Article Summary

This article reports on El Salvador's new law allowing life sentences for minors as young as 12, part of President Bukele’s broad crackdown on gang violence that has led to mass arrests and suspended civil liberties. It highlights criticism from human rights groups and the UN, who warn the policy violates children's rights and could cause lasting harm, while noting the government's argument that it's necessary to fight violent crime. The article uses strong language and focuses on the severity of the punishment to prompt concern, but doesn't include context about the extreme levels of past gang violence that led to public support for these measures.