Rome, Italy – 27 March 2012 - IDLO’s Director General Irene Khan warmly welcomed El Salvador as IDLO’s 27th Member Party, at a signing ceremony today at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“El Salvador’s accession to IDLO is a sign of the continued support and commitment of governments to promote good governance around the world,” said Ms. Khan. “Advancing the rule of law to create greater opportunities has become a priority for many countries and we hope to continue expanding the organization’s outreach in the Americas.”

“I am delighted that El Salvador has joined IDLO,” declared Maria Eulalia Jimenez, Minister Counselor of the El Salvador Embassy to Italy. “The rule of law and good governance are a high priority for my country and we look forward to making a significant contribution to the progress of the organization’s work.”

H.E. Ertharin Cousin, United States Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome, current President of the IDLO Assembly of Parties, said “It is with great pleasure that we welcome El Salvador to IDLO’s Assembly of Parties, we look forward to its active role in the future governance of IDLO.”

Over the past 25 years, IDLO has trained legal professionals from El Salvador in areas including international commercial public law, comparative judicial reform and the judicial and regulatory aspects of microfinance.

IDLO has implemented a variety of programs in the Americas, including strengthening and expanding HIV-related legal services in Guatemala, supporting the humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Haiti and assisting anti-corruption initiatives for legal professionals in Peru and Nicaragua. In Asuncion, Paraguay, from 27-28 February 2012, IDLO hosted a regional workshop for public officials on best practices, standards and procedures for investigating and prosecuting human trafficking and empowering women and girls.

Caption from left to right: Min. Giorgio Marrapodi, Minister Plenipotentiary, Head of the International Legal Affairs and Treaties Department, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Depositary of the IDLO Establishment Agreement; Ms. Maria Eulalia Jimenez Zepeda, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of El Salvador in Italy; Irene Khan, IDLO Director-General

For further information and interview requests with Ms. Khan, please contact:

Francesca Pispisa, Communications Officer, IDLO Headquarters (Rome) Tel: (+39 06 40403297), Email: fpispisa[at]idlo.int

Pia Richardson, Special Assistant to the Director-General (Rome) Tel: (+39 06 40403242), Email prichardson[at]idlo.int