Peru's President Signs Controversial Amnesty Law for Armed Forces Amid Human Rights Concerns

The law raises questions about accountability for serious human rights violations during Peru's armed conflict.

Peru President Dina Boluarte has officially enacted a contentious amnesty law that pardons soldiers, police, and civilian militias currently implicated in human rights violations during the country's intense armed struggle against Maoist insurgents, notably the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru groups. The law, which was previously passed by Congress in July, has now received the President's signature, despite an explicit injunction from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to temporarily halt its implementation pending further review.

This legislation is expected to impact those accused of offenses committed between 1980 and 2000, allowing for the release of certain individuals over the age of 70 who are serving sentences related to these allegations. Historical records reveal that the two-decade conflict resulted in approximately 70,000 deaths and over 20,000 disappearances, as documented by Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). In defending her actions, Boluarte emphasized that her administration is honoring those who fought against terrorism and protected democracy.

The new law has not gone unnoticed, drawing swift and pointed condemnation from human rights advocates. Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, harshly criticized the amnesty as a "betrayal of Peruvian victims," asserting that it undermines years of work aimed at holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. Additionally, organizations such as Amnesty International and UN experts have called on Boluarte to reconsider the law, labeling it a violation of Peru's obligation to investigate and prosecute severe abuses, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and sexual violence.

The amnesty potentially jeopardizes over 600 ongoing trials and could exonerate 156 individuals previously convicted of human rights violations. The TRC has documented that state agents, primarily the armed forces, were found responsible for 83% of all reported sexual violence cases during the conflict. Last year, Peru also implemented a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity that occurred prior to 2002, effectively closing down numerous active investigations into these grave allegations.

In parallel political developments, former president Martin Vizcarra was recently ordered to face five months of preventative detention due to corruption charges involving a $640,000 bribe he allegedly accepted while serving as governor of Moquegua between 2011 and 2014. He becomes the fifth former president to be implicated and jailed amid ongoing corruption probes clouding the political landscape in Peru.