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The Committee for the Defense of People’s Rights (CODEPU) has issued a forceful condemnation of the Chilean State for its recent decision to end the grace pensions intended for victims of ocular trauma caused by police repression during the social outbreak of 2019. In a public statement, CODEPU expresses its deep concern and disagreement with this measure that it considers extremely serious and contrary to the principles of justice and reparation.
During the social outbreak, Chile faced one of the most serious human rights crises in its recent history. CODEPU denounces the punishment policy deployed by the State, which resulted in widespread violations of human rights committed by state agents. These violations include deaths, eye trauma, injuries and abuse of preventive detention, practices that have left deep consequences in Chilean society.
Despite promises of reparations from the government, victims of state repression still await justice, truth and adequate reparation. The 418 grace pensions granted are not enough to constitute a true reparation policy, and the current government’s failure to maintain them represents a significant setback on the path to justice.
It is evident that, while conservative sectors and the political and economic right oppose any reparatory policy, the government has renounced its responsibility in matters of human rights. The decision to suspend the grace pensions contradicts the previous statements of the authorities, who had promised to maintain them due to the seriousness of the damage caused by State agents.
CODEPU considers that the cessation of grace pensions is an extremely serious action that not only ignores the victims, but also retraumatizes them. Furthermore, this measure transgresses human rights obligations in matters of justice and reparation, compromising the responsibility of the Chilean State before the international community.
Given this situation, CODEPU announces its commitment to present all necessary legal actions to reverse this erroneous decision. Likewise, it will denounce the seriousness of what happened to the relevant international organizations. The organization strongly condemns the executive branch’s renunciation of a human rights agenda that it considers essential today.
The decision of the Chilean State to end grace pensions for victims of ocular trauma during the social outbreak is a step back on the path towards justice and reparation. CODEPU reaffirms its commitment to the defense of human rights and will continue to fight for truth, justice and reparation for all victims of state repression in Chile