Children's Access to Justice for Environmental Rights | El Salvador

This report looks at whether the laws and policies in El Salvador make it possible for children to access their environmental rights.

In El Salvador, the Constitution recognises the State’s duty to protect natural resources and environmental integrity and the Supreme Court has interpreted this duty as implying a corresponding right to a healthy environment. It also guarantees related rights such as life, health, and children’s integral development in adequate environmental conditions. The legal framework is complemented by various environmental statutes, including the Environmental Law, the Water Resources Law, and the Crecer Juntos Act, which expressly recognises children’s right to a healthy and sustainable environment.

Although specialised environmental courts exist and multiple judicial avenues are available to pursue environmental claims, case law plays a limited role and decisions rarely establish binding precedent. Courts may order precautionary measures, environmental restoration, or compensation, yet criminal sanctions are infrequent and, in practice, many convictions are commuted to alternative measures.

The country lacks specific policies addressing children’s exposure to toxic substances and has not yet fully implemented a national pollutant register system. Nevertheless, it has undertaken international commitments to reduce chemical risks.

Legislation recognises civil and political rights relevant to environmental advocacy (freedom of expression, association, assembly and access to information), including for children, although subject to legal limitations. 

This report was published in March 2026 and developed with the support of Agr. Eng. Jacob Eliezer Carpio Vásquez, Coordinator of the Environmental Unit at the University of El Salvador, as well as finalised based on any feedback from the State. To learn more read the full report below, and please get in touch if this information was useful and you want to talk more.