Minister Álvarez makes a mess of things by saying that rapes of indigenous girls “have a cultural origin”, like “running a red light”

On Tuesday, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Ernesto Álvarez stated that sexual violence against minors in the Amazonian province of Condorcanqui, particularly incidents involving teachers, has a cultural origin. During his remarks, the minister compared these acts to the act of running a red light while simultaneously labeling the violations as an abominable crime.

The statements have drawn significant attention due to the minister's characterization of criminal conduct within indigenous communities. By linking the violations to cultural practices while acknowledging their illegal nature, the minister's comments have sparked controversy regarding the intersection of cultural context and human rights violations.