Thousands of people marched through the streets of Lima "in defense of life, family and liberties" during the 52nd General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) being held in the Peruvian capital. In addition, several deputies warned the Government "not to dare to sign any document that contravenes its current legislation."
Increíble Perú! 🇵🇪
Miles de familias marchando en contra del #aborto y la #ideologíadegénero en medio de la cumbre de la #OEA
Nuevamente queda demostrado que cada día somos más los que levantamos nuestra voz en contra de estas ideologías nocivas y antinaturales
Sigamos luchando! pic.twitter.com/U2I93xnJ96— Dip. Juan Argañaraz (@jdarganaraz) October 6, 2022
Under the slogan "Together against inequality and discrimination," the organization's secretary general, Luis Almagro, soon made it clear what "discrimination" they are referring to:
Discrimination arises from upper class or empowered class consciousness, from machismo, from white skin consciousness (...) From these conscious acts, the poor, women, the LGBTI population, the indigenous and Afro-descendant population, small farmers or rural dwellers are discriminated against.
Estamos muy contentos por nuestra marcha multitudinaria ProVida y Profamilia en Lima Perú, logrando hacer escuchar nuestra voz a la #OEA @oea_oficial #porelalmadeamerica pic.twitter.com/4gdAzY1TBd
— Congreso Iberoamericano por la Vida y la Familia (@CongresoIberVF) October 6, 2022
Ideology vs. health, safety and poverty
This was something that the organizations organizing the march had already warned about. Thus, Gilberto Rocha Margain, coordinator of the Coalition of Education and Culture for Democracy, pointed out that "the issues of homosexual marriages, decriminalization of abortion, gender identity, trans children and erotically charged basic education are the apple of discord that will be discussed during this OAS event, and that they distract from fundamental issues such as health, security and poverty".
Perú | Hoy las familias marchan por el alma de américa, por un continente sin aborto ni ideología de género en medio de la cumbre de la OEA. #ConMisHijosNoTeMetas #PerúPresente #PorElAlmaDeAmérica pic.twitter.com/Ivb0xzTeRt
— Con Mis Hijos No Te Metas (@CMHNTM) October 6, 2022
Political support
The protesters were supported by politicians such as federal deputy Alejandro Muñante Barrios. "We do not agree that international institutions such as the Organization of American States come to impose ideologies contrary to the values of the Peruvian people," he said. Milagros Jauregui Martínez de Aguayo, also a congresswoman, added that they will take advantage of "the opportunity to present the commitment that Peruvians have in defense of life, the family and liberties."
🇵🇪 Miles de ciudadanos se volcaron en la ciudad de Lima para hacer frente a la agenda progre de la #OEA.#DefensaNacional #SesiónDeLaOEA#EnDefensaDeLaVidaYLaFamilia pic.twitter.com/Op1dydnFwx
— Alejandro Muñante (@AlejoMunante) October 7, 2022
"For a childhood without ideological bombings."
During the first part of the Assembly, the floor was given to Civil Society Associations. A good number of them made clear to the representatives of the American states their views on abortion and the family. For example, Jessica Pérez Zapata, of the Education and Culture for Democracy Coalition denounced:
It is about imposing concepts that are regressive of the fundamental rights of the human being, which generates inequality and discrimination. Educating for democracy is based on science, not dogma, not just one thought, we must go back and recognize the fundamentals of the OAS. We demand children's rights without ideological bombardment in the classroom, in order to advance as a society. There is not a single international treaty that eliminates the right to live of the weakest and the voiceless. On the contrary, we must defend our generations.
Cerca de 50 MIL personas de #ConMisHijosNoTeMetas protestando contra la OEA, no hubo ni un solo cristal roto, pista quebrada, incendio de llantas, o personas saqueando, esa es la diferencia moral con las marchas de los rojetes, pero los "brutos y achorados" somos nosotros, ¿no? pic.twitter.com/cJ7PKXCRfV
— Carlo Martin (@Liberfach0) October 6, 2022
The General Assembly has generated a great deal of controversy in Peru since before it was held. Initially, the Peruvian Congress voted against holding the meeting in Lima, as the OAS required that "neutral bathrooms" be provided. Subsequently, the Legislative Branch headquarters rectified the situation.
