IJM Helps Peruvian National Police Produce User-Friendly Guide on how to Interact with Minors

1 out of 2 women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, and out of all the cases reported for sexual violence, 3 out of 5 are committed against children (ENDES, 2021). In 2022 alone, every hour a child was victim of sexual violence, with the victims being mostly girls (ENDES, 2022).

To respond to the alarmingly high levels of violence against women and children, IJM inaugurated a new office in Peru in 2022. Right from the start, the team forged vital partnerships with key entities such as the Peruvian National Police.

Throughout this partnership, IJM identified that the police needed training to effectively assist children who have been victims of violence by addressing the children’s needs and determining the most suitable protective measures.

The Directorate of Citizen Security and the Division for the Protection of Children and Adolescents from the Ministry of Interior had already taken different initiatives and created a set of protocols and standards to better prepare police officers to interact with children and adolescents within police stations. Known as the "Guidelines for the Care of Children and Adolescents in Police Stations."

IJM supported the National police by adapting these protocols into a user-friendly practical guide tailored to police officers. The guide encompasses diverse aspects ranging from creating a conducive environment to appropriately channelling police reports to relevant institutions. These standards aim to ensure that children and adolescents seeking police assistance will receive trauma-informed care at every moment.

Training public justice officials on trauma-informed practices is crucial to ensuring compassionate, effective responses to survivors of trauma within the justice system. By understanding the impact of trauma and adopting supportive approaches, officials can minimize re-traumatization, enhance trust and promote better outcomes for survivors seeking justice and healing.

The introduction of this guide signifies the initial stride in a series of concerted interinstitutional collaborations between the Ministry of Interior, the Peruvian National Police and IJM. This will translate into more initiatives that seek to protect children and women who are experiencing physical or sexual violence in the country.

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IJM has over 25 years of experience working directly with survivors of abuse and trauma around the world. Due to this extensive work, we know that one of the most critical aspects of ensuring the best outcomes for trafficking and violence survivors is access to trauma-informed care. To that end, we have helped develop processes, resources and facilities that are trauma-informed, and trained an estimated 390,000 professionals (as of April 2024) to ensure the more humane and effective care of those in the process of healing from abuse.

Click here to learn more about IJM’s efforts to end human slavery and trafficking. Together, we can help survivors rise from the ashes and rebuild their lives. Together, we can create a world where every individual is free to live with dignity, freedom and hope.