AYACUCHO, Perú — During Peru's most violent period between 1980 and 2000, approximately 20,000 people disappeared, leaving behind a trail of grief and uncertainty for their families. Lidia Flores, a resident of Ayacucho, lost her husband, Felipe Huamán, to this turmoil in July 1984. Despite finding his remains 40 years ago, Flores chose to advocate for others who also experienced the pain of losing loved ones during that dark time.
Flores now leads the National Association of Relatives of Detained and Disappeared Persons of Peru (Anfasep), a group dedicated to seeking truth and reparations for the victims. The violence in Peru was a result of the conflict between the government and the Communist organization Sendero Luminoso, which unleashed terror through bombings, massacres, and disappearances.
