The new law, which will release individuals over 70 years of age serving sentences for these offenses, potentially benefits hundreds accused of crimes amidst a dark chapter in Peru’s history. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) estimates that around 70,000 lives were lost, with an additional 20,000 people reported as missing during this period, primarily due to confrontations involving the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru rebel groups.
President Boluarte, who made history as Peru's first female president in 2022, defended the law as recognition for those who fought against terrorism, emphasizing their role in protecting the country's democracy. This perspective has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates, including Human Rights Watch’s Americas director, Juanita Goebertus, who labeled the law a "betrayal" of victims and a heavy blow against efforts aimed at accountability for past atrocities.
International bodies, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, have voiced strong opposition to the amnesty, arguing it contravenes Peru’s responsibility to thoroughly investigate and prosecute severe human rights abuses like extrajudicial killings and torture. The law is expected to complicate or end over 600 ongoing trials and more than 150 convictions related to abuses committed during the conflict.
Additionally, the TRC has highlighted that state agents, predominantly from the armed forces, accounted for about 83% of documented sexual violence cases during the conflict. The adoption of a statute of limitations last year for crimes against humanity predating 2002 further added to concerns, as it closed off many investigations into crimes committed during the violence. This legislative backdrop has notably benefited controversial figures like former President Alberto Fujimori, who faced previous convictions for atrocities before his release on humanitarian grounds in 2023.
President Boluarte, who made history as Peru's first female president in 2022, defended the law as recognition for those who fought against terrorism, emphasizing their role in protecting the country's democracy. This perspective has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates, including Human Rights Watch’s Americas director, Juanita Goebertus, who labeled the law a "betrayal" of victims and a heavy blow against efforts aimed at accountability for past atrocities.
International bodies, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, have voiced strong opposition to the amnesty, arguing it contravenes Peru’s responsibility to thoroughly investigate and prosecute severe human rights abuses like extrajudicial killings and torture. The law is expected to complicate or end over 600 ongoing trials and more than 150 convictions related to abuses committed during the conflict.
Additionally, the TRC has highlighted that state agents, predominantly from the armed forces, accounted for about 83% of documented sexual violence cases during the conflict. The adoption of a statute of limitations last year for crimes against humanity predating 2002 further added to concerns, as it closed off many investigations into crimes committed during the violence. This legislative backdrop has notably benefited controversial figures like former President Alberto Fujimori, who faced previous convictions for atrocities before his release on humanitarian grounds in 2023.
