La Mano Extendida: The Interaction Between International Law and Negotiation as a Strategy to End Gang Warfare in El Salvador and Beyond

Abstract

The article focuses on the transnational gangs in Central America and the development of international law in order to manage the gang violence through International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL). Topics discussed include the role of the El Salvadorian government and Organization of American States (OAS) in negotiating the problem of gang violence, effects of the U.S. immigration policy on the development of gangs and political limitations of IHL and IHRL.