Defender Background & Analysis:
Francisco Soberon is a passionate and valiant human rights activist in Peru. In 1983 he virtuously founded and created the Association for Human Rights in Peru (APRODEH). It is a non-governmental group of which he is currently a director. He began his career and passion for human rights as an intermediate lawyer. He saw how the people of Peru were suffering due to the lack of human rights. He pledged to make a difference by creating his organization.
The APRODEH provided information to Peruvian congressman involved with the Congressional Human Rights Commission in Peru. The group also supported the legislative work in view of the growing human rights violations during the internal civil war in Peru. Soberon took up the cause of Peru’s fragmented population caught between the states security forces and the alleged two terrorist groups. His passion and determination allowed the constitutional provisions to be suspended enough so his group could put their opinions on the table.
He could have easily taken the bystander approach, as much of the country did, to this issue but instead he decided to be proactive and make a difference for his people. Soberon never failed to report any violations of human rights or abuse, even though by doing so, he endangered not only his life but his family’s as well.