Peru: Victims of lethal state repression commence international delegation, taking their voices to leaders in Europe

Two family members of the victims of the lethal state repression of 2022-2023 protests in Peru will travel to Europe to meet with international leaders to raise their concerns about the lack of justice for one of the gravest episodes of human rights violations in Peru’s recent history. Yovanna Mendoza and Mario Ilaquita, whose family members were among the 50 people killed by police and military during protests, will visit London, Madrid, and Geneva, with the support of Amnesty International. Faced with a deadlock from Peruvian authorities on holding Peru’s senior officials to account for crimes committed during the 2022-2023 state repression, victims will seek support from abroad. In July 2024, Peru’s Attorney General presented Peru’s Congress with a constitutional complaint to proceed with criminal investigations against the President and her senior ministers for their possible individual responsibility for killings and injuries during protests. This complaint must first obtain Congress’s approval to strip officials of immunity for prosecution, yet Peru’s lawmakers have so far ignored legal requirements and deadlines to move forward. After months of inaction from authorities at home, the delegation expects to garner support from governments abroad and international experts to pressure for justice. As members of the nation-wide victims’ association that formed in response to the repression of protests, Ms Mendoza from Ayacucho and Mr Ilaquita from Puno will meet with parliamentarians in the United Kingdom and Spain, representatives of the British and Spanish ministries of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic representatives to the UN, UN human rights experts and activist networks, including the Peru Support Group, a British-based human rights group.