A Historic Verdict, Seventeen Years in the Making

Seventeen years after a brutal assault, the Peruvian justice system has delivered a landmark ruling. On Monday, December 15, a court sentenced three police officers to 17 years in prison for the torture and sexual assault of a transgender woman while in custody. The incident occurred in 2008 when Azul Rojas, then 34, was arrested and violently attacked at a police station in Casa Grande, a town in northern Peru. The accused officers were taken into custody immediately following the announcement of the verdict.

International Condemnation Reopens the Case

The case was reignited after the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled in 2020 that the Peruvian state was accountable for the abuse suffered by Azul Rojas. The court determined that the violence she endured was fueled by discrimination based on her identity within the LGBTI community. This significant international ruling prompted a renewed legal push in Peru, leading to a series of investigations mandated by the court.

Official Apologies and Long-Delayed Justice

In 2022, two years after the international ruling, the Peruvian government formally apologized to Azul Rojas. The statement, though symbolic, was followed by renewed commitments to hold the perpetrators accountable—who, at the time, had remained free. The recent verdict from a Lima court finally acknowledged the officers’ guilt, convicting them of inflicting physical and psychological torture, as well as committing rape. The judgment brings closure to a prolonged and painful legal struggle.

A Step Forward for Trans Rights in Peru

This case unfolds amid a broader but gradual shift in trans rights within Peru. In 2024, the country officially removed trans identity from its list of mental health disorders, aligning with the World Health Organization’s stance adopted in 2022. This move marks a significant step toward acknowledging and safeguarding the rights of transgender individuals nationwide.

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