ΠΕΡΟΥ. "ΟΧΙ" ΣΤΟ ΣΥΜΦΩΝΟ ΣΥΜΒΙΩΣΗΣ ΟΜΟΦΥΛΩΝ

Peruvian Congress rejects proposal for same-sex civil unions
laprensasa.com, 11/3/2015

Lima, Mar 11 (EFE).- The Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the Congress of Peru has rejected a proposal allowing civil union between persons of the same sex.

The proposal presented by lawmaker Carlos Bruce triggered huge debate and controversy in Peru.

After being debated for three and half hours on Tuesday it was overwhelmingly rejected with only four of the 15 commission members voting in favor.

Amongst those who voted it down was Juan Carlos Eguren, who is supporting an alternative proposal to institute the sharing of property assets by couples irrespective of their sexual orientation.

After the vote, APRA legislator Mauricio Mulder, who voted in favor of the proposal, submitted a request for reconsideration next week.

Bruce expressed confidence that the proposal would be approved in the near future.

"We have disagreed on many issues, we have given our reasons and based on reason and the law this should be approved," he told reporters.

"We are going to continue fighting for equality and wait for the next Congress to present a bill in favor of civil union," added the legislator who called those who voted against the proposal "regressive".

Fujimori lawmaker Julio Rosas, said he voted against the proposal "to defend the Peruvian family which is the foundation of society."

The ruling Gana Peru party and the Fujimorista Popular Force party, together providing 9 of the 15 members of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, have both allowed legislators a conscience vote citing lack of unanimity on the proposal within their parties.

Although the proposal for same sex civil unions has elicited criticism from conservatives on social media, it has also won support from civil and social organizations such as Amnesty International on grounds of equality and right to family.

500 people marched in Lima on Saturday demanding Congress approve Bruce's proposal.