Human Lives Human Rights: Family members of victims affected by the lethal state repression during the 2022-2023 protests in Peru are set to embark on an international delegation to Europe, seeking to highlight the urgent need for justice. Yovanna Mendoza and Mario Ilaquita, who lost their loved ones among the 50 fatalities caused by police and military forces during the protests, will travel to London, Madrid, and Geneva, with backing from Amnesty International.
With little progress from Peruvian authorities in holding senior officials accountable for their actions, the victims’ delegation aims to secure international support. In July 2024, Peru’s Attorney General submitted a constitutional complaint to Congress aimed at initiating criminal investigations against the President and her ministers, alleging individual responsibility for the deaths and injuries sustained during the protests. However, this complaint currently requires Congressional approval to lift their immunity from prosecution, a step that lawmakers have thus far neglected.
Having experienced prolonged inaction domestically, the delegation hopes to rally support from international governments and expert networks, emphasizing the necessity of external pressure to prompt justice.
Mendoza from Ayacucho and Ilaquita from Puno, both members of a national victims’ association formed in response to the protests, will engage with parliamentarians in the UK and Spain, as well as representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, UN diplomatic envoys, and human rights advocacy groups, including the Peru Support Group.
Marina Navarro, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Peru, stated, “International pressure and solidarity are more important than ever at this key moment to achieve justice. With the second anniversary of state repression approaching, it is crucial for the Peruvian President and Congress to recognize that the world is still watching and that the victims’ demands for justice resonate globally.”
