United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador

The United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) was established on 20 May 1991 by Security Council Resolution 693 (1991) to verify the implementation of all agreements between the Government of El Salvador and the guerrilla organization Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional aimed at ending a decade-long civil war. The agreements involved: a cease-fire and related measures; reform and reduction of the armed forces; creation of a new police force; reform of the judicial and electoral systems; and oversight of human rights, land tenure and other economic and social issues. The Human Rights Division was the first division to be established on 26 July 1991 to verify compliance with the San Jose Agreement on Human Rights. The Military Division and the Police Division began operation on 19 January 1992, and the Electoral Division was established in September 1993. The armed conflict had been formally brought to an end in December 1992. In March and April 1994, ONUSAL verified elections which were carried out successfully. ONUSAL completed its mandate on 30 April 1995.

ONUSAL was headed by three Special Representatives of the Secretary-General (Head of Mission): Iqbal Riza of Pakistan served from July 1991 to March 1993; Augusto Ramirez-Ocampo of Colombia served from April 1993 to March 1994; and Enrique ter Horst of Venezuela served from April 1994 until mission closure.