The Karen Llantoy v. Peru Case, and Why Peru Is Not Complying with Article 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Abstract

The behavior of Peru regarding the implementation of some of the articles of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has been less than ideal in the last years. Peru ratified this treaty in 1982 and its Optional Protocol in 2001, and despite the regular recommendations of the Committee, has managed to avoid the implementation of several provisions within the text of the treaty.

This paper focuses on Article 12 of the main text, and some of the reasons why the country of Peru may be delaying and/or refusing to comply with it. It also discusses some of the consequences of this lack of compliance with the international standard, and the particulars of the Karen Llantoy v. Peru case, on therapeutic abortion as an evidence of this political decision.

Keywords: Karen Llantoy v. Peru, KL v. Peru, CEDAW, Peru, therapeutic abortion