Central America

In the 1970s, the UUSC began its work in El Salvador. They helped to publish Justicia y Paz (Justice and Peace), a newsletter by Salvadoran clergy. As the political situation in El Salvador escalated to a massacre of hundreds of people in 1977, the UUSC sponsored fact-finding missions and met with Archbishop Oscar Romero, who said they should spread the word about what was happening in El Salvador. The UUSC testified before Congress, as well as facilitated trips to Central America for members of Congress. Their role in bringing attention to the human rights abuses taking place eventually helped to change U.S. aid policy in Central America. In the 1980s they continued their work in El Salvador, and sponsored rural health clinics in Nicaragua.

The UUSC continues to provide aid and bring attention to the political and human rights abuses in Central America today. More recently their work in Guatemala has included bringing a delegation to monitor elections in 2004, and assisting in a case with the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights to guarantee the right to water in 2012.