Episcopal Divinity School’s planned webinar "Human Rights at Risk/Derechos Humanos en Riesgo" on Tuesday, May 20 at 12pm Eastern / 9am Pacific spotlighting the work of Cristosal - a human rights organization rooted in The Episcopal Church - will go forward as planned, now with intensified urgency.
On the night of Sunday, May 18, Ruth López, Head of the Anti-Corruption and Justice Unit at Cristosal and a scheduled webinar panelist, was detained by agents of the National Civil Police of El Salvador. As of this publication, neither her family nor legal team has been able to confirm her whereabouts or the detention center where she is being held.
This detention meets the criteria for a short-term enforced disappearance, a grave violation of human rights under international law. In a statement issued today, Cristosal denounced the disappearance and described it as “a blatant violation of due process, the right to legal defense, and international standards of judicial protection.”
“The life and integrity of Ruth López must be protected. The State is obligated to guarantee her safety and uphold the rule of law.”
— May 19, 2025 Press Release from Cristosal
Cristosal is demanding that Salvadoran authorities provide “official and verifiable information regarding Ruth López’s whereabouts,” “full and immediate access for her legal team,” and “effective guarantees for her physical, psychological, and legal integrity.”
The international response has been swift and forceful. As reported by Rolling Stone's Nikki McCann Ramírez:
“On Monday, Amnesty International and a coalition of U.S. and international human rights groups condemned the arrest, and called on Salvadoran authorities to immediately release Ruth López, and guarantee her physical safety and due process rights.
‘We also urge U.S. policymakers and the diplomatic community at large to urge President Bukele to cease all attacks against human rights defenders,’ the group wrote.”
Likewise, The New York Times’ Annie Correal emphasized the broader significance of Cristosal’s work:
“Ms. López’s organization, Cristosal, has emerged as a major force in exposing abuses in the prison system and beyond. The group has repeatedly accused the Bukele administration of holding people in pretrial detention without access to lawyers or their families, in a condition that the group’s director, Noah Bullock, has said amounts to forced disappearance.”
Tomorrow’s webinar—moderated by the Rev. Norma Guerra, a Cristosal board member, Episcopal Divinity School Trustee, and Associate for Formation and Transition Ministry at the Diocese of Los Angeles—offers a critical platform to lift up the voices of those on the front lines of human rights advocacy in Central America. The conversation will spotlight Cristosal’s mission, spiritual and ethical commitments, and the profound impact of U.S. foreign policy on their ability to serve.
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English and Spanish. Registration is open to all.