IACHR to Mediate Fujimori Pardon Discussion for Victims

The thousands of Peruvian victims of forced sterilization have petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to advocate for justice and a formal review of ex-president Albert Fujimori's pardon.

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According to defense lawyer Maria Ysabel Celdano, representing the Demus organization, a request for the Peruvian State to honor its solution agreement will be delivered during its next session which will begin Feb. 22 and extends to March 2.

The attorney explained that its imperative that IACHR demand the state analyze the situation and not overlook the injustice and allow the president to supersede his duties per penal laws.

"It is not possible that the presidential immunity prevents the investigation from continuing, concluding and denouncing those responsible," Celdano said.

She added that 2,166 victims have come forward to denounce the abuses according to a preliminary investigation by prosecutor Luis Landa. This case has been filed twice by the Public Ministry of Peru.

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Between 1996 and 2001, 272,028 tubal ligations and 22,004 vasectomies were performed by a state birth control program, targeting citizens residing in impoverished situations in rural areas.

The Peruvian Constitutional Court says it will be reviewing the pardon granted by incumbent President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in December.

Peruvians were enraged after the official pardon of the ex-president was announced and the thousands of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, forced sterilizations, and kidnappings were swept away along with his prison sentence.

Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori on December 24, alleging humanitarian reasons due to his state of health, and freed him from completing his 25-year sentence for qualified homicide, aggravated kidnapping and acts of corruption.