**Peru's Controversial Amnesty Law Sparks Outrage Among Human Rights Groups**

**The recent amnesty law signed by Peru's President Boluarte has provoked strong condemnation from human rights organizations, raising questions about accountability for past abuses.**

Peru’s President Dina Boluarte has ignited controversy by signing a new law that provides amnesty for members of the military, police, and civilian self-defense groups implicated in serious human rights violations during the country’s prolonged 20-year conflict against rebel factions, notably the Maoist Shining Path. Despite an order from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights calling for a halt on the legislation pending a thorough review, Boluarte enacted the measure that was previously passed by Congress in July.

This legislation is expected to benefit numerous personnel currently facing trial for incidents that occurred between 1980 and 2000. It also includes provisions to release individuals over the age of 70 serving sentences for related offenses. The armed conflict, as documented by Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), resulted in approximately 70,000 deaths and over 20,000 disappearances, stemming from clashes between insurgent groups and state forces.

In defense of her actions, Boluarte stated that the government aimed to recognize the contributions of those who fought against terrorism, framing it as a move to uphold democracy. However, her declaration has been met with strong opposition. Human rights advocates, including Juanita Goebertus from Human Rights Watch, criticized the law as a significant setback for victims seeking justice, dubbing it a "betrayal" of decades of work toward accountability for crimes committed during the conflict.

International organizations, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, had urged Boluarte to veto the bill, asserting that it undermines Peru's obligation to investigate severe human rights abuses such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture. Legal experts have indicated that the amnesty may impede more than 600 ongoing trials and challenge 156 convictions, raising concerns over a potential resurgence of impunity. Notably, the TRC reported that state officials, primarily military personnel, were responsible for approximately 83% of recorded sexual violence incidents during the conflict.

The present amnesty law is reminiscent of a previous statute of limitations enacted last year, which effectively curtailed hundreds of investigations into crimes against humanity that occurred before 2002, benefiting several high-profile figures, including the disgraced former president Alberto Fujimori. He was convicted for atrocities but was released on humanitarian grounds in 2023 and passed away in September 2024, prompting further discussions about justice in Peru's troubled past.