12 December 2024. Peru is going through a serious crisis of respect for human rights. As international human rights organisations, we express our concern about the lack of access to justice for the victims, two years after these serious events. We recognise that there have been important advances in the investigations, particularly the formalisation of investigations against police and military commanders, by the Equipo Especial de Fiscales para Casos con Víctimas durante las Protestas Sociales (EFICAVIP).
However, the stagnation of the investigations against President Dina Boluarte and her ministers is worrying. In July 2024, the Attorney General’s Office filed a constitutional complaint with the Peruvian Congress against these officials for the deaths and injuries that occurred in the protests. Congress must evaluate the complaint and if it is approved, the immunity of the President and the ministers should be lifted, which would allow the Attorney General’s Office to proceed with the investigations against them. More than five months after the presentation of the complaint, Congress has not evaluated it, in breach of its own regulations.
At the same time, the lack of comprehensive medical care for the victims is worrying. Although the State established a Multisectoral Commission to provide immediate attention, the measures adopted are not enough. Among other things, this has meant that hundreds of injured people continue to have no access to adequate medical treatment two years after the events.
We also note that the lack of access to justice for victims of repression occurs in a context of weakening civic space in Peru, where the Peruvian Congress has introduced numerous initiatives that put at risk the rights to peaceful assembly and association, and judicial independence. Noting all of the above, we make the following calls.
To the Attorney General’s Office: to ensure that ongoing criminal investigations into the deaths and injuries that occurred in the protests are not hindered, are fast and independent, and include concrete evidence against senior commanders who may be held responsible.
To the Peruvian Congress: without further delay, to examine, with diligence and impartiality, the constitutional complaint against the President and her ministers, so that criminal investigations can continue.
To the Presidency and Council of Ministers (PCM): to effectively, promptly, and diligently provide comprehensive medical care to victims of the repression of the 2022 and 2023 protests.
To United States authorities: to implement the provisions of the Leahy Act in a timely and forceful manner to ensure that the U.S. government is not providing assistance or training to agents and units involved in repression; and suspend the transfer of arms to Peru until ongoing investigations are completed.
To the international community: to express with their Peruvian counterparts their concern about the slow pace of investigations and to continue demanding accountability.