Peru
Practice Relating to Rule 87. Humane Treatment
In Peru’s Human Rights Charter of the Security Forces (1991), respect for the integrity of persons and their human dignity is one of the ten basic rules.
Peru’s IHL Manual (2004) states: “All persons placed
hors de combat or taking no direct part in the hostilities must be treated humanely. This means that they must be cared for and can never be attacked; they must be defended and assisted.”
The manual contains a similar provision with respect to situations of non-international armed conflict:
Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed
hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely.
Peru’s IHL and Human Rights Manual (2010) states: “Persons placed
hors de combat or taking no direct part in the hostilities must be treated humanely. This means that they must be cared for and can never be attacked; they must be defended and assisted.”
The manual contains a similar provision with respect to situations of non-international armed conflict: “Persons who are not directly participating in hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed
hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
In a section on the relationship between IHL and human rights law, the manual states:
There are … principles common to the [1949] Geneva Conventions and human rights law which represent a minimum level of protection to which every human person is entitled … [including] [r]espect for life, physical and mental integrity … [and] each individual’s right to security of the person.
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Regarding these fundamental guarantees, there is no exception whatsoever and they are binding both in times of peace and in times of armed conflict.
In a section on the human rights obligations of the security forces, the manual further states: “Respect the integrity of individuals and human dignity.”
Peru’s Decree on the Use of Force by the Armed Forces (2010) states that “persons placed
hors de combat for … any … reason must in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
In 2006, in the Lucanmarca case, the Second Provisional Criminal Chamber of Peru’s Supreme Court of Justice stated:
International human rights law, international humanitarian law and Peru’s Political Constitution recognize the right to … health, physical integrity, personal liberty and security.
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In international humanitarian law, Article 3 common to the [1949] Geneva Conventions prohibits in non-international armed conflicts attempts on the life and physical integrity of civilians, in particular … cruel treatment and attempts on personal dignity.
Peru’s IHL Manual (2004) states:
… [C]ivilians affected by armed conflict … must be treated humanely in all circumstances.
[Civilians] … are protected under international humanitarian law. Medical personnel assigned to provide assistance to them must, in all circumstances, treat them humanely, as best they can and in accordance with the dictates of their conscience.
Peru’s IHL and Human Rights Manual (2010) states: “Civilians … must be respected and treated humanely.”
The manual also states:
[T]he civilian population affected by the armed conflict and all those placed hors de combat or taking no direct part in the conflict must be treated humanely in all circumstances.
All these categories of people are protected under international humanitarian law. Medical personnel assigned to provide assistance to them must, in all circumstances, treat them humanely, as best as they can and in accordance with the dictates of their conscience.
Peru’s Decree on the Use of Force by the Armed Forces (2010) states: “Persons who do not directly participate in hostilities … must in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
Peru’s IHL Manual (2004) states:
All the wounded [and] sick … must be treated humanely in all circumstances.
All these categories of people are protected under international humanitarian law. Medical personnel assigned to provide assistance to them must, in all circumstances, treat them humanely, as best they can and in accordance with the dictates of their conscience.
The manual also states with regard to the provision of medical services:
It is also important to note that, in certain cases, deliberate omission and serious negligence are also considered to be violations of international humanitarian law, for example, abandoning people without assisting them, when their condition makes such assistance vital, or deliberately exposing the wounded or sick to infection or contagion.
Lastly, medical personnel must refrain from subjecting protected persons to affronts and insults to their dignity, humiliating or degrading treatment and exposure to public curiosity.
They must also ensure that protected persons are not subjected to any form of intimidation.
The manual contains a similar provision with respect to situations of non-international armed conflict: “Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including … those placed
hors de combat by sickness [or] wounds … shall in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
Peru’s IHL and Human Rights Manual (2010) states:
The wounded [and] sick … and all those placed hors de combat or taking no direct part in the conflict must be treated humanely in all circumstances.
All these categories of people are protected under international humanitarian law. Medical personnel assigned to provide assistance to them must, in all circumstances, treat them humanely, as best as they can and in accordance with the dictates of their conscience.
The manual also states with regard to the provision of medical services:
It is also important to note that, in certain cases, deliberate omission and serious negligence are also considered to be violations of international humanitarian law, for example, abandoning people without assisting them, when their condition makes such assistance vital, or deliberately exposing the wounded or sick to infection or contagion.
Lastly, medical personnel … must also ensure that protected persons are not subjected to any form of intimidation.
The manual also states with respect to situations of non-international armed conflict: “Persons not directly participating in hostilities, including … persons placed
hors de combat by sickness [or] wounds … shall in all circumstances be treated humanely.”
Peru’s Decree on the Use of Force by the Armed Forces (2010) states that “persons placed
hors de combat by illness [or] wounds … must in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
Peru’s Human Rights Charter of the Security Forces (1991) requires that detained persons be treated humanely.
Peru’s IHL Manual (2004) states: “Prisoners of war must be treated humanely in all circumstances.”
The manual also states, with regard to respect for prisoners of war:
a. They are entitled to respect for their persons and honour.
b. They must be protected against acts of violence, indecency or intimidation and against insults, abuse and public curiosity.
c. Women must be treated with all the regard due to their sex and no less favourably than men.
d. They retain the full exercise of the civil rights they enjoyed upon capture, in or outside their own territory.
The manual further states:
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b. Prisoners of war must not be paraded through the streets to be taunted or tormented by hostile crowds.
c. The honour of prisoners of war must be respected in the media, which must not publish photos in which they can be recognized, unless they agree or wish to be photographed.
The manual includes, however: “The treatment to which prisoners of war are entitled only applies if they abstain from any hostile act and do not attempt to escape.”
The manual states with respect to situations of non-international armed conflict: “Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including … those placed
hors de combat by … detention … shall in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
Peru’s IHL and Human Rights Manual (2010) states: “Prisoners of war must be treated humanely in all circumstances.”
The manual also states with regard to prisoners of war:
a. They are entitled to respect for their person and honour.
b. They must be protected against acts of violence, indecency or intimidation and against insults, abuse and public curiosity.
c. Women must be treated with all the regard due to their sex and no less favourably than men.
d. They retain the full exercise of the civil rights they enjoyed upon capture, in or outside their own territory.
The manual further states:
b. Prisoners of war must not be paraded through the streets to be taunted or tormented by hostile crowds.
c. The honour of prisoners of war must be respected in the media, which must not publish photos in which they can be recognized, unless they agree or wish to be photographed.
However, the manual specifies: “The treatment to which prisoners of war are entitled only applies if they abstain from any hostile act and do not attempt to escape.”
With respect to situations of non-international armed conflict, the manual states: “Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including … those placed
hors de combat by … detention … shall in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
The manual further states: “Any person deprived of their liberty has the right to be treated humanely and with respect for their dignity.”
Peru’s Decree on the Use of Force by the Armed Forces (2010) states: “Persons … who have laid down their arms as well as persons placed
hors de combat by … detention … must in all circumstances be treated humanely”.
Peru’s Military and Police Criminal Code (2010), which includes provisions on crimes involving violations of international humanitarian law, states:
The police, the prosecutor and the judges must inform the accused immediately and comprehensively of the following rights in order to ensure that he or she benefits from the safeguards essential for his or her defence:
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7. Not to be submitted to techniques or methods which interfere with or change his or her free will or to measures violating his or her dignity.
In 2004, in its fourth periodic report to the Committee against Torture, Peru stated:
With regard to the treatment of persons held in custody, Act No. 27238, the framework law governing the Peruvian National Police of 21 December 1999 (annex 25), in its article 10 incorporated the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials. That international instrument, amongst other aspects, establishes that in the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons. It establishes also that no law enforcement official may inflict, instigate or tolerate any act of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, nor invoke superior orders or special circumstances, such as a state of war or a threat of war, a threat to national security, internal political instability or any other public emergency as a justification for such acts.
Peru also stated:
[P]ersons convicted of terrorism as leaders of subversive organizations … are subject to a prison regime which complies with the standards of humanity and dignity of a democratic State governed by the rule of law and by the minimum protection standards recognized by international human rights law and international humanitarian law, which may never be suspended or restricted as far as the protection of personal integrity … [is] concerned.