10,000 people are imprisoned for sexually abusing minors in Peru

The crime of rape of minors is the second most common among the prison population of Peru, according to the latest information provided by the National Institute Peruvian Penitentiary (INPE). There are 10 thousand 104 people in prison for this crime in the country's prisons.

According to information, as of January 2022, there would be a total of 87,131 inmates in the country's prisons. Of these, the most common crime is aggravated robbery (22,144, 25% of the prison population). It is followed by the crime of sexual violence against minors, followed by the crime of illicit drug trafficking (6,549 prisoners, 7.5% of the total).

Of those in prison for abusing minors, 70% are sentenced: 7,199 inmates. The other 30% would be prosecuted: 3 thousand 3 prisoners.

However, 789 prison discharges have also been recorded, between January and March of this year, these criminals. Only 31.8% would have served their sentence.

- 155 people were acquitted of the crime.

- 122 were released from prison with restricted appearance.

- 63 died in prison.

- 32 obtained the annulment of the sentence.

- 23 are in semi-freedom.

According to their statistics, more than 21,000 minors have been victims of rape in the last four years, that is, between 15 and 16 minors are abused daily in Peru.

This was recalled by the United Nations System in Peru, which through a statement where “they regretted and condemned the cases of sexual abuse committed against children and adolescents, whose devastating consequences are lasting for life. (...) We stand in solidarity with the victims and their families in their demands for justice,” they said.

“In Peru, every day 16 girls and adolescent women are victims of sexual abuse. Between 2020 and 2021, cases of adolescent maternity among children under 15 years of age increased from 1,158 to 1,438. We believe that this worrying situation requires a comprehensive response”, the letter reads.

Faced with this problem, the Government has raised chemical castration for juvenile rapists.

“Today the Council of Ministers approved the bill implementing specialized medical treatment for the inhibition of libido for juvenile rapists. Many say that chemical castration is a name that does not correspond. This bill has been approved, and tomorrow it is being submitted to Congress for analysis, discussion and, if they consider it appropriate, approved,” said Félix Chero, Minister of Justice.

Regarding the cost that this project will entail, Chero pointed out that it will be calculated according to the rate of convictions for violation of sexual freedom, “we estimate which on average, depending on the dose recommended by Minsa, will be more than 2 million soles”.

Regarding whether we are going to disassociate ourselves from the San José Pact, he said that this is not the case because disengagement would only be possible if we were postulating the death penalty. In that case, we would have to enter into a one-year process for disengagement.

“In this case it is an amendment to the Penal Code that is accompanied by the bonus to article 368 of the Criminal Code, where anyone who does not comply with this measure after conviction will incur the crime of disobedience and resistance to authority. Thus, the relevance of the legislative technique is in accordance with the law,” he said.

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