Machismo prevails in Peru and it is a flaw that is also in Congress

tomorrow starts women’s month and in Peru the political authorities have not been the best example to ensure their rights. Complaints against congressmen for violence, for example, have been increasing only in this parliamentary period.

To the cases of Héctor Valer (Somos Perú), accused of physically violating his wife and daughter; Luis Cordero (Popular Force), denounced for hitting his ex-partner; and Freddy Díaz (APP), accused of raping his worker, has now been joined by the Popular Force legislator, Eduardo Castillo.

On February 21, the parliamentarian’s wife, Maricarmen Salazar, reported to the Sullana Police Station that her spouse has psychologically mistreated her on more than one occasion.

According to the police report, to which he agreed Peru21Salazar narrated that on that date she received WhatsApp messages from Castillo threatening her not to transfer money or alimony to her youngest 12-year-old daughter, revealing a divorce process.

“The same (messages) say that they are not going to give him a single sun, that the trial for food is delayed, that for that they have already closed Congress, that it was the worst stage of his life, that he leave his house, that do not take out a bed or TV or anything ”, quotes the PNP report.

The congressman’s messages continued: “that her sister is going to evict her from her house, that the eviction was going to go along with the divorce petition, that she no longer has insurance, that she no longer has anything, that she sign according to what he says, that she is a fool, that she is going to throw away the things from her house”.

This statement is supported by a psychological report that is in the hands of the Sullana Police Station. In that report, to which this newspaper had access, it is concluded that the complainant registers “situational anxious reaction to the perceived conflict.”

For this reason, “immediate protection measures are recommended in order to safeguard the psychosocial well-being of the complainant” and “that the accused cease all kinds of approaches for the purpose of verbal aggression.” Peru21 learned that the request for protection had already been requested by Salazar’s defense to the Sullana Family Court.

Given this, legislator Castillo has denied being an aggressor and indicated that he is surprised by the complaint. “I have paid for Maricarmen’s university until a month ago and that does not make him a psychological abuser,” he excused himself.

Hard battle

The spokeswoman for the Ministry for Women, Patricia Garrido, revealed that 7 out of 10 women have suffered some type of violence in their lives and warned that there is a growing number that denounces their aggressors.

“That people report to the police stations means that the prevention work we do is working, we have to reduce extreme violence,” he said.

In August 2021, Congresswoman Patricia Chirinos denounced that then-premier Guido Bellido told her “the only thing left is for them to rape you” in an exchange of words that they held. The efforts to end machismo are commendable, but there is no doubt that this unfortunate defect is winning the battle.

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS