The Committee on the Rights of the Child of the United Nations Organization (UN), Formed by 18 people experts in children’s and adolescent rights, they urged the Peruvian government to create a Truth Commission in order to investigate cases of sexual abuse committed by members of the Catholic Church, whether in the past, and establish a Compensatory mechanism for victims. This demand occurs after the recent dissolution of the Sodalicio of Christian life, by Pope Francis and the increase in scandals due to child sexual abuse of the institution.
José Enrique Escardó, first complainant of the abuses committed by the Sodalicio And founding president of the Network of Survivors Peru, was present at the sessions of the UN Committee of the UN Children in Peru and it was the one who managed to include this order in the report, we communicated with him and pointed out that he is Waiting for a formal response. “It has just been made public on January 31 and we have learned 2 days ago, I suppose that the government does not check it yet, I will wait a couple of weeks to request an appointment at the Ministry of Women to be able to insist,” he said for this half.
This requirement was included in the Committee report on January 31; In addition, it analyzes the way in which the State ensures the rights of children and adolescents according to the parameters of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is the treaty that includes the full range of human rights of children, such as protection against sexual exploitation and abuse.
There are already several countries around the world that have decided to form truth commissions to reach the bottom of abuses against childhoods. Normally, after a scandal of this magnitude the governments approve this specialized commission because the existing forms would be insufficient.
Sodalicio: What does the Report of the Child’s Rights Committee propose?
The child’s rights committee expressed concern about the persistence of high levels of violence against children in Peru, especially sexual violence that disproportionately affects girls, indigenous people and rural communities.
He recommended that the State investigate and sanction those responsible, guarantee access to health and justice services for victims, and eliminate discrimination against vulnerable groups such as Afro -Peruvian children, migrants, refugees and LGBTI.
Likewise, the Committee highlighted the need to address the lack of integral sexual education and limited access to reproductive health services, especially for pregnant girls, urging to decriminalize abortion in cases of rape or risk to the mother’s health.
He also criticized the excessive use of adolescents’ detention and the possible reduction of the age of criminal responsibility, recommending promoting non -private measures.
On the other hand, the Committee pointed out the concern for the high number of missing children and child labor exploitation, especially in dangerous sectors such as mining and agriculture. He urged the State to improve the search and prevention mechanisms of disappearances, as well as to implement multisectoral policies to eradicate child labor.
