Sexual violence in Peru

Abstract

Little research has been done on violence in Peru. Since pre-Inca cultures, the expansion of the Inca culture, the conquest of Peru by the Spaniards, the five hundred years of the colony or viceroyalty and during the Republic, there have been various forms of violence, in which essential rights have been transgressed human rights. This article reviews the sexual violence that occurred in our country, in the context of the Bicentennial; thus, there were structural factors that have not disappeared or have changed little, and that even today machismo and the traditional role that women have played are underlying causes of violence. It also presents the legal framework on sexual violence that has existed since our independence, where there is evidence of an evolution regarding the meaning of the value of life by the State as well as the sanctions for sexual violence. However, for decades, governmental inoperativeness normalized violence in our country. Recently, at the end of the 20th century, with the advance of the recognition of human rights, among them sexual and reproductive rights, as well as the empowerment of women, national registries were organized where the alarming degree of sexual violence, especially in girls and adolescents, with serious consequences, including femicide, is objectified in figures. The State's response in 2019 was the Joint Action Baseline Protocol in the field of Comprehensive Care and Protection against Violence against Women and Members of the Family Group; and in 2020, with the Technical Health Standard Comprehensive Care for Women and Members of the Family Group affected by Sexual Violence. The Peruvian Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics has published articles related to sexual and reproductive health, as well as articles related to sexual violence. Being one of the most relevant issues that exist in our country, future research and publications should be encouraged.