1. Fundación Amparo y Justicia is a
Chilean non-profit organization dedicated
to assisting the families of child victims
who pass away as a result of the injuries
suffered during sexual assault. The
Foundation provides legal, psychological
and social welfare assistance to families
with a view toward bringing those
responsible for these crimes to justice
On June 8, 1996, 5 year-old Elena Yáñez Roa was raped and murdered in Chile and prosecuting them to the fullest extent
by Zenón Soto Campos. The ruthlessness of the crime rocked the country. Public outrage of the law. In addition to representing the
Fundación Amparo y Justicia
grew when it was revealed that the perpetrator had a prior conviction for a similar families in all court proceedings, the
www.amparoyjusticia.cl Foundation provides psychological and
offense, but had not served out his sentence.
contactos@amparoyjusticia.cl social welfare support to mitigate the
devastating effects these crimes have on
Two years later –against all expectations – the Appellate Court of Concepción Twitter: @AmparoyJusticia
surviving family members.
reduced the sentence handed down by the trial court. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmparoyJusticia
Padre Mariano 181, Oficina 204, Providencia, Santiago, Chile Fundación Amparo y Justicia also
Moved by the family’s pain and legal and social strife, businessman Andrónico seeks to help shape public policy on
Phone: (562) 362 1261, ext.: 11
Luksic Craig brought together a team of expert attorneys to represent Elena’s parents free sexual offenses involving children in an
of charge. And thus, Fundación Amparo y Justicia was born. Since then we have sought to effort to prevent these heinous crimes as
provide care and services in all cases of rape resulting in homicide affecting children and well as minimize secondary victimization
adolescents in Chile. of sexually abused children whose cases
are heard in court.
History Mission

2. Research Board of Directors Staff
In 2008, Fundacion Amparo y Justicia, in
Activities
coordination with the Office of the Public • President: • General Manager:
Prosecutor and the Catholic University of Chile Ramón Suárez, Paulina Leiva.
conducted a survey on Perception of Investiga- Attorney and Academician.
tion and Court Procedures in Cases of Child Sex • Psychological and Social Coordinator:
Comprehensive Care Psychological/Social Welfare Intervention Help Reduce Abuse. The study measured the impact of court • Vice president: Solange Bertrand.
We provide surviving family members Our psychological support seeks to help Secondary Victimization proceedings on child victims of sex crimes in Andrónico Luksic,
families overcome this tragic experience in their quantitative and qualitative terms. The results of Businessman and Founder. • Finance and Administration:
with legal, psychological and social welfare
lives, minimize the impact of the crime and assist
As a core element in its mission, this study have helped several of these Roberto Molina.
support using a multi-disciplinary approach and
Fundación Amparo y Justicia seeks to minimize institutions improve their procedures.
clearly-defined intervention models. We seek to them in garnering the strength to move forward • Treasurer:
the secondary victimization of child and adoles-
provide effective, efficient and timely care to with the necessary judicial proceedings. The Rodrigo Terré, • Marketing and Communications:
Foundation also provides assistance in the form cent victims of sex crimes when their cases are
bolster the well-being of the entire family. Civil Engineer. Carolina Valdivieso.
of grief counseling, working with in-house heard in court. Toward this end, the Foundation Inter-Agency Cooperation
specialists as well as professionals from Chile’s engages in the following activities: Fundacion Amparo y Justicia has sought
Legal Assistance • Secretary: • Secretary:
public services with whom the Foundation is in to encourage cooperation and coordination
constant contact.
Alejandro Espinoza, Soledad Rojas.
Our attorneys specializing in these among players involved in investigating and
cases contact the victim’s family to provide
International Seminars Criminal Attorney.
litigating cases of child sex abuse. In this context,
guidance on the procedures and processes At the social welfare level, the The Foundation endeavors to raise • Assistant:
the Foundation led the inter-sectoral working
involved in the case. This support is available Foundation identifies the needs of families, awareness and provide state-of-the-art training group that devised a document entitled Proposed
• Director: Gilberto Hernández.
throughout the proceedings and continues up facilitating access to government-run social to professionals involved in dealing with the Verónica Reich,
Lines of Action to Reduce Revictimization among
until the defendant, if convicted, has completed services whenever possible. Where such Psychologist.
effects of sex crimes. In this context, the Founda- Children and Adolescents who have been the
his/her sentence. The Foundation continues to services are unavailable, the Foundation
tion has organized three international seminars victim of sexual Assault in Chile.
monitor the status of the perpetrator after provides them directly. In both cases, the
with speakers specializing in the field from the
sentencing to ensure effective compliance and Foundation endeavors to empower the families
U.S., U.K, Israel, Spain, Belgium, Argentina, The following organizations participated
represent the opposition to early release, parole and bolster their skills and capabilities for
Australia and Germany. in that effort: Office of the Public Prosecutor,
or other non-custodial alternative measures by grappling effectively with these tragic events.
the victim’s family. Office of the Public Defender, Ministry of Justice,
The final phase in the psychological and Participants at these events have included Judiciary, Ministry of Health, Carabineros unifor-
In addition to this legal advice, the Foundation social welfare intervention is to repair the harm prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers, med police, PDI detective force, National
provides free litigation services to the families caused to the families by the commission of the litigators, health care professionals, academics Juvenile’s Service, Medical Examiner’s Office, and
for the duration of the court proceedings. crime. and public defenders. academics.