Peruvian Women : Facing Political Disasters
Ms. Carmen Ledesma (Peru)
Throughout the centuries, Peruvian women suffered gender discrimination. In
addition, political, social and economic disasters have affected women in their social,productive and reproductive roles.
Disasters distort momentarily the normal development of communities. This in turnprioritizes intervention in event of emergency, independently of whether it affects or not
more women or children. However, public policies to prevent natural or politicaldisasters do not incorporate a gender perspective.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Peruvian women suffered the consequences of natural andpolitical disasters. In both decades, there were long droughts and floods at a time when
there was political violence and terrorist actions as a consequence of economic andsocial gaps. Thousands of parents, husbands, children, young students, peasants,policemen and troops were killed, leaving thousands of women alone or as heads offamily, who lost their land and houses. In other words, they were left in a social abyss
with the terrible stigma of gender discrimination. The majority of these women camefrom the rural areas of Andean regions. At the same time, they also broke thetraditional roles of millennium masculine heredity due to stereotypes and patriarchalsociety.
In this period, many woman organizations were established throughout the country.
In rural areas, non governmental organizations were established to provide food or
health aid. However, this was not the answer because women needed instead help to be
independent and participate in productive processes.
In light of these events, some women recognized that they did not intend to take arisk with their family lives. Others wanted to continue but suffered intimidation. Someorganizations withdrew and others were closed. Many women organizations, however,
did not close totally. Gradually, they were opened again and new organizations werecreated in the middle of this conflict.
In December of 2000, the Peruvian Government established The Truth andReconciliation Commission-CVR, through Supreme Decree N° 065-2001-PCM, toinvestigate human rights abuses in Peru in the 1980’s and 1990’s, attributable toterrorist organizations, armed forces and government officers during these time. The
main goal of the CVR was the compensation of victims of violence, and to achieve
national reconciliation because of differences among Peruvian citizens.
According to research of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission-CVR, between
1984 and 1998, 29 women of 465 organization leaders disappeared or were murdered. At
the same time, this research removed the anonymity of hundreds of women who werefighters for social demands and women rights. Terrorist organizations found womenstrongly accepted their extreme terrorist actions. Subsequently, women paid a very highcost with their lives.
The CVR investigated thousands of disappearances and tortures. Some examples are
the massive murders in Cayara, La Cantuta and Barrios Altos and many “commongraves” that were discovered frequently during those days. At the same time, CVR
investigated other cases where women were kidnapped by terrorist groups; forced into
sexual slavery; raped during terrorists’ actions and by the armed forces. They also
analyzed cases where women were subject to sexual abuse during interviews bymilitary forces. They also reviewed cases where women became pregnant due to sexual
abuse and were forced to raise kids resulting from this abuse. According to the CVR’s
final report, around 69,000 people died or disappeared during twenty years of war. The
final recommendations of this Commission included health and education programs;compensation and reparation for the victims of political violence and provision ofidentification documents. In addition, a High-level Multisectoral Commission wascreated in February 2004 to design and coordinate the implementation of state policies
concerning peace and reconciliation.
In conclusion, we can say that women were subject to the worst kind of violence fromgovernment and terrorist movements. Gender discrimination occurred simultaneously
on both sides. As women suffer the worst negative impact during disasters it isimportant to eradicate gender discrimination. Government officers have the obligation
to incorporate gender perspective in the political agenda and make public policies more
effective. Women only want justice to be done!