According to the Small Arms Survey, El Salvador has the highest rate of femicide in the world with a total of 12 women murdered per 100,000 female population.The Organization of Salvadoran Women for Peace (ORMUSA) reported that 160 women were killed during the first three months of 2011 when 647 women were murdered which was a ten percent increase over the previous year, 2010.
The National Civilian Police (PNC) report that 158 femicides occurred between January 1 and March 14, 2012 (Contrapunto). If there really were ~160 women killed during the first 74 days of the year, El Salvador would be on a pace to approach 800 femicides for the year. That would be well above last year's numbers.
Fortunately, the gang truce between the MS-13 and the Dieciocho brokered by the Catholic Church has held for three weeks. March's murder numbers were down by 40% compared to those of February. After averaging over four hundred during the first two months of the year, the PNC reported that there were only 241 homicides last month. While I haven't come across the numbers broken down by gender, femicide is most likely to have slowed as well.
I can't say that the gang truce will last, but hopefully Salvadoran men and women will at least get to enjoy a safer Holy Week in 2012.
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