Human rights in Peru
Encyclopedia
Several issues were brought to Peru
vian justice courts in 2000 to address several human rights violations during the Internal conflict in Peru
during the 1980s. These issues constituted one of the largest processes of systematic violence in Peru's history. Many concerns remain today over the lack of human rights given to Andean men and women by the government. The Shining Path
continues to kill civilians; for example in December 2007 a family of four was killed by presumed Shining Path militants in retaliation for the death of Comrade Clay. The security forces of Peru were also blamed for civilian deaths in 2007 during various protests and strikes.
a person is granted certain rights as life, welfare, moral, psychic and physic integrity (art.1). Furthermore, equality before the law
Art.2), freedom of thought
(art.3), and freedom of expression (art.4).Peru is a party to the American Convention on Human Rights
and the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the area of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and thus is subject to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
. Peru is also a party to the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture. The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens. The following human rights problems were reported: alleged unlawful killings by government forces and disappearance of persons in an area under military control; abuse of detainees and inmates by police and prison security forces; harsh prison conditions; lengthy pretrial detention and inordinate trial delays; attacks on the media by local authorities; corruption; harassment of some civil society groups; violence and discrimination against women; violence against children, including sexual abuse; trafficing in persons; discrimination against indigenous communities, ethnic minorities, and gay and lesbian persons; failure to apply or enforce labor laws; and child labor in the informal sector.
In June 2001 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
was established to investigate human rights abuses that took place in the 1980s and 1990s.
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian justice courts in 2000 to address several human rights violations during the Internal conflict in Peru
Internal conflict in Peru
It has been estimated that nearly 70,000 people died in the internal conflict in Peru that started in 1980 and, although still ongoing, had greatly wound down by 2000. The principal actors in the war were the Shining Path , the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement and the government of Peru.A great...
during the 1980s. These issues constituted one of the largest processes of systematic violence in Peru's history. Many concerns remain today over the lack of human rights given to Andean men and women by the government. The Shining Path
Shining Path
Shining Path is a Maoist guerrilla terrorist organization in Peru. The group never refers to itself as "Shining Path", and as several other Peruvian groups, prefers to be called the "Communist Party of Peru" or "PCP-SL" in short...
continues to kill civilians; for example in December 2007 a family of four was killed by presumed Shining Path militants in retaliation for the death of Comrade Clay. The security forces of Peru were also blamed for civilian deaths in 2007 during various protests and strikes.
Background
In the Constitution of PeruConstitution of Peru
The Constitution of Peru is the supreme law of Peru. The current constitution, enacted on December 31, 1993, is Peru's fifth in the 20th century and replaced the 1979 Constitution....
a person is granted certain rights as life, welfare, moral, psychic and physic integrity (art.1). Furthermore, equality before the law
Equality before the law
Equality before the law or equality under the law or legal egalitarianism is the principle under which each individual is subject to the same laws....
Art.2), freedom of thought
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
(art.3), and freedom of expression (art.4).Peru is a party to the American Convention on Human Rights
American Convention on Human Rights
The American Convention on Human Rights is an international human rights instrument.It was adopted by the nations of the Americas meeting in San José, Costa Rica, in 22 November 1969...
and the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the area of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and thus is subject to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is an autonomous judicial institution based in the city of San José, Costa Rica. Together with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, it makes up the human rights protection system of the Organization of American States , which serves to uphold and...
. Peru is also a party to the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture. The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens. The following human rights problems were reported: alleged unlawful killings by government forces and disappearance of persons in an area under military control; abuse of detainees and inmates by police and prison security forces; harsh prison conditions; lengthy pretrial detention and inordinate trial delays; attacks on the media by local authorities; corruption; harassment of some civil society groups; violence and discrimination against women; violence against children, including sexual abuse; trafficing in persons; discrimination against indigenous communities, ethnic minorities, and gay and lesbian persons; failure to apply or enforce labor laws; and child labor in the informal sector.
In June 2001 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Peru)
The Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 2001 after the fall of president Alberto Fujimori, to examine abuses committed during the 1980s and 1990s, when Peru was plagued by the worst political violence in the history of the republic...
was established to investigate human rights abuses that took place in the 1980s and 1990s.