Violence against women in Peru is an epidemic. Studies say more than half the women of Peru have been victims of domestic and/or sexual violence. Several factors have been identified, but mainly they have found that poverty is a major issue within the communities that report the highest incidents of violence against women.

Sexual violence against women in Peru is now so bad that Peru's President-elect Alan Garcia, who takes office Friday, made it one of his central campaign issues and has vowed to tackle the problem and give women a greater say in government.

Male frustration at high unemployment in Peru despite the country' unprecedented economic growth since 2002 and a corrupt justice system that rarely makes convictions are exacerbating violence against women in an already macho society.

The study found that more than 300 women have been killed by men committing sexual violence in Peru since 2003, even in cases when victims asked for police protection.

Some 51 percent of women in Lima and 69 percent of women in the southern Andean city of Cuzco said they have been victims of sexual or physical violence, the study added.

These are indeed staggering statistics.
via Reuters.