Peru: lawyers, academics and activists express “deep concern” as the Constitutional Court delays ruling on a case for equal marriage

Over fifty lawyers, academics and activists sent a public letter to Peru’s Constitutional Court, expressing “deep concern” as the court has delayed  ruling on a marriage equality case for more than two years.

In June 2018, the court held a public hearing on Óscar Ugarteche’s case against the Registro Nacional de Identificación y Estado Civil (RENIEC). The plaintiff reported that RENIEC had rejected his request to recognise his marriage to a man, registered in Mexico – reportedly arguing that marriage was “between a man and a woman”. The Court was supposed to rule in 30 days, but a decision on the case has been pending since then.

Peru is bound by a 2018 decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which indicated that all couples must be guaranteed the same legal protections and rights – including the right to marriage.

“A favourable ruling could pave the way towards marriage equality, but still [the Court] hasn’t issued a decision,” Más Igualdad Peru wrote on social media. “The recognition of equal marriage in Peru is at stake!”

Read: https://ilga.org/lgbti-news-173-ilga-oct-2020#LAC