The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has declared the Peruvian State responsible for the death of Celia Ramos Durand, who died after undergoing a forced sterilization in 1997. Her daughter, Emilia Monzón, expressed her emotions upon receiving the verdict, which represents a step towards justice for her and her family, as well as for the thousands of women affected during Alberto Fujimori’s government.
Emilia recalled her family’s ongoing struggle, which began in Piura, and her desire for other cases of forced sterilization, totaling nearly 3,917, to also be resolved favorably. “Nothing will bring our mother back, but this ruling means an achievement for me and my family,” she commented.
Lawyer María Ysabel Cedano emphasized the importance of the ruling, noting that it sets a precedent for future investigations into human rights violations committed under the National Reproductive Health and Family Planning Program. Despite this progress, challenges remain in the judicial process, as the deadlines for formalizing complaints and opening investigations are limited.
Emilia concluded with a call to other victims to not give up in their pursuit of justice: “The truth must always prevail.”
