Concern in Peru Over Increasing Number of Missing Women and Girls 
November 25, 2020. Women
march in Cusco, Peru on the International Day for the Elimination of
Violence Against Women.
Peru's ombudsman's office
recently expressed its concerns about the alarming increase in the
number of women and girls who went missing in the country this year.
According to its latest report "What happened to them?" published on
December 12, at least 5,016 women, girls and adolescents have been
reported missing between January and November 2020. The
office reported that 1,506 women and 3,510 girls and teenagers have
disappeared during the past 11 months. In other words, an average of 15
women a day, or one woman every two hours, become victims of this
serious crime. In November alone, 190 women and 390
minors were reported missing. The figures represent an increase of 20
per cent and 12 per cent in disappearance of women and minors,
respectively, as compared to the previous month. The
report noted that Lima, Arequipa, Apurimac, Callao, Cusco, and Piura
are the departments with the highest number of missing women.
November 1, 2020.
Memorial to victims of femicide.
Furthermore, the
ombudsman's office warned about the connection between the
disappearances and the other serious crimes of violence against women.
The public official highlighted that of the 127 victims of femicide
registered in the last 11 months, 33 victims had previously been
reported missing. Likewise, the office pointed out
that so far in 2020, there have been 188 attempted femicides and 50
violent deaths, which are still under investigation. Additionally,
there has been a significant increase in cases of domestic violence,
rape and child sexual abuse this year. According to
the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, women's helpline #100
received over 11,000 calls to report sexual violence from January to
November. Additionally, according to the Ministry of Health, 994 girls
under 14 years of age were impregnated after being raped during the
past 11 months. 
December 14, 2020.
Tribute organized for women who were sexually abused by police, who
have not been held responsible.
The rates of
femicide and violence against women across the region of Latin America
and the Caribbean are at record highs. This year the incidents of
violence towards women and girls have been aggravated due to the
compulsory preventative home-quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women, November 25, as well as on December 10, International
Human Rights Day, thousands of women, feminists, women's rights and
human rights activists from across the region took to the streets and
social media networks to urge governments to step up measures to
address all forms of gender-based violence.
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 49 - December 19, 2020
Article Link:
Concern in Peru Over Increasing Number of Missing Women and Girls
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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