International
UN: forced sterilizations in Peru in the 90s would constitute a crime against humanity
The policy of forced sterilizations in Peru during the government of Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), of which more than 300,000 women were victims, was a form of violence directed “particularly against indigenous, rural and disadvantaged women” that could be considered a crime against humanity, a UN committee of experts ruled on Wednesday.
“Generalized or systematic forced sterilization could constitute a crime against humanity according to the Rome statute,” said the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which expressed its concern about the law enacted by Peru that prevents the prosecution of this type of serious crimes if they were committed before 2002.
The conclusion of the group of 23 experts (22 women and one man) was adopted after reviewing a complaint filed by five victims forcibly sterilized between 1996 and 1997, as part of the birth policies developed by the Peruvian Government, of which 25,000 men were also victims.
Sterilizations in Peru without the consent of the victims
“The victims described a consistent pattern of coercion, pressure or deception to undergo sterilizations in clinics without adequate infrastructure or trained personnel,” said committee member Leticia Bonifaz.
He added that the procedures were carried out without the consent of the victims, some of them unable to fully understand the nature of the operations.
The committee stressed that Peru did not comply with its obligation to properly investigate these violations or to adequately compensate the victims, so it made an urgent appeal to the State to accelerate or expand its investigations, providing financial compensation and psychological support.
Testimonies of those affected
The committee’s decision collected testimonies such as that of a victim from the department of Huánuco, in the north center of the country, who was arrested in the street by medical practitioners in 1996, subsequently sedated and when she woke up she was told that she was “cured” because she could no longer have children.
Immediately after the intervention she had to walk home for two hours, without any postoperative care, and her husband abandoned her when she discovered that the sterilization, the document pointed out, putting this case as an example of the serious consequences on physical and mental health that those campaigns had.
The case was presented in 2020 to the United Nations committee, in charge of ensuring compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, ratified by Peru in 2001.
Violent campaign against women
Although there were also male victims of sterilizations, the committee interpreted that this campaign was especially violent with women, due to the different nature of the interventions and the associated surgical risks.
“They were part of a systematic and widespread attack against rural women of peasant or indigenous origin, and the policy resulted in the annulment and replacement of their reproductive autonomy,” Bonifaz denounced.
International
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
The Chinese government emphasized on Monday the importance of “creating the conditions to return to the proper path of dialogue” between Iran and Israel, which have exchanged attacks in recent days resulting in more than 20 Israeli and over 220 Iranian deaths.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed deep concern at a press conference over the Israeli attacks on Iran and the “sudden escalation” of the military conflict.
Guo called on all parties to “take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent the region from descending into further turmoil,” stating that “force cannot bring lasting peace.”
“If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify or even expand, the countries of the Middle East will be the first to suffer the consequences,” he added, while noting that China “will continue to maintain communication with the relevant parties, promoting peace and dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke last Saturday with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts to condemn the Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory, which he described as a “violation of international law” with the potential to trigger “disastrous” consequences.
In both calls, Wang reiterated China’s rejection of the use of force, defended diplomacy as the only solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute, and offered China’s mediation to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East.
International
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Sunday the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the main suspect in the killing of Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband in a Brooklyn Park suburb on Friday night.
Boelter, who also reportedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife early Saturday morning, was apprehended in Sibley County following an intensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers.
In a public statement, Governor Walz condemned Boelter’s “unthinkable actions,” which resulted in the death of a woman who “shaped the core of who we are as a state.”
“We cannot become numb to this. We are a deeply divided nation,” Walz said in a statement posted on his X account.
“We move forward not with hatred or violence, but with humility, grace, and civility,” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, Walz said the entire state of Minnesota is in mourning. He also thanked law enforcement for their bravery and professionalism: “They have saved lives,” he emphasized.
“As we heal, we will not let fear win,” Walz concluded. “We must honor Melissa by moving forward with understanding, service, and above all, humanity.”
Throughout Sunday, police and sheriff units searched a rural area in Minnesota for Vance Luther Boelter, a security company director and preacher who, according to Governor Walz, acted out of politically motivated violence.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
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Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
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