The Inter-American Court of Human Rights Rules Against Peru in Forced Sterilization Case of Celia Ramos Durand

Lima, Peru – March 6, 2026 – In a landmark ruling that reverberates through the annals of human rights law, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) has declared the international responsibility of the Peruvian state for grave human rights violations that culminated in the death of Celia Ramos Durand. The court’s decision, issued yesterday, unequivocally attributes Ms. Ramos’s death to forced sterilization undertaken as part of the National Reproductive Health and Family Planning Program (PNSRPF), implemented during the administration of former President Alberto Fujimori. This verdict marks a pivotal moment, acknowledging decades of struggle for justice by victims and their families and setting critical precedents for accountability and reparations.

The Tragic Case of Celia Ramos Durand

Celia Ramos, a resident of Piura, Peru, was subjected to a forced sterilization procedure in July 1997. The operation, intended to be a routine medical intervention, tragically took a fatal turn. During the procedure, she suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest due to the anesthetic or medication administered. This led to a coma, from which she never recovered. Celia Ramos passed away 19 days later, reportedly without receiving adequate medical attention in the critical period following the failed sterilization.

The IACtHR’s exhaustive examination of the evidence led to a comprehensive finding of responsibility on the part of the Peruvian state. The court determined that Peru had violated multiple fundamental rights of Celia Ramos, including her rights to life, personal integrity, personal liberty, private life, access to information, family, equality before the law, non-discrimination, and health. Furthermore, the court recognized the profound impact on her family, affirming violations of the rights of her daughters to childhood and the rights of her family to personal integrity, guarantees, and effective judicial protection.

A Decades-Long Fight for Truth and Justice

The path to this historic ruling has been arduous, spanning nearly three decades of relentless advocacy by Celia Ramos’s daughters, Marisela and Marcia Monzón Ramos, alongside a network of dedicated human rights organizations. Speaking on behalf of the family, Marisela and Marcia emphasized that this verdict is not merely a legal triumph but the culmination of immense personal sacrifice and an unwavering pursuit of truth and justice.

“This sentence is the fruit of many years of struggle for truth and justice,” stated Marisela Monzón Ramos. “Our family initiated this process, and it has been sustained over decades with the unwavering support of organizations that walked alongside us in this search for justice. For us, this is an important milestone and a recognition for thousands of women affected by this policy. However, we must underscore that no outcome can fully repair the damage caused. This moment reaffirms our commitment to the truth of what happened.”

The legal representation for the victims highlighted the significance of the ruling in rectifying historical injustices. María Ysabel Cedano García, a lawyer with DEMUS (Estudio para la Defensa de los Derechos de la Mujer) and co-litigant in the case, articulated the far-reaching implications of the court’s decision.

“This historic sentence from the Inter-American Court recognizes that forced sterilizations occurred in Peru as an undeniable truth,” Cedano García asserted. “These were grave violations of imprescriptible human rights. The Peruvian state must prosecute the direct and indirect perpetrators, including former ministers of health, and comply with the protective ruling that mandates a policy of comprehensive reparations. This policy must be reactivated and include all other victims who have not yet been recognized.”

Historical Precedent: Forced Sterilizations as State Policy

The ruling in the case of Celia Ramos Durand is groundbreaking as it represents the first international condemnation by the IACtHR specifically addressing forced sterilizations in Peru. The court’s judgment moves beyond individual culpability to identify a systemic issue, recognizing these forced sterilizations as severe human rights violations and a distinct form of reproductive violence.

Crucially, the IACtHR applied an intersectional approach, concluding that the PNSRPF was a state policy that disproportionately and massively affected indigenous, peasant, rural, and vulnerable women. The court found that forced sterilizations were employed as a deliberate tool to limit these women’s autonomy and their capacity to make decisions about their own bodies and reproductive lives. This recognition is vital for understanding the discriminatory nature of the program.

Gisela de León, Legal Director of the Center for International Justice and Law (CEJIL), underscored the transformative potential of this verdict. “After decades of impunity, the Inter-American Court has recognized the responsibility of the Peruvian state for the violation of Celia’s rights and has established key standards to guarantee truth, justice, and reparation for thousands of women affected,” de León commented. “This ruling marks a turning point for justice in Peru and the region.”

The Imperative of Informed Consent in Reproductive Healthcare

A cornerstone of the IACtHR’s decision is its definitive stance on informed consent in medical procedures, particularly those related to reproductive health. The court stipulated that in all female surgical sterilization procedures, consent must be prior, free, full, and informed. This implies that women must have the absolute freedom to decide about their bodies and reproductive health without coercion or undue influence, armed with comprehensive and understandable information.

The court further emphasized the state’s obligation to consider contextual factors that can compromise a woman’s ability to provide free and informed consent. These include systemic discrimination in healthcare access, power imbalances between medical personnel and patients, and pervasive gender stereotypes within the healthcare system. These considerations are critical for ensuring that consent is not merely a procedural formality but a genuine reflection of a woman’s autonomous decision.

Catalina Martínez Coral, Vice President for Latin America at the Center for Reproductive Rights, articulated the profound implications of this aspect of the ruling. “Forced sterilization is one of the most severe human rights violations a state can commit, as it occurs within a woman’s body, without her permission, stripping her of the right to decide about her life,” Martínez Coral stated. “The IACtHR has recognized this with Celia’s case: consent is the foundation of any medical intervention and the cornerstone of reproductive autonomy.”

Mandates for Accountability and Non-Repetition

In its ruling, the IACtHR issued a series of concrete orders to the Peruvian state, aimed at ensuring accountability, providing reparations, and preventing future violations.

Key Mandates Include:

• Investigation and Prosecution: The state is ordered to conduct thorough investigations into the forced sterilizations with a gender perspective, ensuring that all responsible parties, both direct and indirect, are brought to justice. The court explicitly stated that amnesty laws and statutes of limitations cannot be used to shield perpetrators from accountability for these grave human rights violations.
• Access to Justice and Reparations: Peru must ensure that victims have effective access to justice and receive comprehensive reparations. This includes acknowledging the deaths of individuals resulting from forced sterilizations and inscribing their names in the Registry of Victims of Forced Sterilizations (REVIESFO). A public policy of reparations for victims of forced sterilization, in line with previous rulings by the Superior Court of Lima, must also be established and implemented.
• Measures of Non-Repetition: To prevent recurrence, the court mandated the implementation of a comprehensive national public policy on sexual and reproductive health. This includes enacting laws, protocols, and guidelines that rigorously ensure informed consent for women undergoing medical services related to reproductive health.
• Protection of Civil Society: The court reiterated its previous orders that DEMUS, as the legal representative of the victims, must be protected from reprisals and intimidation in its work, including any actions stemming from laws like the one establishing the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI).

Broader Implications and the Path Forward

The ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights carries profound implications not only for Peru but also for the broader Latin American region. It establishes a critical precedent in the fight against gender-based violence and reproductive rights violations, offering a beacon of hope for countless individuals who have suffered similar injustices.

The coordinated efforts of DEMUS, CEJIL, and the Center for Reproductive Rights, who have been instrumental in bringing this case to the international stage, underscore the vital role of civil society in upholding human rights. Their joint statement emphasized the enduring importance of memory, justice, and reparations, particularly in a regional context facing antidemocratic setbacks.

“We reaffirm the centrality of memory, justice, and reparation in the rule of law, in a regional context marked by antidemocratic regressions,” the organizations stated. “The compliance with this sentence will be decisive in dismantling the structures of inequality that allowed these practices and in ensuring that they are never repeated.”

The successful implementation of the IACtHR’s directives will be a crucial test for Peru’s commitment to human rights and its ability to address a dark chapter in its recent history. The case of Celia Ramos Durand serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of state-sanctioned human rights abuses and the enduring power of collective action in the pursuit of justice. The eyes of the region and the international community will be on Peru as it navigates the complex but necessary path toward full compliance with this historic judgment.