Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

What Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador does

The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) is a Washington, DC-based non-profit solidarity organization founded in 1980 that advocates for human rights, democratic governance, and social justice in El Salvador. CISPES serves the Salvadoran diaspora in the United States, international human rights organizations, faith-based communities, and Salvadoran social movements by coordinating international advocacy campaigns, documenting human rights violations under the State of Exception, supporting political prisoners and their families, and opposing the reversal of El Salvador's 2017 mining ban. Its core technical infrastructure consists of a bilingual (English/Spanish) website, a salsalabs-powered email newsletter, and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter) used for action alerts, donor mobilization, and public education.

CISPES operates without commercial revenue, sustaining operations entirely through donations from sustaining donors, one-time gifts, and membership contributions. The organization functions as a coalition hub, coordinating campaigns that have produced international expert reports (GIPES), mobilized 153 faith organizations across 25 countries, secured US Congressional hearings through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and delivered letters from 70+ organizations and nearly 1,000 individuals to Salvadoran judicial and human rights bodies. Its primary domestic partners include the Popular Rebellion Resistance and Bloc (BRP), the Movement of Victims of the Regime (MOVIR), and ADES Santa Marta; international partners include the Institute for Policy Studies, the Due Process of Law Foundation, the International Commission of Jurists, and the Latin America Working Group.

Name

Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

Legal name

Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

Website

https://cispes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CISPES is a Washington, DC-based non-profit solidarity organization founded in 1980 that advocates for human rights, democratic governance, and social justice in El Salvador by coordinating international campaigns, supporting political prisoners, and mobilizing the Salvadoran diaspora and global coalition partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAB

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPADAAAG

Human Rights, Democracy & Rule of Law IGOs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Multilateral & Intergovernmental Organizations

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• Solidarity organizing
• Political prisoner support
• Grassroots mobilization
• International solidarity campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Cerritos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CISPES is a nonprofit solidarity organization that coordinates international advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and public education in support of human rights, democracy, and social justice in El Salvador. It facilitates letter-writing campaigns, congressional outreach, solidarity delegations, and public demonstrations, while publishing bilingual news, analysis, and action alerts via its website, email newsletter, and social media channels. The organization is funded by donations from individual supporters, sustaining donors, and membership contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustaining Donor Program A recurring donation program that funds CISPES's solidarity and human rights advocacy work; targeted at individual supporters (such as Padre Carlos, New York City) who provide ongoing financial backing.
• Take Action Solidarity Campaigns Campaigns that mobilize supporters to contact US Congress, sign petitions, and participate in advocacy around Salvadoran human rights, the State of Exception, political prisoners, and the mining ban.
• Supporter Newsletter and Updates Signup An email newsletter subscription service that delivers action alerts, advocacy updates, and human rights analysis to supporters.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Nearly 1,000 individuals and 70+ organizations (international coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2022International coalition of individuals and organizations that signed letters delivered to Supreme Court of Justice, Attorney General's Office, and Human Rights Ombudsman's Office of El Salvador expressing concern over political persecution and violations of constitutional rights under the State of Exception.
• International Allies Against Mining in El SalvadorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of international organizations and allies working to oppose the reintroduction of mining in El Salvador following the Bukele government's reversal of the 2017 mining ban. Includes Institute for Policy Studies, Central American Alliance against Mining (ACAFREMIN), and faith organizations from 25 countries.
• Institute for Policy StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based think tank that co-authored reports on mining impacts and human rights in El Salvador. Key partners include John Cavanagh (Senior Advisor) and Manuel Perez Rocha (trade and mining policy expert) who provide analysis and international coordination for anti-mining campaigns.
• 153 Faith Organizations from 25 CountriesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational coalition of faith-based organizations representing local, regional, and national expressions from Asia, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, Middle East, Spain, United States, and Zambia that released a letter supporting Salvadoran faith leaders and the mining ban.
• Central American Alliance against Mining (ACAFREMIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional alliance of Central American organizations coordinating opposition to mining. Pedro Cabezas serves as representative for ACAFREMIN and International Allies Against Mining in El Salvador.
• SHARE FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based solidarity organization that condemned capture of innocent people under State of Exception and supported habeas corpus filings demanding respect for human rights of detained individuals.
• Pax Christi USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic peace and justice organization that joined calls for ending repression in El Salvador, echoing Archbishop Oscar Romero's message against violence and oppression.
• Tom Lantos Human Rights CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS Congressional human rights commission that hosted hearings on El Salvador's State of Exception, providing platform for CISPES and allies to present testimony on human rights violations and potential crimes against humanity.
• Latin America Working Group (LAWG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition organization that works on Latin American human rights and policy issues. Executive Director Vicki Gass quoted on congressional letter regarding Salvadoran deportees and accountability for US payments to Bukele government.
• Popular Rebellion Resistance and Bloc (BRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalvadoran social movement coalition that organizes mass mobilizations, coordinates May Day marches, and advocates against State of Exception, labor violations, and privatization. Primary domestic partner for organizing in El Salvador.
• Santa Marta Association for Economic Development (ADES Santa Marta)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization in Cabañas department leading anti-mining advocacy. Leaders (Santa Marta 5) were wrongfully imprisoned and subject to political persecution. ADES coordinates with CISPES for international solidarity and advocacy support.
• Movement of Victims of the Regime (MOVIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalvadoran organization representing victims of arbitrary detention under the State of Exception. Organizes protests, shares testimonies, and demands accountability for human rights violations.
• Committee of Families of Political Prisoners and the Politically Persecuted (COFAPPES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily organization advocating for political prisoners detained under State of Exception. Organizes symbolic actions like Stations of the Cross viacrucis to represent suffering of detained individuals and their families.
• Committee of Families of Political Prisoners and the Politically Persecuted (COFAPPES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily organization advocating for political prisoners detained under State of Exception. Organized symbolic viacrucis during Holy Week representing suffering of detained individuals and their families.
• National Coordinating Committee for the Defense of the Salvadoran People's Health (CONADESA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare workers' coordinating body advocating against privatization of healthcare system and defending public health services. Dr. Rafael Aguirre serves as spokesperson.
• Foro Nacional de Salud (National Health Forum)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth policy advocacy organization documenting impacts of Decree 803 on prolonged pretrial detention and mass trials. Organized protests against healthcare privatization and worker dismissals.
• Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatin American human rights organization that co-sponsored the GIPES international experts report concluding that serious human rights violations in El Salvador may constitute crimes against humanity.
• International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational legal organization that backed the GIPES report on crimes against humanity in El Salvador, providing legal expertise and international legitimacy to findings.
• International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational human rights federation that supported the GIPES international experts report documenting crimes against humanity under the State of Exception.
• International Allies Against Mining in El SalvadorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition including Institute for Policy Studies, ACAFREMIN, and international organizations coordinating opposition to mining reintroduction in El Salvador.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Latin America Working Group (LAWG): Coalition of US-based NGOs working on Latin American human rights and US policy, including El Salvador. LAWG is a direct coalition peer — CISPES is named as a partner, and both focus on congressional outreach on the same country issues.
• Witness for Peace: US-based solidarity organization historically focused on Latin America, using congressional advocacy and delegation trips. Operates with the same model (donor-funded, advocacy-driven, diaspora-engaged) on overlapping country issues.
• Institute for Policy Studies: US-based think tank explicitly named as a CISPES partner on El Salvador anti-mining and human rights campaigns. Comparable in producing analysis, coordinating international coalitions, and engaging Congress on the same issues.
• Pax Christi USA: Catholic peace and justice organization explicitly named as a CISPES partner, drawing on Romero-era solidarity with El Salvador. Highly comparable faith-based advocacy model and donor base.
• SHARE Foundation: Faith-based solidarity organization supporting Salvadoran social movements, explicitly named as a CISPES partner. Same country focus, same faith/diaspora community base, and overlapping campaign portfolio including State of Exception advocacy.
• Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF): Latin American human rights organization that co-sponsored the GIPES report and works on rule-of-law and judicial independence in El Salvador. Highly comparable mission scope, regional focus, and donor profile.

Broad incumbents

• Amnesty International USA: Large incumbent human rights organization that campaigns on El Salvador detentions and rule-of-law issues. Operates a fundamentally similar model (membership donations, advocacy, country-specific campaigns) but at vastly larger scale.
• International Commission of Jurists (ICJ): International legal organization that endorsed the GIPES report on El Salvador. Comparable in providing the legal/credibility layer behind CISPES-coordinated advocacy, though ICJ operates globally and is far larger.
• Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL): Inter-American human rights NGO that litigates and advocates on behalf of Salvadoran victims before the Inter-American system. Larger and broader in geographic scope, but a natural peer for human rights legal-strategy work in El Salvador.
• International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH): International human rights federation that endorsed the GIPES report CISPES helped drive. FIDH is a much larger incumbent, but operates in the same El Salvador human rights space and is a natural comparison on coalition capacity and international legal credibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cispes
• Facebookfacebook.com/cispes.solidarity.page
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cafta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador