Peruvian soldiers found guilty of rapes committed during civil war in historic verdict

[Judi Lynn]

‘Landmark’ case is first to deal with use of sexual violence in state’s conflict with Shining Path rebels four decades ago

Constance Malleret
Thu 20 Jun 2024 07.36 EDT

‘Landmark’ case is first to deal with use of sexual violence in state’s conflict with Shining Path rebels four decades ago

Supported by
theguardian.org

Ten soldiers have been found guilty at a court in Lima of crimes against humanity for rapes committed four decades ago during Peru’s civil war.

In what is being hailed as a landmark verdict, a panel of three judges on Wednesday said the systematic use of rape by soldiers in the Manta y Vilca case – named after the communities where the abuses took place – qualified as a crime against humanity.

“It is not legitimate that strategies of sexual violence be used as an intimidation method,” the court said.
The case is the first collective proceeding in Peru over the mass use of sexual violence during the state’s conflict with the Mao-inspired Shining Path rebels, which caused 69,000 deaths and disappearances between 1980 and 2000.

Six of the nine women who took legal action were in court to hear the verdicts. One, known as Marilia, died in March without seeing justice served. Her friend and fellow survivor, María, was in tears after the verdicts.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/jun/20/peruvian-soldiers-found-guilty-of-rapes-committed-during-civil-war-in-historic-verdict