On December 18, 2003, 8-year-old Yuri was brutally raped and murdered in Huanuco, Peru. For over six years her family, lawyers, and supporters around the world have been fighting and praying for justice in Yuri's case. To date, even though the evidence in the case clearly points to two alleged perpetrators, there have been no final convictions.
Yuri cannot speak for herself; but you can
speak for her.
Yuri needs your help to ensure that the legal system in Peru considers her case
fairly. Here is how you can help:
Write to the Court. Write to Dr. César Eugenio San Martín Castro,
the Supreme Criminal Court of Lima judge presiding over a new appeal submitted
by Yuri’s lawyers in November 2009 (Case File No. 4530-2009 – Recurso de
Nulidad). Please email your letter to Yuri’s lawyers at Paz y Esperanza in Peru
(rponciano@pazyesperanza.org) who
will present the letters to the court. In the letter, politely request the
court to review and consider all the evidence and to decide the case fairly and
without delay. We want the court to know that people around the world care
about what happened to Yuri and are expecting justice for her and her family. (See
below for sample letter and email instructions.)
Pray. Pray for justice for Yuri, and for Yuri’s
family, her lawyers, the alleged perpetrators, and the public officials
involved in the case. Pray that her family would find peace and healing; that
her lawyers would persevere and be protected; that the perpetrators would be
brought to justice; and that public officials would adjudicate the case fairly.
Your letters, prayers and social networking will
make a difference! Letters
and prayers from supporters like you helped to ensure that the court heard
Yuri’s case for a second time in 2009. We can do it again! Write and email your
letter to Paz y Esperanza today.
Background
On December 18, 2003, Yuri’s family had rented a local establishment to hold
her brother’s graduation party. While at the celebration, Yuri was lured away,
brutally beaten, raped and murdered. The owners of the establishment, a father and son,
were arrested and prosecuted for
the crime. The first trial resulted in dismissals due to irregularities in the
investigation and subsequent prosecution – bribes were paid, the process
suffered lengthy delays, and much of the evidence was destroyed or “lost.” The
police, prosecutors and medical examiners that destroyed the evidence were even
tried, convicted and sentenced for their roles in covering up the crime.
Paz y Esperanza appealed the judge’s decision
to dismiss the cases on behalf of Yuri’s mother, Lucila Cajaleón Cruz. On
November 21, 2006, after 3 years of an international campaign for justice that
involved prayer, letters, press conferences, petitions, a public awareness
campaign, and filing legal briefs, the Second Criminal Court of the Supreme
Court of Justice of Lima reversed the dismissals and ordered a new trial. The
trial lasted 15 months and culminated on August 14, 2009. Despite ample and convincing
evidence that Yuri had been raped and murdered by the two defendants, the
Second Superior Criminal Court of Huánuco (Segunda Sala Superior Penal de
Huánuco) again dismissed the cases.
In November, 2009, Paz y Esperanza submitted a
second appeal to a higher court, the Permanent Supreme Criminal Court of Lima, to
request review of the lower court’s dismissal. Paz y Esperanza is concerned
that the court would consider all the evidence fairly, that it would reverse
the dismissal and order a new trial, and that it would act without delay.
Background on
Violence Against Women and Children in Huanuco, Peru In Peru, sexual violence is the third most prevalent crime. Huánuco, a
region with 800,000 inhabitants, has the second highest rate of domestic violence
in Peru and one of the highest rates of government corruption. While precise
statistics are difficult to obtain, it is known that over 50 cases of child
sexual abuse are reported every week in Huánuco and an estimated 70% of these
crimes go unreported.
The Peruvian legal system does not
adequately prosecute crimes, in particular crimes of violence against women and
children. Police, judges and prosecutors lack the training and resources to
adequately investigate and prosecute such crimes. And, often they are
bought-off by the perpetrators. Legal procedures and laws are complicated and often
favor the perpetrator. Further, families and society often blame and ostracize
the person victimized by sexual or domestic violence. As a result, survivors
and victims such as Yuri, especially those who are poor, have little or no
access to justice.
About Paz
y Esperanza Paz y Esperanza is a Christian human rights organization that promotes
justice for people and communities who suffer injustice and poverty. Paz y
Esperanza combats violence against women and children through the provision of
legal representation, public education and advocacy, and empowerment and
aftercare services. Paz y Esperanza has offices in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia,
Colombia and the USA. For more information about Paz y Esperanza visit www.peaceandhopeinternational.org
or www.pazyesperanza.org.
