CONDORCANQUI, Amazonas - On September 17, 2024, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) handed over a Gesell Chamber to the Public Prosecutor's Office in the district of Santa María de Nieva, province of Condorcanqui, Amazonas. This handover marks a milestone in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in a region where geographical barriers and lack of services hinder access to justice, particularly for women, girls, boys, and adolescents.

The Gesell Chamber, located in the Francisco Rodríguez Contreras neighborhood, is a crucial tool to prevent the re-victimization of GBV survivors. This specialized environment allows victims' statements to be recorded in a single interview, captured via audio and video, under conditions that ensure their protection and well-being. With two rooms—one for the interview and another for observation—authorities can follow the process without requiring victims to repeatedly relive the traumatic events.

The importance of this infrastructure lies in the context in which it is being implemented. Condorcanqui is a province with a high rate of violence, which severely impacts its Awajún and Wampis indigenous communities. In 2023 alone, the Women’s Emergency Center (CEM) handled 163 cases of violence, 65 of which were sexual violence. In the first half of 2024, 159 new cases have already been reported, highlighting the urgent need for measures to protect victims and ensure access to justice.

In this regard, Hugo González, UNFPA Representative in Peru, emphasized during the handover: "Impunity must not exist or continue to exist in cases of violence that unfortunately affect women, adolescents, girls, and boys. The Gesell Chamber is an instrument that helps prevent the re-victimization of survivors, ensuring that authorities have the necessary tools to make justice accessible to everyone, particularly survivors of violence."

For his part, Condorcanqui's mayor, Lic. Hermógenes Lozano Trigoso, highlighted the importance of this tool for the region: "With the implementation of this Gesell Chamber, we reaffirm our commitment to defending human rights and protecting the most vulnerable in Condorcanqui. This specialized space will provide a safe and confidential environment in judicial processes, ensuring that victims of violence are treated with dignity and respect." Lozano Trigoso also highlighted the collaboration between the local government, UNFPA, and USAID to make this achievement a reality, representing a significant step in strengthening the justice system in the province.

This effort is part of the Nuwa Senchi project ("strong woman" in Awajún), implemented by UNFPA in partnership with state actors and supported by USAID. Nuwa Senchi aims to prevent and address GBV in intercultural and emergency contexts in the districts of Nieva and El Cenepa, coordinating actions to strengthen multisectoral services and local capacities.

Inauguration and Immediate Operation

With the inauguration of this Gesell Chamber, it is expected that survivors of violence in Condorcanqui will find a more effective way to obtain justice, reducing the barriers they have faced so far and improving their access to quality services in a region historically affected by a lack of adequate infrastructure.

On the same day of the handover, September 17, the Gesell Chamber was put into operation. Following the handover ceremony at noon, the first interview took place in the afternoon, marking the immediate start of its use to facilitate access to justice in cases of violence.

Gilder Zapana, President of the Superior Prosecutors Board, emphasized the sustainability of the service: "The Public Prosecutor's Office, through Forensic Medicine, has already hired a licensed psychologist and a data entry operator. Additionally, on October 20, two more professionals in psychology and two more data entry operators will be hired. With this team, two interviews can be conducted in the morning and two in the afternoon, with the possibility of increasing to six interviews daily depending on demand. Since its inauguration, the Gesell Chamber is designed to operate continuously."

This step is crucial to ensure a timely and quality response in the region, enabling a greater number of interviews with survivors of violence, supported by a specialized team that guarantees the continuous operation of the Gesell Chamber.

Regional context

Condorcanqui is a province with more than 60,000 inhabitants, of which 81.7% belong to indigenous communities. The challenging geographical conditions and frequent disruptions in services such as transportation and electricity make timely attention to GBV cases a challenge. However, with the implementation of the Gesell Chamber and the work of UNFPA in the area, a crucial step is being taken to improve the living and justice conditions of these vulnerable communities.

This handover is just the beginning of a path toward justice and protection for all people living in this region.