Controversial Amnesty Law Approved in Peru, Sparking Outrage among Human Rights Advocates

The Peruvian government's recent decision to grant amnesty to security forces accused of human rights violations during a prior armed conflict has drawn significant backlash from human rights organizations and the international community. Critics argue that this law undermines accountability efforts for past atrocities.

Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, has signed a new law that allows for the amnesty of soldiers, police officers, and civilian militias who are on trial for atrocities committed during the country's prolonged internal conflict with Maoist insurgents. This controversial move comes despite a directive from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights requesting a pause on the law until its implications for victims could be reviewed.

The new legislation, passed by Congress in July, will benefit hundreds of armed forces members and law enforcement personnel accused of crimes committed between 1980 and 2000. Among its provisions, the law mandates the release of individuals over 70 years old currently serving sentences for such offenses. During the armed conflict, which involved groups such as the Shining Path and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, it is estimated that approximately 70,000 people lost their lives and over 20,000 went missing, as detailed in the findings of Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

In defending the law, Boluarte, who made history in 2022 as the first female president of Peru, stated that the government recognizes and honors those who valiantly defended democracy against terrorism. However, her endorsement of the law has faced stern criticism from human rights advocates. Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch, described the move as a "betrayal of Peruvian victims" and an act that undermines years of efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for grave human rights abuses.

Amnesty International and United Nations experts have also expressed their concerns, urging Boluarte to veto the bill, arguing that it contradicts Peru's obligations to investigate severe human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and other forms of torture. The amnesty law is expected to potentially stall or revert over 600 ongoing trials and 156 convictions related to these serious crimes.

The TRC has documented that state agents, especially military personnel, were implicated in 83% of substantiated sexual violence cases during the conflict. Notably, Peru passed a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity in 2022, which has effectively halted numerous investigations into alleged abuses occurring prior to 2002.

This legislative action coincides with additional political turmoil in Peru, highlighted by the recent preventative detention of former president Martin Vizcarra, who stands accused of receiving bribes during his governorship between 2011 and 2014. Vizcarra is the fifth former president of Peru to face imprisonment linked to corruption probes, sparking ongoing debates about governance and accountability in the nation.