The installation of this specialized space responds to the growing demand for care in cases of violence against girls, adolescents, and women in the Amazonas region.
LIMA, Peru – In the coming days, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Peru, with support from the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (BHA-USAID), will deliver a Gesell chamber to the Public Ministry in the city of Nieva, province of Condorcanqui, Amazonas. This specialized resource was also made possible with the support of the Municipal Mayor's Office and the Public Ministry, which provided the municipal land and personnel for its operation, respectively. This initiative represents a coordinated effort between entities of the Peruvian State and international cooperation, contributing to a key step in the fight against impunity in cases of gender-based violence, by facilitating adequate and safe care for women, girls, boys, and adolescents who are survivors of violence, particularly in intercultural contexts.
The Gesell chamber is a space designed to conduct single interviews with victims of violence, ensuring that their testimony is recorded in one session, thus avoiding re-victimization. The system consists of two areas: an interview room, where a trained psychology specialist interacts with the victim, and an observation room, from which justice operators follow the process through a one-way mirror. Additionally, the environment is equipped with audio and video technology that allows the interview to be recorded, ensuring the testimony does not need to be repeated.
This new center in Nieva, fully constructed and equipped by UNFPA on land provided by the Provincial Municipality of Condorcanqui, has been outfitted with three additional spaces, including two bathrooms (for men and women) and a waiting room, providing an adequate environment for both the victims and their families.
Increase in cases and need for specialized care
The installation of the Gesell chamber in Condorcanqui is particularly relevant given the concerning rise in cases of violence in the region. According to the Women’s Emergency Center (CEM) in Condorcanqui, 163 cases of violence were attended to in 2023, 65 of which were sexual violence, and 52 victims were minors. In the first six months of 2024, the CEM has already registered 159 new cases, 76 of which involve minors.
This situation highlights the urgent need for specialized mechanisms to ensure comprehensive care and avoid the re-victimization of survivors. Additionally, in 2023, the Rural Care Services (SAR) of El Cenepa and Río Santiago referred a total of 105 cases of violence, reinforcing the importance of having adequate facilities for collecting testimonies in the province.
According to the Gender Equality Technical Office of the Public Prosecutor's Office (OTIGEN), there are currently 93 Gesell chambers across the country, seven of which are inoperative. In the Amazon regions, including Loreto, Amazonas, San Martín, Ucayali, and Madre de Dios, only three chambers are operational, one of which is located in Bagua, more than six hours away by road from Nieva. The operation of this new chamber in Condorcanqui will alleviate the burden on existing services, facilitating access to justice for survivors of gender-based violence in this remote region, especially for Awajún women and girls.
With the launch of this new space, UNFPA reaffirms its commitment to continue working to ensure that all people affected by gender-based violence, especially in the most vulnerable areas of the country, have access to services that protect their dignity and rights.
A coordinated effort to combat gender-based violence in Amazonas
The Gesell chamber is part of the project "Securing the Right to a Life Free of Violence in Intercultural and Emergency Contexts," also known as Nuwa Senchi (strong woman in the Awajún language), promoted by UNFPA and financed by USAID. This initiative seeks to ensure an effective response to gender-based violence in intercultural communities in the districts of Nieva, El Cenepa, and the province of Bagua, in line with the Minimum Standards for the Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Emergency Situations.
