Jul 4, 2016

After becoming the world’s murder capital last year and posting an equally bloody start to 2016, El Salvador has seen its monthly homicide rates fall by about half. The government attributes the drop to a tough military crackdown on the country’s powerful gangs, while the gangs themselves claim credit for a nonaggression pact between the three biggest criminal groups.

: In this June 14, 2016 photo, reserve soldiers and National Civil Police are presented to the media at the Central Square in San Salvador, El Salvador, as part of extraordinary security measures dismantle gangs. After becoming the world’s murder capital last year and posting an equally bloody start to 2016, El Salvador has seen its monthly homicide rates fall by about half. The government attributes the drop to a tough military crackdown on the country’s powerful gangs, while the gangs themselves claim credit for a nonaggression pact between the three biggest criminal groups. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: In this June 14, 2016 photo, a soldier stands next to a stenciled graffiti that reads in Spanish “Truce between politicians” painted on the main walls of the National Palace in San Salvador, El Salvador. After becoming the world’s murder capital last year and posting an equally bloody start to 2016, El Salvador has seen its monthly homicide rates fall by about half. The government attributes the drop to a tough military crackdown on the country’s powerful gangs, while the gangs themselves claim credit for a nonaggression pact between the three biggest criminal groups. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: In this June 21, 2016 photo, an inmate paints over Mara Salvatrucha gang graffiti in the April 22 neighborhood in Soyapango, El Salvador. After becoming the world’s murder capital last year and posting an equally bloody start to 2016, El Salvador has seen its monthly homicide rates fall by about half. The government attributes the drop to a tough military crackdown on the country’s powerful gangs, while the gangs themselves claim credit for a nonaggression pact between the three biggest criminal groups. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: A relative of an inmate is comforted as more than a thousand inmates are bused out of the Cojutepeque prison in El Salvador, Thursday, June 16, 2016. This prison, which houses more than a thousand 18th street imprisoned gang members, will be closed down by the government, since it has been unable to prevent the amount of illegal activities happening inside the prison walls. Inmates will be relocated to other medium-security prisons. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: Inmates ride in a bus out of the Cojutepeque prison in El Salvador, Thursday, June 16, 2016. This prison, which houses more than a thousand 18th street imprisoned gang members, will be closed down by the government, since it has been unable to prevent the amount of illegal activities happening inside the prison walls. Inmates will be relocated to other medium-security prisons. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: An inmate peers from the window of a bus as it rides out of the Cojutepeque prison in El Salvador, Thursday, June 16, 2016. This prison, which houses more than a thousand 18th street imprisoned gang members, will be closed down by the government, since it has been unable to prevent the amount of illegal activities happening inside the prison walls. Inmates will be relocated to other medium-security prisons. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: A policeman stands guard as authorities prepare to escort buses filled with inmates out of the Cojutepeque prison in El Salvador, Thursday, June 16, 2016. The prison, which houses more than a thousand 18th street imprisoned gang members, will be closed down by the government, since it has been unable to prevent the amount of illegal activities happening inside the prison walls. Inmates will be relocated to other medium-security prisons. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: A relative of an inmate prays as more than a thousand inmates in buses ride out of the Cojutepeque prison in El Salvador, Thursday, June 16, 2016. This prison, which houses more than a thousand 18th street imprisoned gang members, will be closed down by the government, since it has been unable to prevent the amount of illegal activities happening inside the prison walls. Inmates will be relocated to other medium-security prisons. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: An inmate peers from the window of a bus as it rides out of the Cojutepeque prison in El Salvador, Thursday, June 16, 2016. This prison, which houses more than a thousand 18th street imprisoned gang members, will be closed down by the government, since it has been unable to prevent the amount of illegal activities happening inside the prison walls. Inmates will be relocated to other medium-security prisons. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: In this June 21, 2016 photo, an army paratrooper patrols the April 22 neighborhood in Soyapango, El Salvador, as part of extraordinary security measures to dismantle gangs. After becoming the world’s murder capital last year and posting an equally bloody start to 2016, El Salvador has seen its monthly homicide rates fall by about half. The government attributes the drop to a tough military crackdown on the country’s powerful gangs, while the gangs themselves claim credit for a nonaggression pact between the three biggest criminal groups. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: In this June 14, 2016 photo, a man looks at a formation of police and soldiers during a presentation to the press in the Central Square in San Salvador, El Salvador. After becoming the world’s murder capital last year and posting an equally bloody start to 2016, El Salvador has seen its monthly homicide rates fall by about half. The government attributes the drop to a tough military crackdown on the country’s powerful gangs, while the gangs themselves claim credit for a nonaggression pact between the three biggest criminal groups. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

: In this June 14, 2016 photo, reserve soldiers stand on a truck during a presentation to the press at the Central Square in San Salvador, El Salvador, as part of extraordinary security measures to dismantle gangs. After becoming the world’s murder capital last year and posting an equally bloody start to 2016, El Salvador has seen its monthly homicide rates fall by about half. The government attributes the drop to a tough military crackdown on the country’s powerful gangs, while the gangs themselves claim credit for a nonaggression pact between the three biggest criminal groups. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

Taking on gang violence in El Salvador

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