Across Central America, the struggles for dignity, justice, and survival take many forms. From the symbolic weight of a minister donning military attire to the everyday risks faced by those who defend rivers, forests, and land, the region continues to expose the deep contradictions between power and people. Global Witness once again names Central America among the deadliest places in the world for environmental defenders, even as courts in El Salvador finally confirm the acquittal of the Santa Marta leaders who were criminalized for protecting their territory.

These tensions are not abstract—they cut into daily life. In Guatemala, Lawyer’s Day becomes both a commemoration of professional dignity and a protest against the impunity eroding the justice system. Meanwhile, families in El Salvador who spent two decades building their community now face forced eviction, a reminder of how fragile the right to a home remains. Together, these stories trace a landscape where repression and resistance collide, and where the fight for justice continues against all odds.