300 girls became mothers after being victims of rape in Peru

Despite their young age and the fact that they have not yet finished their childhood or pre-adolescence stage, 300 children under 14 years old gave birth in the country, according to the Ministry of Health's Living Birth Certificate Registration System (Minsa).

The director of the Peruvian Women's Center (CMP), Flora Tristán, Liz Meléndez, said that all these births are the result of rape, one of the most widely seen crimes in Peru and with the greatest impunity.

“(In girls with forced pregnancy) there is a risk to their health because they are not prepared either physically or psychologically to become mothers, there is an impact on their health, not only physically but also mentally. And they also become vulnerable to other episodes of violence,” he told the newspaper Ojo.

It is worth mentioning that according to the data submitted by Minsa, 299 of these mothers who are minors fluctuate between 11 and 14 years old, and one under 10 years of age. The Ucayali region recorded the highest number with 47 cases, followed by Loreto with 42 and Lima with 25.

“How many cases remain in impunity, how many cases are minimized and then those aggressors commit other crimes, how many are repeat offenders, how many things that could help the population know and have some level of prevention is not done like the register of aggressors, which has been approved since 2018 and is not implemented,” he said.

“There is a problem in Peru that is structural and, therefore, there must be preventive measures, care must be guaranteed for the victims, fight against impunity and monitoring of aggressors,” he added.

MORE THAN 10,000 PRISONERS HELD FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS

Another fact that shows a major problem in our society is the crime of sexual rape against minors. According to the data, a total of 10,104 prisoners accused of raping a minor, 3005 have no sentence and are being prosecuted, according to the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE).

In its latest report, the institution notes that it is “concerned” that inmates involved in rape and acts against modesty are increasing year after year.

“The prison population is inclined to commit crimes where it rewards the violation of the rights of vulnerable groups in society,” he warned. (With information from the newspaper Ojo).

FEMINICIDE IN PERU

Infobae Peru spoke with Lisbeth Guillén Chávez, feminist, coordinator of the Power and Politics program of the Manuela Ramos Movement and Spokesperson for the We Are Half Campaign, We Want Parity Without Harassment. The specialist in women's rights, political rights, gender and public policies, warns us about these cases that women face and that machismo is still deeply rooted in our society.

“According to information from the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP), as of February 2022, 26 femicides were registered (18 in January and 08 in February), in 80.7% the femicides were partners or ex-partners of the victims. Consideration should also be given to the connection between the disappearance of women, girls and adolescents with femicide, in January 2022, 2 of the victims prior to the event had been reported missing. The year 2021 culminated in 146 victims of femicide, in 52% of cases, femicides were partners or ex-partners of the victim,” he said.

“In Peru, of the total number of women victims of violence, only 29% seek institutional help and do so mostly in the Police Stations, which are responsible for registering complaints. Since 2015, special legislation has been in place to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women and members of the family group (Law 30364), aligned with the Convention of Belém Do Pará, which clearly differentiates violence against women from violence against members of the family group and establishes principles and approaches to the care of victims,” he added.

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