Central America is facing a rapid transformation of its democratic security. The advance of authoritarianism, the concentration of power, and the expansion of transnational repression generate new dynamics of persecution, forced displacement, and the closing of civic space that transcend borders.

This panel analyzes these challenges from the experience of El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica and integrates a dual perspective: the technical rigor of regional organizations and the direct experience of leaders and defenders in exile.

Through case studies and successful models of collaboration, the session will highlight strategies for community resilience and identify concrete opportunities for funding and strategic investment. The goal is to strengthen international protection, defend civic space, and promote effective alliances among civil society, host states, and international cooperation in the face of authoritarianism.