New Safe Spaces for Women and Children in Peruvian Police Stations
Violence Against Women and Children
LIMA, PERU, June 2024 – With the support of IJM Peru, two police stations in Lima, Peru, inaugurated welcoming waiting rooms and service spaces for the attention of women, children and adolescents who have experienced violence. These spaces are already providing a friendly and dignified environment for those seeking support and protection.
The initiative responds to an urgent need, given the high rate of violence against women and children in Peru. According to the National Survey of Social Relations (ENARES), 67.6% of women aged 18 or over have been victims of violence at some point in their lives. The situation is equally concerning for minors, with 68.5% of boys and girls aged 9 to 11 having experienced violence in the family environment, a percentage that rises to 78% among adolescents aged 12 to 17, with a higher prevalence among adolescent girls.
During the inauguration of the new spaces, Alfonso Wieland, country director of IJM Peru, stressed the importance of these spaces: “We want to improve the care of the users, so that they feel that despite the trauma they have suffered, there are spaces within the police station where they can be treated with dignity”.
One of the police stations now has a special room where children can wait while their mothers file complaints. This friendly environment aims to provide a safe and comforting space for minors during times of high vulnerability.
Colonel Rosa Serna, head of the Division for Protection against Family and Gender Violence of the National Police of Peru, emphasized the significance of these changes: “Today, we have accomplished our goal: to ensure that anyone who comes to report any type of violence will be cared for properly.”
Community members also expressed gratitude for these new spaces. Lucía Guevara, a judicial counselor and long-time volunteer, said: “I am truly grateful for this newly inaugurated space... After volunteering here for many years, we are finally seeing long awaited changes. This is significant!”
Officials in these offices have also expanded their capabilities by participating in an IJM training that focuses on understanding the effects of trauma on the mental and emotional health of victims. Known as trauma-informed care, this approach not only gives the offices the tools to better serve those in need, but it also protects the mental health of the professionals in charge.
The new spaces not only aim to provide a safe and comforting place but also ensures that victims receive trauma-informed care during moments of high vulnerability, helping to mitigate the emotional and psychological impact of their traumatic experiences.