After closely monitoring the situation in Peru, Amnesty International has deployed a specialized crisis response team to investigate serious human rights violations and possible crimes under international law committed in the context of the wave of protests that began last December.
“The world has its eyes on Peru. Given the seriousness of the complaints of human rights violations that we are receiving, we have deployed our specialized continental crisis response team, which is only deployed in extremely serious situations, when there are indications of possible crimes under international law. Our team will investigate human rights violations, with the intention of contributing to the efforts of Peruvian organizations in identifying alleged criminal responsibilities of the authorities, including at the highest level,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International.
So far, at least 46 protesters and a police officer have died during the repression of the protests and nine more people have lost their lives in events related to the social crisis the country is experiencing, according to the Peruvian Ombudsman’s Office.
Amnesty International’s crisis response team will collect testimonies and access documents to corroborate allegations of human rights violations and possible crimes under international law, in order to accompany the victims and demand that the Peruvian authorities guarantee their rights to justice. , truth, repair and non-repetition. In addition, Amnesty International’s Digital Verification Corps continues to analyze photographic and video evidence of possible human rights violations.
“We urge President Dina Boluarte to stop the violent repression of the demonstrations by the security forces. In order to find a way out of the crisis the country is facing, your government must focus all its efforts on listening and genuinely responding to the demands of the population, especially those who have historically been discriminated against due to their ethnic and racial origin. It is urgent to make substantial and structural changes so that all people in Peru can enjoy their human rights and live with dignity,” said Marina Navarro, executive director of Amnesty International Peru.
Following the visit of its crisis team, Amnesty International will announce a press conference in Lima where it will present the preliminary findings of its investigation.