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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Peru International Parental Child Abduction Information

International Parental Child Abduction

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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Peru International Parental Child Abduction Information

Peru

Peru
Republic of Peru
Exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and the risk of kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.

Exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and the risk of kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Do not travel to:

  • The Colombia-Peru border area in the Loreto Region due to crime. 
  • The Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which includes Vilcabamba, due to crime and threats of terrorism.   
  • Some areas within the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco*, Huancavelica, and Junín, due to crime and threats of terrorism.   

* The city of Cusco and popular tourist sites nearby, like the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu, are not located in the affected area.   

Country Summary: Crime is common in Peru. Petty theft, carjackings, muggings, assaults, and other violent crime often happen even in daylight hours and with many witnesses around. Kidnapping is rare, but it does occur. The risk of crime increases at night. Criminal groups sometimes set up roadblocks to rob people in areas outside of Lima. 

Ayahuasca and Kambo Usage
U.S. travelers should not use Ayahuasca or Kambo because of the known dangers. U.S. citizens have suffered serious illness and, in some cases, died after taking these drugs. They have also been sexually assaulted, injured, or robbed while under the influence of these substances.   

Demonstrations
Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country. Public demonstrations can take place for a variety of political and economic issues.   Demonstrations can shut down local roads, trains, and major highways. This often happens without warning or clear information on reopening times.  Road closures can limit access to public transportation and airports. Closures may also disrupt travel in and between cities. 

Due to road safety risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru are prohibited from nighttime driving except within cities, between Lima and Huacho (to the north), and Lima and Paracas (to the south). U.S. government employees working in Peru may travel at night with commercial bus companies along the Pan-American Highway, to Huaraz, and on the Lima-Arequipa-Cusco corridor.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Peru.

If you decide to travel to Peru:

  • Stay aware of your surroundings. 
  • Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. 
  • Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. 
  • Avoid demonstrations and large crowds. 
  • Develop a communication plan with family or your employer or host organization (if you are traveling on business), so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. Specify how you'll confirm you're safe (text, calls, etc.), how often, and who you'll contact first to share the information. 
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
  • Review the Country Security Report for Peru. 
  • Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. 
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. 
  • We strongly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel.  Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. 

Colombian-Peruvian border area in the Loreto Region – Level 4: Do Not Travel

  • Do not travel to these areas for any reason. 
  • Drug trafficking and crime, plus poor infrastructure, limit how well Peruvian law enforcement can operate in this area. 
  • Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru must obtain special authorization to travel within 20 kilometers of the Peru-Colombia border in the Loreto region.  They cannot travel on the Putumayo River, which forms much of the Peru-Colombia border.  Due to the risks, the U.S. government cannot provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in this area. 

Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) includes areas within the Departments of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín – Level 4: Do Not Travel

  • Do not travel to these areas for any reason. 
  • Drug trafficking and crime, plus poor infrastructure, weaken Peruvian law enforcement’s ability to act effectively in this area. 
  • Remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group are still active in the VRAEM. The group might strike suddenly. They target Peruvian government sites and staff. 
  • Due to security risks, U.S. government employees working in Peru must obtain special authorization to travel to the VRAEM. Due to the risks, the U.S. government can’t provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the VRAEM. 
... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Party to the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes
U.S. Treaty Partner under the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes
Learn why the Hague Abduction Convention Matters.

What You Can Do

Learn how to respond to abductions FROM the US
Learn how to respond to abductions TO the US
ALL / ALL /

U.S. Embassy Lima
Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n
Surco, Lima 33
Peru
Telephone: + (51)(1) 618-2000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (51)(1) 618-2000
Email: LimaACS@state.gov

Consulates

U.S. Consular Agency - Cusco
Av. El Sol 449, Suite #201
Cusco, Peru
Telephone: + (51)(84) 231-474
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (51)(1) 618-2000
Email: CuscoACS@state.gov

Peru and the United States have been treaty partners under the Hague Abduction Convention since June 1, 2007.

For information concerning travel to Peru, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, currency and entry regulations, and crime and security, please see country-specific information for Peru.

The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Child Abduction. The report is located here.

The U.S. Department of State serves as the U.S. Central Authority (USCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention.  In this capacity, the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Children's Issues facilitates the submission of applications under the Hague Abduction Convention for the return of, or access to, children located in countries that are U.S. treaty partners, including Peru.  Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the foreign Central Authority.

Contact information:

U.S. Department of State 
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children's Issues
CA/OCS/CI 
SA-17, 9th Floor 
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Telephone:  1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Website

The Peruvian Central Authority for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Ministry for Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP).  The MIMP's role is to perform the duties given to central authorities under the Hague Abduction Convention, including processing Hague Abduction Convention applications for return of, or access to, children.  They can be reached at:

Ministerio de la Mujer y Poblaciones Vulnerables (MIMP)
Jr. Camaná 616 - Lima Peru
Telf. (511) 626 - 1600
www.mimp.gob.pe

To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to a child in Peru, the left-behind parent must submit a Hague application to the Peruvian Central Authority either directly or through the USCA.  The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to MIMP, and to subsequently monitor its progress through the foreign administrative and legal processes. 

There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the United States or Peruvian central authorities.  Attorney fees, if necessary, are the sole responsibility of the person hiring the attorney.  Additional costs may include airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.  Additional costs may include airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.

A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for return to the United States of a child abducted to, or wrongfully retained,  in Peru.  The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand whether the Convention is an available civil remedy and can provide information on the process for submitting a Hague 

A person may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for access to a child living in Peru.  The criteria for acceptance of a Hague access application vary from country to country.  The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand country-specific criteria and provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

Parents are not required to retain an attorney to represent them in a Hague Convention case. However, parents who wish to be represented by an attorney may choose either to hire a private attorney or request that the MIMP provide legal representation. The MIMP provides this representation free of charge through a MIMP legal office that retains public defenders paid by the Peruvian Government regardless of nationality or economic situation. A privately-hired attorney should contact the Peruvian Central Authority as soon as possible after the Hague Abduction Convention application has been filed with the Peruvian Central Authority. 

The U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru, posts a list of attorneys, including those who specialize in family.

This list is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of any individual attorney. The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the following persons or firms. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers.

The MIMP promotes mediation in abduction cases and they will first attempt to mediate between the parties in Hague Abduction Convention cases before a case is forwarded to a court. MIMP provides mediation services for abduction dispute resolution at no cost to participants.

Information about mediation is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of the information or services contained therein. The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the persons or firms contained on this list.

Exercising Custody Rights

While travelling in a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country. It is important for parents to understand that, although a left-behind parent in the United States may have custody or visitation rights pursuant to a U.S. custody order, that order may not be valid and enforceable in the country in which the child is located.  For this reason, we strongly encourage you to speak to a local attorney if planning to remove a child from a foreign country without the consent of the other parent.  Attempts to remove your child to the United States may:

  • Endanger your child and others;
  • Prejudice any future judicial efforts; and
  • Could result in your arrest and imprisonment.

The U.S. government cannot interfere with another country’s court or law enforcement system.

To understand the legal effect of a U.S. order in a foreign country, a parent should consult with a local attorney in the country in which the child is located.  

For information about hiring an attorney abroad, see our section on Retaining a Foreign Attorney. 

Although we cannot recommend an attorney to you, most U.S. Embassies have lists of attorneys available online. Please visit the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for a full listing.

For more information on consular assistance for U.S. citizens arrested abroad, please see our website.

Country officers are available to speak with you Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  For assistance with an abduction in progress or any emergency situation that occurs after normal business hours, on weekends, or federal holidays, please call toll free at 1-888-407-4747. See all contact information.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this flyer is provided for general information only, is not intended to be legal advice, and may change without notice. Questions involving interpretation of law should be addressed to an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. 

 

Last Updated: February 13, 2015

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Lima
Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n
Surco, Lima 33
Peru
Telephone
+ (51) (1) 618-2000
Emergency
+ (51) (1) 618-2000
Fax
+ (51) (1) 618-2724
Email
LimaACS@state.gov
Website
https://pe.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-lima/

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