Human rights

DEMUS wants to improve the situation of Peruvian women and actively opposes the violation of their rights, in particular their sexual and reproductive rights. The twenty-three years of this feminist NGO’s existence have seen numerous such violations. They were committed not in the last place by the Peruvian government itself.

Present abuses

'For example, in the 1990s, President Fujimori had thousands of peasant women sterilised', says Llaja. 'Because they were poor and indigenous, and because they were potential mothers of new generations of guerrilla fighters. In the internal conflict that started in 1980, all the armies – including that of the state – were guilty of citizen rape. DEMUS tries to bring to light such violations and to ensure that the perpetrators are punished.'

'We also expose abuses that take place today', adds Escribens. 'For example, the fact that girls and women are seldom or never allowed to have an abortion. Not even after they are raped, or if their health is at risk. Governments find all kinds of ways to fight our attempts to uncover these old and new problems. There is a huge fear of being called to account after so many years. And a huge fear of breaking with the traditional power balance.'

DEMUS works to change this. The organisation investigates violations of the rights of women in the administration of justice, in legislation, in the media, in society and in politics. It has specialised departments for each of these areas. Discrimination on the basis of gender is exposed, and women-friendly alternatives are given wherever possible.

Neoliberal government

Llaja is general coordinator of DEMUS’s studies, Escribens coordinates the psychology department. It is their fervent hope that the coming elections will strengthen the position of women, indigenous and the poor. Elections for local authorities will be held in 2010, and for the congress and the president in 2011. DEMUS is presently hard at work on the public information campaign that is to prepare citizens for their trip to the polls. 'Change has to come from society itself', says Llaja. 'So it is important that our campaigns, publications, media appearances and demonstrations show the true focus of our neoliberal government. That is not on democracy, justice and equality. It is on economic growth, which only benefits a tiny elite. And on the interests of political, economic and clerical leaders.' According to Llaja, the Peruvian state and the church are closely intertwined. 'Citizens and politicians allow themselves to be guided by the vision of conservative priests and bishops. There are even representatives of Opus Dei in government committees that discuss matters such as legalising abortion and recognising homo rights.'

Dutch ministry

Although change must come from the people, it also helps when Peru's government feels some external pressure. Llaja: 'For example, other countries ought to say that violation of the rights of the people of Peru – and the impunity with which this takes place – is an obstacle to good economic relations with Peru'. It is a recommendation that DEMUS conveys to governments all over the world, among them the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a visit last October. The visit was part of a tour of Europe during which Llaja and Escribens visited the UN human rights committee in Geneva. There they discussed the case of Karen Llantoy, in which a hospital had refused a young girl a legally permitted form of abortion. DEMUS had previously brought this case to the attention of the Interamerican Court of Justice, which had sentenced the Peruvian state to pay compensation. 'A real victory, and a legal precedent for subsequent actions', says Llaja.

Sexual violence

Even though it is extremely difficult to get women’s rights on the political and social agenda, DEMUS can boast a number of successes. Escribens: 'Take sexual violence against women during the armed conflict. We urged the Peruvian Truth Committee to classify more conduct under “sexual violence” than just “rape”. Our objective was justice for the victims of other forms of sexual violence, so that they do not pass into oblivion. Our plea was successful.'

DEMUS also influences the public discourse. Escribens: 'Previously people spoke of sexual violence as an unfortunate matter of minor importance, something that women had probably even done their part to invite. In the meantime a lot of people have come to see how atrocious this form of violence was; this is partly because we have given victims of rape a voice. Furthermore, we have shown that armies rape women from a strategic point of view: as a means of demoralising their opponents. Sexual violence was an instrument of war, a weapon that was used on a structural basis.'

Indian culture

In recent years, DEMUS has been shifting the emphasis of its work to an 'intercultural perspective', says Escribens. 'In the poor rural district of Huancavelica, we investigate violations of women’s rights. This means both those committed during the civil war and crimes that are still taking place on a large scale today. We are also working on the emancipation of these women. But we can only do this successfully if we take the local culture into account. The way of thought – often indigenous – in rural areas is very different from the way of thought in Lima, where our head office is located. Pregnancy, birth and sex, but also sexual violence: in these communities it is perceived and discussed in a very different way.'

Whether it is different or not, one thing has become clear to DEMUS: discrimination is a structural problem in all ranks of Peruvian society. Escribens: 'If you are poor, you are given the cold shoulder here. If you are indigenous, you are marginalised. If you are a woman, you are ignored. And if you are all three? You don’t have a life.' DEMUS wants to change the mentality of the Peruvian people. 'Because in fact it’s very simple', says Llaja. 'As long as Peruvians do not demand a just society, their government will never make this its objective – and Peru will remain far removed from a true democracy: one with respect for the rights of the poor, of the indigenous and of women.'

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Written by schrijf-schrijf

Photo: Kathelijn Fenger

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