SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Northern Triangle countries of El Sal-
vador, Guatemala, and Honduras have among the 
highest homicide rates in the world. In 2020, there 
were— 
(A) 19.7 homicides per 100,000 people in 
El Salvador; 
(B) 15.4 homicides per 100,000 people in 
Guatemala; and 
(C) 37.6 homicides per 100,000 people in 
Honduras. 
(2) El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are 
characterized by a high prevalence of drug- and 
gang-related violence, murder, and crimes involving 
sexual- and gender-based violence against women 
and children, including domestic violence, child 
abuse, and sexual assault. 
(3) In 2019, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Hon-
duras were all listed among the 7 countries in the 
Latin America and Caribbean region with the high-
est rates of femicides (the intentional killing of 
women or girls because of their gender). In 2019— 
(A) 113 women in El Salvador were vic-
tims of femicide; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(B) 160 women in Guatemala were victims 
of femicide; and 
(C) 299 women in Honduras were victims 
of femicide or violent homicide. 
(4) In 2015, El Salvador and Honduras were 
among the top 3 countries in the world with the 
highest child homicides rates, with more than 22 
and 32 deaths per 100,000 children, respectively, ac-
cording to the nongovernmental organization Save 
the Children. 
(5) Thousands of women, children, and families 
from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras fled 
unsafe homes and communities in 2019. 
(6) Violent crimes against women and children 
are generally assumed to be substantially under-re-
ported because the majority of victims lack safe ac-
cess to protection and justice. 
(7) Impunity for perpetrators of violence 
against women is rampant in El Salvador, Guate-
mala, and Honduras. There was a 5 percent convic-
tion rate for violence against women in El Salvador 
in 2016 and 2017. The impunity level for violence 
against women in Guatemala was 97.05 percent in 
2018. In 2018, there was an impunity rate of 95 
percent for violence against women in Honduras. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(8) According to a study conducted by the 
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Schol-
ars— 
(A) childhood experiences with domestic vi-
olence in Latin America are a major risk factor 
for future criminal behavior; and 
(B) 56 percent of incarcerated women and 
59 percent of incarcerated men surveyed experi-
enced intra-familial violence during childhood. 
SEC. 3. WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION COMPACTS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO COMPACTS.— 
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Adminis-
trator of the United States Agency for International De-
velopment, is authorized to enter into multi-year, bilateral 
agreements of not longer than 6 years in duration, devel-
oped in conjunction with the governments of El Salvador, 
Guatemala, and Honduras (referred to in this Act as 
‘‘Compact Countries’’). Such agreements shall be known 
as Women and Children Protection Compacts (referred to 
in this Act as ‘‘Compacts’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—Each Compact shall— 
(1) set out the shared goals and objectives of 
the United States and the government of the Com-
pact Country; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) be aimed at strengthening the Compact 
Country’s efforts— 
(A) to strengthen criminal justice and civil 
court systems to protect women and children 
and serve victims of domestic violence, sexual 
violence, and child exploitation and neglect, and 
hold perpetrators accountable; 
(B) to secure, create, and sustain safe 
communities, building on best practices to pre-
vent and deter violence against women and chil-
dren; 
(C) to ensure that schools are safe and 
promote the prevention and early detection of 
domestic abuse against women and children 
within communities; and 
(D) to increase access to high-quality, life- 
saving health care, including post-rape and dig-
nity kits, psychosocial support, and dedicated 
spaces and shelters for gender-based violence 
survivors, in accordance with international 
standards. 
(c) COMPACT ELEMENTS.—Each Compact shall— 
(1) establish a 3- to 6-year cooperative strategy 
and assistance plan for achieving the shared goals 
and objectives articulated in such Compact; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) be informed by the assessments of— 
(A) the areas within the Compact Country 
experiencing the highest incidence of violence 
against women and children; 
(B) the ability of women and children to 
access protection and obtain effective judicial 
relief; and 
(C) the judicial capacity to respond to re-
ports within the Compact Country of femicide, 
sexual and domestic violence, and child exploi-
tation and neglect, and to hold the perpetrators 
of such criminal acts accountable; 
(3) seek to address the driving forces of vio-
lence against women and children, which shall in-
clude efforts to break the binding constraints to in-
clusive economic growth and access to justice; 
(4) identify clear and measurable goals, objec-
tives, and benchmarks under the Compact to detect, 
deter and respond to violence against women and 
children; 
(5) set out clear roles, responsibilities, and ob-
jectives under the Compact, which shall include a de-
scription of the anticipated policy and financial com-
mitments of the central government of the Compact 
Country; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(6) seek to leverage and deconflict contributions 
and complementary programming by other donors, 
international organizations, multilateral institutions, 
regional organizations, nongovernmental organiza-
tions, and the private sector, as appropriate; 
(7) include a description of the metrics and in-
dicators to monitor and measure progress toward 
achieving the goals, objectives, and benchmarks 
under the Compact, including reductions in the prev-
alence of femicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, 
and child abuse and neglect; 
(8) provide for the conduct of an impact evalua-
tion not later than 1 year after the conclusion of the 
Compact; and 
(9) provide for a full accounting of all funds ex-
pended under the Compact, which shall include full 
audit authority for the Office of the Inspector Gen-
eral of the Department of State, the Office of the 
Inspector General of the United States Agency for 
International Development, and the Government Ac-
countability Office, as appropriate. 
(d) SUNSET.—The authority to enter into Compacts 
under this Act shall expire on September 30, 2023. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE. 
(a) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of State, in coordi-
nation with the Administrator of the United States Agen-
cy for International Development, is authorized to provide 
assistance under this section. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to carry out this Act. 
(c) IMPLEMENTERS.—Assistance authorized under 
subsection (a) may be provided through grants, coopera-
tive agreements, contracts or other innovative financing 
instruments to civil society, international organizations, or 
other private entities with relevant expertise. 
(d) PROHIBITION ON FUNDING TO CENTRAL GOV-
ERNMENTS.—No funds appropriated pursuant to sub-
section (b) may be provided as direct budgetary support 
to the Government of El Salvador, the Government of 
Guatemala, or the Government of Honduras. 
(e) SUSPENSION OF ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, may 
suspend or terminate assistance authorized under 
this Act if the Secretary determines that the Com-
pact Country or implementing entity— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) is engaged in activities that are con-
trary to the national security interests of the 
United States; 
(B) has engaged in a pattern of actions in-
consistent with the goals, objectives, commit-
ments, or obligations under the Compact; or 
(C) has failed to make sufficient progress 
toward meeting the goals, objectives, commit-
ments, or obligations under the Compact. 
(2) REINSTATEMENT.—The Secretary of State, 
in coordination with the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, may 
reinstate assistance suspended or terminated pursu-
ant to paragraph (1) only if the Secretary certifies 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Sen-
ate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives that the Compact Country 
or implementing entity has taken steps to correct 
each condition for which assistance was suspended 
or terminated under paragraph (1). 
(3) NOTIFICATION
AND
REPORT.—Not later 
than 15 days before suspending or terminating as-
sistance pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary, in 
coordination with the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, shall 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
notify the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives of the suspension or termi-
nation, including a justification for such action. 
SEC. 5. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION. 
Not later than 15 days before entering into a Com-
pact with the Government of Guatemala, the Government 
of Honduras, or the Government of El Salvador, the Sec-
retary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Development, 
shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives— 
(1) a copy of the proposed Compact; 
(2) a detailed summary of the cooperative strat-
egy and assistance plan required under section 3(c); 
and 
(3) a copy of any annexes, appendices, or imple-
mentation plans related to the Compact. 
SEC. 6. COMPACT PROGRESS REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS. 
(a) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
entering into a Compact, and annually during the life of 
the Compact, the Secretary of State, in coordination with 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, shall submit a report to the Com-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
describing the progress made under the Compact. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) 
shall include— 
(1) analysis and information on the overall 
rates of gender-based violence against women and 
children in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, 
including by using survivor surveys, regardless of 
whether or not these acts of violence are reported to 
government authorities; 
(2) analysis and information on incidences of 
cases of gender-based violence against women and 
children reported to the authorities in El Salvador, 
Guatemala, and Honduras, and the percentage of al-
leged perpetrators investigated, apprehended, pros-
ecuted, and convicted; 
(3) analysis and information on the capacity 
and resource allocation of child welfare systems in 
El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to protect 
unaccompanied children; 
(4) the percentage of reported violence against 
women and children cases reaching conviction; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(5) a baseline and percentage changes in 
women and children victims receiving legal and other 
social services; 
(6) a baseline and percentage changes in school 
retention rates; 
(7) a baseline and changes in capacity of police, 
prosecution service, and courts to combat violence 
against women and children; 
(8) a baseline and changes in capacity of 
health, protection, and other relevant ministries to 
support survivors of gender-based violence; and 
(9) independent external evaluation of funded 
programs, including compliance with terms of the 
Compacts by El Salvador, Guatemala, and Hon-
duras, and by the recipients of the assistance. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development shall provide a briefing to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives regarding— 
(1) the data and information collected pursuant 
to this section; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) the steps taken to protect and assist victims 
of domestic violence, sexual violence, and child ex-
ploitation and neglect. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:02 Jul 09, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4017.IH
H4017
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS