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Key Factors: In the past two decades, terrorism in Peru has caused heavy loss of life and traumatic injuries, thereby enlarging the number of persons with disabilities in the country. The Committee on Truth and Reconciliation disclosed that "Peru lived through an internal armed conflict between 1980 and 2000, which was the most extensive and prolonged episode of violence in all the history of the Republic. About 69,280 persons were victims of violence."1
The terminology used to refer to people with disabilities varies throughout
Peru. Most often, the phrase "personas con discapacidades", translated as "people
with disabilities," is used. There are still several other phrases that are also used
to refer to people with disabilities, though. The word "minusválidos," translated
as "handicapped" continues to be used. Additionally, some legal documents use
outdated language in reference to persons with mental disabilities. The Peruvian
Civil Code uses the terms "retardados mentales," and " deterioro mental " which
have been translated as "mentally retarded people" and "mentally impaired
individuals" respectively. Other outdated terminology in the Peruvian Civil Code
makes reference to "sordomudos," "ciegosordos," and "ciegomudos," translated
to "deaf/mute," "blind/deaf," and "blind/mute" respectively. Also the Judiciary Act
refers to "mudos" or "mutes." When directly quoting from legal documents and
interviews, the original terminology has been retained.
The People with Disabilities Act contains the following, most frequently used,
definition:
A person with disabilities is an individual with one or more impairments as evidenced by a substantial loss of any physical, mental, or sensory function, resulting in a reduction or lack of ability to perform an activity
1. Committee on Truth and Reconciliation, Informe Final [Final Report], 28 August 2003, http:// www.cverdad.org.pe.