ABSTRACT
The civil war in Guatemala lasted 36 years, from 1960 to 1996, while the civil war in El Salvador was shorter, from 1979 to 1992. Before the negotiation and signing of the Peace Accords, the principal function of human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the two countries was to gather, evaluate, and disseminate information on violations of human rights. NGOs working to strengthen the rule of law in El Salvador and Guatemala are still establishing their identity and the nature of their relationship with government and society. The Peace accords and outside assistance have made it possible for NGOs to add to the strategy, of documenting and disseminating information on human rights abuses, the strategies of education and training of government officials and citizens, legal assistance, proposal of legislation and lobbying for legislation. New legislation and administrative procedures have been necessary to democratize the judicial system in each country.
