Demographic Policy and Human Rights. Journalistic Investigation of the Situation in Peru

The report by Maria-Christine Zauzich is always an objective, analytically grounded reading, one that always considers different aspects and yet is in large part compelling. After this report, it is more difficult to sustain the legend of a "well-intentioned" state demographic policy discredited by some "exaggerations" and "deviations" in Peru. It is more accurate to say that for a prolonged period, demographic policy in Peru was designed in such a way that a vast number of abuses and human rights violations — perhaps not directly intended — were built into the conception and direction of the measures. These are in no way consistent with minimum ethical standards, nor with the requirements of the 1994 World Population Conference. The publication of this study aims to contribute to publicly discrediting this type of policy and preventing its repetition — even in a subtle and sophisticated form. It is addressed to all those responsible and at the same time raises the question: how should the victims of the sterilization campaigns be treated, many of whom still suffer today from the psychological and sometimes physical consequences of the harm they experienced?