Victims speaking in their own voices
During the exchange, Karen and I had the opportunity to witness how mentoring and support from PCS and from Inter Pares have helped the victims’ organizations to establish their autonomy and political identity as agents of change at the national and international levels. We heard many examples of the recognition given to victims’ organizations’ – from parliamentarians consulting the Peruvian Association of Women Affected by the Armed Conflict, to the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights granting a hearing requested by the Association of Innocent Released Prisoners, to the authoritative status given to the AJR’s public testimony during a genocide trial in Guatemala, to the many interviews several of the organizations give regularly to the media.
The victims’ movements in each of the three countries can now draw strength and inspiration from the experience and solidarity that emerged from this journey as histories were shared and new relationships forged. The participants in the exchange see their new-found friends as allies in their struggles for justice as they continue to face their respective challenges to obtain truth, justice and reparation in their countries.
Postscript: In April 2009, Alberto Fujimori was found guilty of human rights violations, including the massacre of La Cantuta. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
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| Reviewed July 31, 2009 |  |
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