Yovanna Mendoza and Mario Ilaquita, whose family members were among the 50 people killed by police and military during the 2022-2023 protests, have arrived in London

‘The Peruvian president and Congress must know that the world is still watching and that the victims’ call for justice is heard globally’ - Marina Navarro

Representatives of victims’ associations established in response to the lethal state repression of 2022-2023 protests in Peru have arrived in 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 and the Peru Support Group.

On behalf of the victims' associations of the towns of Ayacucho, Andahuaylas and Juliaca, Ms Mendoza and Mr Ilaquita will meet with parliamentarians in the UK and Spain, representatives of the British and Spanish ministries of Foreign Affairs, member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council, UN human rights experts and activist networks.

Marina Navarro, Executive Director of Amnesty International Peru, said:

“International pressure and solidarity are more important than ever at this key moment in the judicial process. On the eve of the second anniversary of state repression, the Peruvian president and Congress must know that the world is still watching and that the victims’ call for justice is heard globally.”

Seeking international support

Faced with a deadlock from Peruvian authorities on investigations into human rights violations committed during the 2022-2023 state repression, victims will seek support from abroad.

In July this year, Peru’s Attorney General presented Peru’s Congress with a constitutional complaint to proceed with criminal investigations against President Dina Boluarte and her senior ministers for their possible individual responsibility in 50 deaths and hundreds of 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.