Torres Reintroduces Legislation Protecting Central American Women & Children

WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Co-Chair of the Congressional Central America Caucus, re-introduced the Central American Women and Children Protection Act this week.

The legislation would protect women and children in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras from domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and neglect, and hold perpetrators of these acts accountable for their actions. If enacted, the bill would authorize the U.S. State Department to enter into bilateral agreements, known as Women and Children Protection Compacts, with the Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The bill aligns with the Biden Administration's focus on addressing violence against women as a driver of migration from the region.

Rep. Torres released the following statement:

"Central American women and children face a culture that has long accepted the threat -- and use -- of violence against them," Rep. Norma J. Torres said. "The legislation we're reintroducing today will end that acceptance, and help to prevent the domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect that plague the region. I thank Congresswoman Wagner for her partnership on this important legislation that would give vulnerable Central Americans the stability they need to live safe and productive lives in their home countries."

Specifically, the Central American Women and Children Protection Act would:

Strengthen the Compact Countries' criminal justice systems and civil protection courts;
Secure, create, and sustain safe communities, building on current place-based approaches to prevent and deter violence against women and children; and
Ensure schools are safe and promote the prevention and early detection of gender-based and domestic abuse within communities in the Compact Countries.

The Central American Women and Children Protection Act would allow the Secretary of State to suspend or terminate assistance authorized by this Act to any of the three countries if it is determined that the country's government is engaged in activities that are contrary to the national security interests of the United States, has engaged in a pattern of actions inconsistent with the criteria used to determine the eligibility of the country, or if the country has failed to make sufficient progress to meet the goals of the Compact.

The Central American Women and Children Protection Act previously passed out of the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress.

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