On July 28, Alan García Pérez will be sworn in for his second term as president of Peru. An important question raised by García's return to office is whether he will address Peru's ongoing failure to bring to justice the perpetrators of egregious human rights abuses that accompanied the country's long internal armed conflict, including abuses that marred his first term in office.

This briefing paper assesses Peru's mixed record to date in establishing accountability for the massive human rights abuses of the 1980s and 1990s. It identifies and examines the main obstacles that have hindered the investigation and prosecution of these cases. It concludes by recommending specific steps the new administration can take to overcome the obstacles and advance the rule of law.