By Margaret Janelle R. Hutchinson
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Earlier today it appeared that Uruguay’s Congress had the necessary votes to pass legislation that would allow women to seek an elective abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy – a crime in every other country in South America.

Colombia and Argentina both have laws on the books that allow abortions in cases of rape or when the mother’s life is endangered.  Colombia also allows the procedure when there is proof of fetal malformation.  Every other country in South America criminalizes abortion for any reason.

The law that is currently being voted on by Uruguay’s Congress is the result of much compromise.  Consequently, parties on both sides of the issue are disappointed with provisions of the law and gathered Monday to protest.  Once it gets through Uruguay’s lower house, the measure would go back to the Senate for approval of changes, but President José Mujica has said he will allow it to become law.

The measure would give women the right to a legal abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and decriminalize later-term abortions when the mother’s life is at risk or when the fetus is so deformed that it wouldn’t survive after birth.  In cases of rape, abortions would be legal during the first 14 weeks.

The goal is to reduce the number of illegal abortions in Uruguay, Congressman Iván Posada of the center-left Independent Party told his fellow lawmakers Tuesday.  Posada wrote the measure and is expected to provide a key 50th vote against the opposition of 49 other lawmakers.

“They talk of 30,000 a year, a hypothetical number, but whatever the number is, it’s quite dramatic for a country where 47,000 children are born each year,” Posada explained earlier in an Associated Press interview.

A key compromise in the legislation is the mandatory meeting a woman must have with a panel of three professionals.  A gynecologist, psychologist and social worker would explain to the woman her other options including adoption.  The woman would then have to “think it over” for another five days before she would be allowed to have an abortion.

“It’s important that the woman who decides to have an abortion attend this meeting where she will be informed, where they’ll explain all the options including alternatives that she is free to choose from,” stated Posada.

Women’s rights advocates are furious with this requirement.  They believe it will be used to manipulate and stall access to abortions, potentially delaying to the point where the 12 week window had passed.

According to the World Health Organization, “Death due to complications of abortion is not uncommon, and is one of the principal causes of maternal mortality” and of an estimated 300,000 hospitalizations annually.

Globally, unsafe abortion – defined by the World Health Organization as termination of a pregnancy by providers lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not meet minimal medical standards – claims the lives of more than 47,000 women annually.  In Latin America, unsafe abortions account for 12%, or the fourth most common reason, of what would otherwise be preventable maternal deaths.

Uruguay has been clear that women from other parts of South America would not be allowed into the country for abortion procedures.  Women must prove citizenship or at least one year of residency to be eligible.

For further information, please see:

CBS News – Uruguay Poised to Legalize Abortion – 25 September 2012

Fox News Latino – Uruguay Set to Legalize Abortion; Only 2nd Country in Latin America to Legalize Measure – 25 September 2012

Huffington Post – Uruguay Poised to Legalize Abortion – 25 September 2012

Montevideo Portal – Nobleza obliga – 25 September 2012

Amnesty International – Total Abortion Bans in Latin America Risk Women’s Lives – 28 September 2011

 

 

By Brendan Oliver Bergh
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – In a worrying turn of events, a report has surfaced that indicates that about “four out of ten minors” living in public institutions in the province of Beunos Aires, Argentina have suffered from some sort of abuse.

Child Workers in Argentina. (Photo Courtesy of Press TV)

According to documents released by UNICEF Province, “43.7 percent” of  male youths who were housed in homes and similar institutions like foster care were subject to abuse. The report indicates that about 1680 children were subjected to various forms of violence and abuse from their parents, relatives or care takers.

The data, collected by the Unified Statistical Register (REUNA) of the Ministry of Children and Adolescents indicates that the levels of abuse are wide ranging. About 1680 kids out of 3846 investigated and surveyed suffered some sort of violence including “physical psychological, or emotional, sexual abuse or neglect” or a simple lack of basic care.

The report continued that of the remaining 56.3% of children who were placed in homes, 7.9% of these children were abandoned by their parents and another 18.7% were under supervised before being taken from their parents.

9.3% of children and adolescents who had placed into public institutions admitted to having problems with addiction. Another 2% admitted to vulnerable disabilities with their psychopathology.

According to the Ministry of Children and Adolescents, psychological abuse includes “psychological or emotional abuse” and can include “Verbal hostility… insults, ridicule, contempt, criticism or threats of abandonment.

Sebastian Gastelu, the Undersecretary for Promotion and Protection of rights reiterates that “child abuse is a problem of society, regardless of class or any other,” and that this is not just “physical violence and sexual abuse, but also verbal abuse, humiliation and psychological abuse.”

The report was released during the latest meeting of the Interministerial Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Rights held in the city of Junín, in the province of Beunos Aires in Argentina. Pablo Navarro, the Secretary for Children and Adolescents pledges a “strong commitment to direct public policy towards strengthening mechanism for preventing and addressing violence against children.”

Whatever the ultimate solution is, the world is looking towards Argentina with a watchful eye.

This is just the latest in Argentina’s fight with human rights abuses of children. Earlier this year Argentina’s parliament introduced a new bill to fight child labor. Official statistics show that over “450,000 children are forced to work in agriculture, mining and fishing activities and domestic service in Argentina.”

 

For further information, please see:

Aninoticias – Over 40% Of Children Were Abused Housed In Homes – 23 September 2012

Diario Hoy – More Than 43 Percent of Children Living In Homes And Other Institutions Were Abused – 23 September 2012

Impulso baires – Province of Beunos Aires: Four In Ten Children Housed In Foster Abuse Entrants – 23 September 2012

La Nacion – Nearly Half Of Children Were Abused Housed In Homes – 23 September 2012

Press TV – Argentina’s Parliament Passes New Anti-Child Labor Bill – 9 August 2012

By Brendan Oliver Bergh
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, Peru – Clashes between the Peruvian Army and the militant remnants of the Senedero Luminoso (also known as the “Shining Path”) left a child dead in the street from gunfire.

Counter-Insurgency troops in VRAEM. (Photo Courtesy of La Republica)

A clash in Valley of the Rio Ene, Apurimac and Mantarao (VRAEM), by counter-insurgency forces and rebels left an 8 year old dead in the province of Junín, Peru. On the morning of September 8th, Army and police personnel descended into the small town of Ranrapata, Peru. Dubbed ‘Operation Mantara’ it’s stated premise was to “dismantle a terrorist camp and not to attack civilians.”

While officially a success, the operation was meant to “identify and destroy a feeding center,” which had been sheltering “supplies and members of Sendero Luminoso.” These centers were reportedly used to indoctrinate children and plan armed attacks in the VRAEM and surrounding areas. Specifically the police were attempting to capture the alleged narco-terrorist known as “Pucañahui” who commanded around 20 rebels.

Details of the operation are hazy. Authorities in Lima initially said the operation resulted in the rescue of three children who were being held by the insurgents and the arrest of two women. One of the women arrested may have been Aquila Paucarcaja Vega, who was either the mother or stepmother of the dead child. The child, Zoraida Case, was hit by a bullet in the back after crossfire between agents against the guerrillas. No one is sure what happened to Zorida Case after she was shot. Some witnesses say they saw her body being dumped in the ravine, while others say she was dragged out of the streets and dropped in the bushes.

The Minister of the Interior Wilfried Pedraza told Congress “The government deeply regrets (the death of the child), whose situation and circumstances are under investigation, but in any case is the Shining Path, the terrorist group, which should respond.” The family of the victim believe law enforcement officials were the ones firing the projectile.

The rebels have reportedly joined forces with drug cartels and producers of illegal coca for the manufacturing of cocaine. They use snipers to attack military bases in the VRAEM and ambush patrols. The guerrilla force has been largely dormant since the turn of the century but has escalated its efforts in recent years. A “truth commission” in 2000, appointed by then-President Alejandro Toledo, blamed the Shining Path for most of  nearly 70,000 deaths in the politically motivated violence during the 1980-2000 period.

For further information, please see:

The Correo – Girl Is Depressed In The Evening VRAEM No Government Presence – 16 September 2012

The Primera – Zoraida Remains Buried Amid Cries For Justice – 16 September 2012

Fox News Latino – Peru President Vows Probe Of Child’s Death In Army Operation – 14 September 2012

RPP Noticias – Sendero Luminoso Must Answer For Death Of Girl In Vraem – 13 September 2012

The Epoch Times – Peru Confronts Its Violent Past – 3 September 2012

By Margaret Janelle R. Hutchinson
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador – By moving small quantities of firearms, utilizing safe houses, and employing hundreds of routes, Ecuadorian arms traffickers have long been able to evade capture and supply weapons to the Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and other guerilla groups in Colombia.

In July, Ecuador and Colombia completed a bi-national training course to combat illicit trafficking in firearms, ammunition and explosives in the border area between the two nations; Ecuador has made notable progress in the past few months.

Ecuadorean police announced yesterday that they have identified the main routes used by arms traffickers in the country. The routes stretch across the country, with most weapons entering via the southern border with Peru.

This success is due, in part, to the capture last month of Edilson Castro Lopez, alias “Chicanero” or “Jairo,” in the province of Pichincha.  Chicanero was responsible for coordinating shipments of weapons to the FARC western command under the command “Pacho Chino” and “Sargent Easter.”

The investigation since Chicanero’s capture has revealed over 175 underground passages from Peru into Ecuador.  Once in Ecuador, guns, explosives, and ammunition are moved overland in small numbers using personal vehicles or other non-conspicuous methods.  Along the route to Colombia, the arms are stored in safe houses.

In September alone, four raids have been conducted at safe houses along known trafficking routes.  Each raid has revealed quantities of ammunition, a few weapons, and gun parts.

It appears that the week-long training involving employees of the Ministry of National Defense of Ecuador, the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Security Coordinator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prosecutor of armed forces of Ecuador, Colombia’s Armed Forces, National Police of Ecuador, and Customs had an appreciable impact on Ecuador’s actions.

During the course, research techniques were developed in the tracing of SALW (small arms light weapons) illegal material.  Technical aspects regarding the identification of firearms and ammunition, national and international legal frameworks on the matter and judicial handling of evidence were all covered.  Host organizations addressed a number of cross-cutting issues related to the use of force, the impact of armed violence on children/girls and women, and the protection of women and children.

The training was promoted by the Government of the Republic of Ecuador, in collaboration with the Program for Development and Peace for the Northern Border, of the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP) and the Regional Centre for Peace, United Nations, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC).

For further information, please see:

El Comercio – El tráfico de armas vulnera las fronteras norte y sur de Ecuador – 17 September 2012

InSight Crime – Mapping Gun Smuggling Routes in Ecuador – 17 September 2012

El Tiempo – Traficante de las FARC controlaba 175 pasos ilegales en frontera – 6 August 2012

ONU – PNUD y UNLIREC Asisten a Ecuador y Colombia Para Fortaclecer sus Cpacidades en la Lucha Contra el Tráfico Ilícito de Armas de Fuego en Zonas Fronterizas – 7 July 2012