From El Salvador to South Sudan, inside America’s global prison pipeline, there is a growing epidemic of human rights abuses and political imprisonment. With the recent imprisonment of human rights advocate and journalist, Karla Avelar, in El Salvador, the spotlight has been cast on the harsh realities faced by many activists around the world. Avelar’s brave reporting on government abuse and corruption has landed her behind bars, highlighting the urgent need for global attention and action.
Karla Avelar, a 40-year-old transgender woman, has been a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and human rights in El Salvador for many years. Her work with the NGO, Comcavis Trans, has been instrumental in providing legal and practical support to individuals from the LGBTQ+ community facing discrimination and violence. However, her activism and courage have also earned her the ire of the Salvadoran government.
In May 2017, Avelar was arrested by the Salvadoran authorities on trumped-up charges of belonging to a gang. These charges have been widely condemned by human rights organizations as a blatant attempt to silence Avelar’s activism. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has expressed concern over the legal process against Avelar, which has been riddled with major inconsistencies and irregularities. Despite these ongoing concerns, Avelar has been held in pre-trial detention for over three years, denied bail, and facing a possible 70-year sentence.
The case of Karla Avelar is a stark reminder of the alarming state of the global prison pipeline, in which the United States plays a significant role. The US, often heralded as a beacon of freedom and democracy, is also the largest incarcerator in the world. With over 2.3 million people behind bars, the US has a higher incarceration rate than any other country. This mass incarceration has disproportionately affected people of color and those from marginalized communities, further perpetuating systems of inequality and injustice.
But the impact of America’s prison-industrial complex is not limited to its own borders. In recent years, the US has used its power and influence to push for harsh and punitive criminal justice policies in other countries, particularly in Latin America. This has led to an increase in political imprisonment, as governments use the guise of fighting crime and gangs to silence dissent and activism.
Karla Avelar’s case is not unique. In El Salvador, many other activists and human rights defenders have been targeted and imprisoned under similar circumstances. Likewise, in countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and Brazil, activists and journalists face threats, intimidation, and imprisonment for speaking out against government corruption and injustice. The global prison pipeline is not only robbing individuals of their freedom and basic human rights, but it is also silencing critical voices and impeding progress towards a more just and equal society.
The case of Karla Avelar also highlights the lack of protection and support for transgender individuals around the world, particularly in countries with high levels of violence and discrimination. According to a report by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association, Latin America remains the most dangerous region for LGBTQ+ individuals, with high rates of hate crimes and murders. Transgender individuals, especially those from marginalized communities, are at heightened risk of violence and discrimination, often facing multiple intersecting forms of discrimination.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already dire situation for individuals like Avelar who are trapped in the global prison pipeline. The lack of access to adequate healthcare and overcrowded prison conditions have put the lives of prisoners at even greater risk. The United Nations has called for the release of vulnerable prisoners, including those who are held solely for their political beliefs and activism, to protect their health and human rights during this crisis. Sadly, Avelar’s continued imprisonment serves as a grim reminder of the lack of action and reform in the face of this global crisis.
Karla Avelar’s story is a sobering reminder of the power and influence of the US in perpetuating injustices in other countries. It also highlights the urgent need for global solidarity and action to demand the release of political prisoners and an end to the global prison pipeline.
As we continue to face unprecedented challenges, it is crucial to support and amplify the voices of human rights defenders like Avelar, who are fighting for justice and equality against all odds. We must hold governments accountable for their actions and demand the immediate release of political prisoners. Only through collective action
