974. We are inspired by Saint Oscar Romero and his insistence on the need for peace, justice, equality and respect for human rights.
Together, we are:
Nurturing peace and justice. Our local partners provide legal aid, counselling for those traumatised by violence, and help people to campaign for their rights.
Helping farming families to grow more and better crops, raise animals and earn a better income.
Supporting health work in rural communities with an emphasis on mothers and babies. With the outbreak of coronavirus, this work is more important than ever.
Supporting women to know their rights, develop their self-esteem and become leaders in their communities.
Local experts working with CAFOD in El Salvador continue to stand up for peace, against injustice and repression, in Oscar Romero’s name.
On World Radio Day, see how your support is helping us to broadcast trusted information to the most vulnerable people in Latin America and Africa.
Your support is helping the local Church to fight coronavirus in El Salvador, where poverty, high unemployment and gang violence still make life very difficult - especially for women and young people.
Two extraordinary men who inspire the work of CAFOD were proclaimed saints on 14 October 2018 – Saint Pope Paul VI and Saint Oscar Romero. But what does it take to be declared a saint?
Award-winning Salvadoran painter and designer of the Romero Cross, Fernando Llort, has died aged 69. Clare Dixon, CAFOD’s Head of Latin America region, said: “He created the naïve art style which has come to represent the beauty of El Salvador and nurtured an artisan traditional craft which will live on."
Pray with us and use our resources to learn more about soon-to-be-saint Oscar Romero. Find out about our work in El Salvador.