In May 2000 Paz y Esperanza began working in Huánuco, the poorest state in Peru,  through a sexual health outreach program. Paz y Esperanza now has a full-service office that provides legal, emotional, psychological and spiritual support through its team of lawyers, phychologists, pastors and volunteers to over 200 children and 60 women who are victims of abuse. 

Sexual Violence in Peru

Unfortunately, the high rate of sexual abuse of children and teenagers is alarming in Peru, especially in Huánuco. In all of Peru, sexual violence is the third most prevalent crime and social problem. Huánuco, a city of 780,000 inhabitants, has the second highest rate of domestic violence in Peru and one of the highest rates of government corruption. It also has the highest rates of alcoholism and infant mortality.

While precise statistics are difficult to obtain, it is known that over 50 cases of child sexual abuse are reported every week in Huánuco. It is estimated that approximately 70% of these crimes go unreported for a variety of reasons: the victim does not know her rights, she has trouble accessing the justice system, the justice system is corrupt, she fears retaliation by the aggressor, she is ashamed, or she fears being re-victimized. Family members or persons close to the victim commit 80% percent of child sexual abuse. In fact, 60% of all pregnancies in Peru for girls between 11 and 14 years old are due to incest or rape. And, an overwhelming 91.5% of sex crimes are committed against persons under the age of 18.

Experts attribute the high rate of sexual violence to several factors. From 1980 to 2000, years of extreme political violence in Peru, Huánuco was one of the most affected states. Rape was often used as a political tool and families, who lost their economic base of support, began to deal with stress through the use of violence. Journalistic investigations have revealed that gangs “recruit” girls between the ages of 9 and 14 to provide sex for money to high level clients.

Society's Response to Sexual Violence

The justice system does not adequately prosecute perpetrators and Peruvian society is not equipped to address this problem. Government officials and institutions have not made sexual violence against minors a priority. Often, judges and prosecutors are bought-off by the perpetrators. Police, judges and prosecutors lack special training on how to deal with these types of cases. The legal procedures and laws that need to be followed to prove a case are complicated and favor the perpetrator. In addition, victims of abuse are often blamed and ostracized while the perpetrator is welcomed back into the family. Sometimes the violence is even justified. It is taboo to discuss sexual matters, including sex crimes.

In a context such as this, where sexuality is denied and repressed, where trust is betrayed, and where the rights of children and adolescents are neither promoted nor respected, the possibility of sexual abuse and assault increases significantly.

Paz y Esperanza's Response to Sexual Violence

Other than Paz y Esperanza, there are no programs in Huánuco that help persons who suffer these types of crimes. In 2006 Paz y Esperanza will open the first shelter in Huánuco where victims may go to be safe from their aggressors or families who blame them.

Virtually everyone who Paz y Esperanza serves come from a context of extreme poverty, chronic malnutrition, illiteracy and sub- or unemployment. According to the population census of 1993 completed by the National Institute of Statistics and Information Technology, Huánuco has a rural illiteracy rate ranging between 50 and 70%, a rural birthrate from 5.4 to 7.9 children per woman, and in the semi-urban areas (mid-sized towns) a birthrate ranging from 4.1 to 5.4 per woman. Sixty-five percent of the population is over 15, and of these 30.6% work in agriculture and 61.3% live in rural areas. With regard to basic household services, 48.8% do not have running water, indoor plumbing or electricity.

Paz y Esperanza’s clients suffer from severe emotional and psychological traumas, separation from family, a lack of hope and low self-esteem. Often, the aggressor lives in the same house as the client, creating the opportunity for revictimization. In the majority of cases, the family’s income is not enough to cover all the family costs and the victim is expected to work to provide economic support. This leaves little time for the victim or family members to receive psychological treatment to heal from the abuse. Further, many of the victims who were raped subsequently gave birth. They now must support themselves and their child. Many of them are young and still in school. They have no other choice but to stop going to school to try to earn a living for themselves and their child.

Paz y Esperanza helps the most vulnerable of Peruvian society to obtain justice and achieve emotional and phychological well-being.