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Peru

Last updated: September 2, 2026

Recent Developments

On July 3, 2026, the National Jury of Elections (JNE) officially proclaimed Keiko Fujimori president-elect following a closely contested election, and she assumed office on July 28, 2026. Her administration takes office amid continuing concerns about shrinking civic space, including restrictions affecting CSOs receiving foreign funding and independent journalists. The political transition will therefore have a significant impact on civil society, particularly regarding whether the new government maintains, expands, or revises recent restrictions on civic activity and protects civic freedoms. Please see the News section below in this report for additional details.

While we aim to maintain information that is as current as possible, we realize that situations can rapidly change.  If you are aware of any additional information or inaccuracies on this page, please keep us informed; write to ICNL at ngomonitor@icnl.org.

Introduction

Civil society plays an active role in Peru, particularly in the areas of human rights, environmental protection, indigenous rights, social inclusion, anti-corruption, and democratic governance. Peru follows the civil law tradition, and the Constitution formally guarantees freedoms of association, expression, and peaceful assembly, as well as access to information and opportunities for public participation.

Despite these constitutional protections, the operating environment for civil society has become increasingly restrictive. In particular, Law No. 32301 and Supreme Decree No. 032-2025-RE expanded the oversight powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) over organizations receiving international technical cooperation, including through enhanced reporting requirements, prior control mechanisms, and administrative sanctions. These measures have raised concerns about their potential impact on the independence and advocacy activities of internationally funded civil society organizations.

Civil society organizations (CSOs), journalists, and human rights defenders also continue to operate amid concerns about intimidation, attacks, and restrictions on civic space. The political transition following the 2026 national elections will be important for the future operating environment, including whether recent restrictions affecting civil society are maintained, expanded, or revised.

Civic Freedoms at a Glance

Organizational FormsAssociations, Foundations, NGOs
Registration BodyAssociations: Public Registry
Foundations: Public Registry and Supervisory Council on
NGOs: Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation
Barriers to FormationLack of uniform registration criteria
Barriers to OperationsExcessive government control under International Cooperation Laws
Barriers to ResourcesExcessive government control under International Cooperation Laws
Barriers to ExpressionGovernment is hostile to unpopular groups
Barriers to AssemblyAdvanced notification required for “political gatherings”

This section provides a brief overview of Peru’s legal framework for the promotion and protection of civic freedoms. Click a subheading for more, or click here to expand all subheadings.

This section provides an in-depth assessment of Peru’s legal environment for civic freedoms, including the barriers to the exercise of the freedoms of association (formation, operations, resources), expression, and peaceful assembly. Click a subheading for more, or click here to expand all subheadings.

ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS

The Civil Code establishes three kinds of legal forms of non-profit legal entities in Peru: associations, foundations, and committees. Among these, associations are the most common, while committees are the least used classification due to their specific and temporary nature.

An association is legally defined as a “stable organization of natural or legal persons, or both, which through a common activity pursues a non-profit objective.” Associations may serve public or social purposes such as beach clubs, cultural groups, or philanthropic entities.

A foundation is defined as a “non-profit organization established by the assignment of one or more legal or natural personalities to accomplish objectives that are of religious, cultural, welfare, or other social interest.” To establish a foundation, an initial contribution of money or property is required. A foundation’s purpose must be social in nature, and private interest groups cannot use this legal form to pursue their own benefits. In comparison to associations, foundations face greater state oversight and are therefore less commonly formed.

A committee is legally defined as “an organization of natural or legal persons, or both, dedicated to the public collection of contributions for altruistic purposes.”

Associations in Peru are free to pursue any legal objective that serves either mutual or public benefit. Foundations, on the other hand, are restricted to objectives of religious, aid-based, cultural, or broader “social interest,” although the Civil Code does not define the term “social interest.”

Additionally, the term “non-governmental organizations (NGO)” is used to refer to not-for-profit entities engaged in “international technical cooperation (ITC)” activities, often related to the receipt of foreign funding. However, Peruvian law does not recognize NGOs as a distinct legal form; they are legally constituted in practice as civil associations.

PUBLIC BENEFIT STATUS

Associations and foundations are not automatically exempt from income tax. To obtain tax-exempt status, they must apply to the Peruvian Tax Agency ( Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administracion Tributaria , SUNAT) and register in the Register of Income Tax-Exempt Entities . In practice, this exemption is restrictive and can be difficult to secure.

The legal alternatives to obtain tax exemption from income tax for not-for-profit organizations are the following:

  1. Immunity: Foundations are not subject to income tax if they pursue the following exclusive purposes: culture, advanced research, charity, social and medical assistance, and social benefits for company employees (Article 18(c) of the Income Tax Law).
  2. Exoneration: Associations and foundations that do not qualify for immunity may apply for a temporary tax exemption under Article 19(b) of the Income Tax Law, as established by Law No. 30404 (December 30, 2015). This exemption is currently valid through December 31, 2026, provided organizations meet the following requirements:
    • Exclusively pursue charitable, social assistance, educational, cultural, scientific, artistic, literary, athletic, political, trade union, or housing purposes
    • Carry out qualifying activities within Peru
    • Avoid any direct or indirect distribution of income to associates or members
    • Include in their governing documents a dissolution clause stipulating that assets must be transferred to an entity with similar purposes upon liquidation (the dissolution clause requirement does not apply to organizations registered in the Registry of Foreign Organizations or Institutions of International Technical Cooperation maintained by the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI)).

Article 19(b) of Legislative Decree No. 1120 (effective January 1, 2013) was amended to clarify what constitutes indirect distribution of income, confirming that this includes the delivery of money and goods not subject to subsequent tax control. SUNAT may exclude an entity from the Income Tax Exemption Registry and cancel its authorization to receive tax-deductible donations if it finds evidence of such distribution (eg, transfer of money or goods outside of tax oversight). In such cases, the organization loses its exemption for the current and following fiscal year. After two years, it may reapplied for registration.

Organizations that do not qualify for either immunity or exoneration are taxed as corporations on their net income. Under Legislative Decree No. 1261 of December 10, 2016, the tax rate for corporations and taxpayers under the “third category” (business income ) is 29.5 percent, effective as of January 1, 2017.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The Constitution of Peru guarantees the fundamental right of every person “to participate, individually or in association, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the nation.” (Article 2(17)) It also enshrines the rights to freedom of information (Article 2(4)); to request information from any public entity, with certain exceptions (Article 2(5)); and to make written petitions individually or collectively to competent authorities, which are required to respond within a statutory timeframe or face legal liability (Article 2(20)).

Several laws provide for citizen access to public information:

  • General Administrative Procedure Act No. 27444;
  • Framework Act for Modernization of State Management Act No. 27658 (Article 5(b));
  • Transparency and Freedom of Public Information Act No. 27806;
  • General Administrative Procedure Act No. 27444: The current Consolidated Text (Texto Único Ordenado, TUO) was approved by Supreme Decree No. 006-2026-JUS, published on April 30, 2026, which repealed the previous TUO approved by Supreme Decree No. 004-2019-JUS; and
  • Transparency and Access to Public Information Act No. 27806: The Consolidated Text (Texto Único Ordenado, TUO) was approved by Supreme Decree No. 021-2019-JUS in December 2019.

The Act on the Rights of Participation and Civilian Control No. 26300 provides citizens the right to take part in the following:

  1. Constitutional reforms;
  2. Legislative proposals;
  3. Referendum;
  4. Regional and municipal ordinances; and
  5. Other participatory mechanisms established by law.

It also empowers citizens to challenge public authorities regarding budget spending and the use of public resources and requires authorities to respond (Article 31).

CSOs engage in numerous participatory frameworks and participatory processes, including:

  • The National Strategic Planning System (SINAPLAN) and the National Strategic Planning Center (CEPLAN), which were created under Legislative Decree No. 1088 (June 2008);
  • The National Accord (2002), a set of State policies developed and approved through dialogue and nationwide consultations to promote sustainability development and democratic governance (acodonacional.pe); and
  • The National Plan for Integrity and Anti-Corruption 2018-2021, approved by Supreme Decree No. 044-2018-PCM.

Additional laws promote civic participation at the regional and local levels:

  • The Decentralization Framework Act (Ley de Bases de la Decentralización) No. 27783, which obliges regional and local governments to foster citizen participation in developing plans, budgets, and public management processes (Articles 17–18);
  • The Regional Governments Organizational Act (Ley Orgánica de Gobiernos Regionales) No. 27867, which emphasizes citizen participation in designing, formulating, monitoring, auditing, and evaluating government plans, activities, budgets, and regional development projects (Article 8-9);
  • The Participatory Budget Framework Act No. 28056 and its Regulation , Supreme Decree No. 142-2009-EF, which establish participation as a guiding principle, requiring regional and local (municipal) governments to engage civil society in budget programming and oversight; and
  • Supreme Decree No. 168-2020-PCM (October 11, 2020), which mandates ministries to establish “coordination mechanisms” with regional and local governments, other entities, and civil society, depending on each policy’s scope.

Specific laws also support the participation of marginalized groups, such as:

  • Law on the Right to Prior Consultation to Indigenous Communities and Native Groups No. 29785;
  • The Elderly Act No. 30490 (Older Persons Act);
  • Children and Adolescents Code Act No. 27337;
  • Gender Equality Act No. 28983 (Article 6); and
  • General Act on People with Disabilities No. 29973 (Articles 6, 14).

Law 31494 of June 16, 2022 recognized self-defense and rural development committees as legal entities registered in local registries. The law incorporated these groups into the citizen security system and defined them as civil, peaceful, and democratic organizations working with peasant, indigenous, and rural populations to support sustainable development, citizen security, and national defense. However, in August 2022, Peru’s Ombudsman ( Defensoría del Pueblo de Perú ) filed a constitutional challenge to the law, arguing that it violated the rights of indigenous communities. Critics allege that extractive companies used these “self-defense committees” to intimidate indigenous populations opposing their projects. In December 2024, a Constitutional Tribunal declared Law 31494 unconstitutional in both form and substance.

BARRIERS TO FORMATION

The Civil Code provides minimal regulation of not-for-profit organizations.

In 2013, the Regulations on the Registration of Legal Entities were introduced. These regulations standardize procedures for registering not-for-profit organizations: “this regulation governs the registration of acts relating to the following legal entities: Associations, Foundations, Committees, Cooperatives, Legal Entities created by law, as well as any legal entity other than Companies and Individual Limited Liability Companies.”

These regulations govern various acts related to registration, including:

  1. The constitutive act, bylaws, and their amendments;
  2. Recognition of foreign legal entities;
  3. Establishment of branches and related registrable acts;
  4. Appointment and management of members of social organs, liquidators, representatives, and proxies, including granting, modifying, revoking, or delegating powers;
  5. Mergers, transformations, and other forms of reorganization; and
  6. Dissolution, liquidation, and termination.

Supreme Decree No. 130-2018-PCM of December 2018 eliminated the procedures for local NGOs and foreign NGOs (known as ENIEX) to renew their registration with the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI). As a result, once registered, these organizations now benefit from indefinite registration.

BARRIERS TO OPERATIONs

The most significant legal barrier facing NGOs in Peru is the extensive control over resources exercised by the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI). Under the current legal framework, NGOs and other organizations subject to APCI’s supervision are required to submit detailed reports on their planned activities, funding sources, and other financial information. This includes mandatory reporting when an NGO seeks to access refunds on value-added tax (VAT) for goods and services that are financed through international technical cooperation (ITC) resources. Law 32301 of April 15, 2025 also strengthened the APCI’s oversight and sanctioning powers and has maintained mandatory registration for the implementation of ITC. See the Barriers to Resources section below for more information.

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CTF) Regulations

Peru has established a regulatory framework for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing that applies to not-for-profit entities, but it is considered burdensome and disproportionate, contrary to the standards of the Financial Action Task Force’s Recommendation 8.

Specifically, NGOs are required to designate a compliance officer and to submit reports on suspicious operations. In practice, these obligations impose significant challenges, particularly on small and under-resourced NGOs, which often lack the capacity to hire qualified personnel. It is also difficult for these organizations to access specialized information about these requirements, as they are broadly defined, applying to organizations that collect, transfer, or disburse funds or resources for charitable, religious, cultural, educational, scientific, artistic, social, recreational or charitable purposes—as long as they do not engage in credit, microcredit, or other forms of economic financing.

The Mutual Evaluation Report published by GAFILAT (the regional FATF body) on March 21, 2019 found that Peru had not conducted a proper risk assessment of not-for-profit organizations to identify which ones are most vulnerable to abuse for terrorist financing and money laundering, as required by Recommendation 8.

The 2021 National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering, published by the Superintendency of Banking, Insurance, and Pension Funds Administrators (Superintendencia de Banca y Seguros y AFPs del Perú ), highlighted “deficient regulation of NPOs and the presence of multiple supervisors in ML/FT matters.”

On July 15–16, 2026, GAFILAT held an event in Lima focused on FATF Recommendation 8 and its application to NPOs. The discussions emphasized implementation of the FATF’s recent amendments through a risk-based approach intended to protect the sector from terrorist-financing abuse without unduly restricting legitimate activities.

BARRIERS TO RESOURCES

The Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) was established in 2002. Since its creation, there has been significant controversy over the scope of state supervision of domestic and foreign organizations that finance or implement projects using international technical cooperation resources.

Until 2006, registration with APCI was mandatory only for organizations engaged in international technical cooperation (ie, receiving funding from foreign sources) channeled through state agencies.

However, Law No. 28925, enacted in 2006, expanded APCI’s authority to regulate organizations that:

  1. Receive international funding from state agencies, including bilateral and multilateral entities of which Peru is a member; or
  2. Manage international cooperation independently of the state, while benefiting from any privilege, benefit, tax exemption, or use of state resources (whether national or foreign, as regulated by Legislative Decree No. 1451).

The expansion of APCI’s powers sparked widespread criticism domestically and internationally. Critics argued that the law infringed on fundamental rights, including freedom of association, privacy, and equality before the law. In response, two separate constitutional lawsuits were filed in 2007—one by a group of civil society representatives and another by legislators.

The Constitutional Court of Peru ultimately consolidated and ruled on the cases. The Court struck down several provisions of the law but upheld the majority of it. Crucially, the Court found that registration with APCI is not mandatory for organizations that do not accept any state benefits or use any state resources.

In practice, however, opting out is complicated, as nearly all organizations make some use of state resources in one form or another. Furthermore, the law does not clearly define key terms such as “state resources,” granting the government broad discretion to exercise oversight over a wide range of organizations.

Lastly, Law No. 32301 of April 15, 2025, which partially amended Law No. 27692 on the Creation of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) and other legal norms related to non-reimbursable international technical cooperation (ITC), strengthened the APCI’s oversight and sanctioning powers. It was, therefore, the subject of various criticisms from different sectors of civil society. The main amendments include: 1) mandatory registration of projects and expenses for all entities that manage ITC; 2) prior approval for the execution of plans, programs, projects or activities executed with ITC: 3) serious penalties for “misusing” ITC for actions “against the State” or allocating ITC for “acts that affect public order, citizen security, national defense, internal order, or harm public or private property”; 4) increased sanctions of up to 500 Tax Units (UIT) as well as possible dissolution by judicial decision; and 5) the obligation to report the “misappropriation of resources” from ITC or risk the APCI filing a criminal complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

On September 13, 2025, Supreme Decree No. 032-2025-RE approved new regulations for the APCI Law, implementing the amendments introduced by Law No. 32301.

BARRIERS TO EXPRESSION

Peruvian law does not prohibit CSOs from engaging in political activities, advocacy, lobbying, or other efforts to influence public policy. In practice, however, civil society organizations, journalists, and human rights defenders continue to face intimidation, harassment, and attacks that can discourage criticism of public officials and other powerful actors. Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2026 identifies shrinking civic space as an ongoing concern in Peru.

The expansion of oversight over internationally funded civil society organizations under Law No. 32301 and its implementing framework has also raised concerns regarding freedom of expression and advocacy. The broader supervisory and sanctioning powers granted to the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) may have a chilling effect on organizations that receive international cooperation funds, particularly those engaged in human rights advocacy, public interest litigation, accountability initiatives, or criticism of government policy.

BARRIERS TO ASSEMBLY

Article 2, Section 12 of the Peruvian Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, stating that “Every person has the right to gather peacefully without arms.”  To date, however, no specific national law fully regulates the exercise of this right. In practice, the Ministry of the Interior imposes advance notification requirements on organizers of public gatherings, which may create obstacles to the free exercise of assembly.

Advance Notification 

Under the Constitution, advance authorization is not required for meetings in private spaces or those open to the public. For assemblies in public spaces such as squares or thoroughfares, only prior notification—not permission—is constitutionally required.

Despite this, the Ministry of Interior enforces notification obligations through Directive 04-2011-10-1501 (Provisions pertaining to the granting of guarantees for public gatherings, sporting and non-sporting public shows, and social events) and its successor, Directive 0009-2015-ONAGI   (On Granting Guarantees Related to Public Order). These rules require organizers of public events—including meetings, marches, parades, processions, and religious services—to submit formal requests to authorities in advance.

In April 2021, Supreme Decree N° 003-2021-IN further updated administrative procedures, mandating that organizers of political and social gatherings provide a “commitment document” signed by the legal representative (for organizations) or by the individual organizer. This document affirms that the event will not affect public order, block traffic, or damage people or property and that participants will not carry weapons or dangerous objects. The organizers must also commit to comply with recommendations from competent authorities.

If authorities fail to respond within the legally prescribed timeframe, the petition is deemed denied. Organizers may appeal decisions through administrative remedies as outlined in Law No. 27444, the Law of General Administrative Procedure.

Thus, “spontaneous assemblies” are in practice deemed illegal as all assemblies require notification to safeguard “public order, security, or protection of property.”

Counter-Demonstrations

Article 359 of the Electoral Organic Act (Act No. 26859) prohibits multiple demonstrations in the same public space within a city unless they are held at least one kilometer apart. Local political authorities determine which gathering takes precedence based on the order in which notices were received.

Excessive Force

The legal framework governing the use of force by authorities includes:

  • Legislative Decree No. 1095 (modified by Law No. 31522 in July 2022), which regulates the Armed Forces’ use of force in protecting public order; and
  • Legislative Decree No. 1186 (August 2015), which governs police use of force and establishes the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality (and which was amended by Law No. 32291 to further regulate the use of lethal and non-lethal weapons and to incorporate provisions concerning the use of firearms in flagrante delito (in the act).

However, in March 2020, the Law on Police Protection (Ley de Protección Policial) No. 31012 weakened accountability by:

  • Exonerating military and police personnel from criminal responsibility for injuries or deaths caused while performing their duties;
  • Repealing the proportionality principle for police use of force; and
  • Restricting judicial powers to impose pretrial detention on officers accused of excessive force.

These changes raised concerns about impunity for security forces. For instance, Human Rights Watch stated that the so-called “Police Protection Law” could seriously increase the risk of abuse by police.

Additional Resources

This section contains links to external reports and news reports relevant to civic freedoms. The Historical Notes section contains links to past developments which ICNL has reported on. Click a subheading for more, or click here to expand all subheadings.

GLOBAL INDEX RANKINGS
Ranking BodyRankRanking Scale
(best – worst possible)
UN Human Development Index79 (2023)1 – 193
World Justice Project Rule of Law Index93 (2025)1 – 143
Transparency International132 (2025)1 – 182
Foreign Policy: Fragile States Index76 (2024)179 – 1
Freedom House: Freedom in the WorldStatus: Partly Free
Political Rights: 28
Civil Liberties: 39 (2025)		Free/Partly Free/Not Free
40 – 0
60 – 0
REPORTS
UN Universal Periodic Review ReportsPeru UPR page
https://mesadearticulacion.org/This website refers to a group composed of 17 local associations and 5 regional networks of NGOs from Latin America that search for a common agenda about civil society organizations. The website contains important updates and reports about the legal framework, access to financing and other news about civil society organizations
UN Human Rights ReportsPeru
Council on Foundations Country NotesPeru country note
U.S. State Department2024 Human Rights Report
Fragile States Index ReportsForeign Policy: Failed States Index
IMF Country ReportsPeru and the IMF
APCI (Peruvian Agency of International Cooperation)Catálogo de Oferta Peruana de Cooperación Técnica Internacional 2025 – 2026
Human Rights Watch• World Report: Peru (2025)
• Deadly Decline Security Force Abuses and Democratic Crisis in Peru (2023)
Ombudsman’s Reports• (April 2026) “Social Conflict Report” of the Ombudsman’s Office
• APCI (Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation): “Catálogo de la Oferta Peruana de Cooperación Técnica Internacional 2022 – 2024”  (Catalogue of the Peruvian Offer of ITC 2022-2024):
ICNL Online LibraryPeru
NEWS

Keiko Fujimori declared winner of Peru’s presidential election weeks after vote (July 2026)
Right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori has been declared the winner of Peru’s presidential race by the country’s electoral court, the National Jury of Elections (JNE). The announcement comes weeks after the June 7 run-off election against her left-wing rival, Congress member Roberto Sanchez. Delays in April’s ballot distributions — and lengthy vote counts after both rounds of voting — have dogged the election, prompting different political interests to cry foul. After running on a platform of cracking down on crime, she has promised to “unite the country”, which has dealt with years of political turmoil and a stagnating economy.

RSF calls on president Keiko Fujimori to improve alarming state of press freedom (July 2026)
Keiko Fujimori took office on 28 July as president of Peru following the deadliest year for the press in almost three decades, with four journalists murdered in 2025. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has documented continued press freedom violations in 2026, as threats, violent attacks and pressure from state actors continue. RSF has issued seven policy recommendations to protect news professionals and their outlets, and calls on the new government to instate concrete guarantees that the press can freely and safely investigate those in power.

José María Balcázar Replaces José Jerí after Scandal (November 2025)
Balcázar’s previous remarks expressing approval of sexual relations between girls aged 14 and male teachers have dominated Peruvian news coverage after his unexpected election. In 2023, the former regional high court judge sparked controversy as the only lawmaker to criticise and vote against a measure to ban child marriage. He said the ban should be limited to those under 14 only. In addition, Balcázar has been investigated for allegedly embezzling funds when he was head of the bar association in his native region of Lambayeque. He was expelled from the association in 2022 after a disciplinary hearing.

Lawmakers Advance Mining Permit Extension after protests (November 2025)
A Peruvian congressional committee approved a bill to extend temporary permits for informal miners until the end of 2027, a move that came as more than a thousand miners protested outside the legislature against the permits’ looming expiration. The bill will now be debated in a full plenary session of Congress for final approval. The program, known as REINFO, which grants a temporary legal status, has already been extended several times and is currently scheduled to expire in December 2025.

Amendment of the APCI Law Paves the Way for Impunity (March 2025)
Amnesty International expresses its objection and concern for the recent approval of the ruling amending Law 27692, a law that established the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI), as it threatens Peru’s civic space and unduly restricts the rights of association, freedom of expression and access to justice. On the grounds of seeking to strengthen the work of the APCI, the law undermines civic space, which is essential for citizen engagement, accountability of authorities and justice, as it increases undue control over the work of civil society organizations and leaves the door open to arbitrary restrictions, discretionality and censorship.

Peru: Oral Statement by Már Pérez- The National Coordinator for Human Rights (July 2024)
The National Coordinator for Human Rights welcomes the country report presented by the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association. However, we must point out that the situation in Peru continues to deteriorate: the Congress is promoting a series of norms that will definitively put an end to democracy and the separation of powers, allowing them to control the judiciary, the electoral justice system and civil society organisations, which they intend to prevent, for example, from participating in political advocacy activities. Poverty and malnutrition figures are only getting worse in the country, reaching levels similar to those we had during the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S Democrats Pressure President Dina Boluarte over Human Rights Violations (July 2023)
While President Dina Boluarte was finalizing details of her speech for July 28, the date on which Peru’s independence is commemorated, a group of 15 U.S. Democratic congresspeople sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The purpose of the letter was to alert him to what is happening in Peru, a country plunged in social convulsion since Boluarte was sworn in as president last December after the failure of Pedro Castillo’s self-coup. The main concern expressed in the letter is “the lack of accountability for Peruvian security forces responsible for the disproportionate and lethal use of force against anti-government in recent months,” which, according to the lawmakers, “reflects the underlying corruption and impunity that has undermined Peru’s democracy and contributed to widespread political disillusionment.”

Peru Declares State of Emergency in Lima over Protests (December 2022)
Peru’s government has declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima and three other regions following protests which have killed at least 42 in recent weeks. The measure, which is in force for 30 days, authorizes the army to intervene to maintain order and suspends several constitutional rights, such as freedom of movement and assembly.

Peru Congress Approves Motion of Vacancy Against Pedro Castillo (December 2022)
Peru’s Congress approved the vacancy of President Pedro Castillo for “moral incapacity” after the president declared the dissolution of the parliament amid the political crisis that the country is going through. The Vice President, Dina Boluarte, will become the executive after being sworn in by the parliament. She will be the first woman to assume this position in the 200 years of the republic.

Indigenous Women Demand Repeal of Law 31494 (July 2022)
Indigenous women have raised their voices to demand the repeal of Law 31494. They state that they “will not allow a law that threatens our rights and subordinates us to the Armed and Police Forces to remain in force, without determining institutional responsibilities. The Indigenous women of Peru will resort to all legal avenues to assert our rights as Indigenous Peoples and women. Simply, we demand policies from the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Power that promote peace and non-violence.”

ARCHIVED NEWS

Peru’s Ruling Party Calls for President to Step Down in 2023 (April 2022)

Peru Takes Step Towards Elimination of Parliamentary Immunity (December 2020)

Peru’s President Offers Resignation Over Vote-Buying Scandal (March 2018)

Peru’s Teachers’ Strike May Have Ended, but Its Grievances Remain (September 2017)

Ombudsman Report for 2017 (February 2017)

Peru Declares State of Emergency After Mine Clashes (October 2015)

First meeting for Las Bambas case (October 2015)

La Defensoría del Pueblo registró 212 conflictos sociales durante mayo (Spanish) (June 2014)

New Report on  Social Conflicts in Peru (March 2014)

Modern virtual Platform created by APCI-Agencia Peruana de Cooperación Internacional (December 2013)

New Report of Social Conflicts in Peru (November 2013)

UN labour agency names five countries where ‘serious and urgent’ labour-rights cases need attention (November 2012)

Violent suppression of protest in Peru (October 2012)

Urgent action to protect human rights of protesters (July 2012)

HRW: Cajamarca response requires restraint, respect for Rule of Law (July 2012)

Peru NGO workers detained near Newmont mine (March 2012)

Civil society helps Peru achieve EITI compliance (February 2012)

Peru Challenges the power of Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (December 2011)

Peru Elections: Ollanta Humala and Keiko Fujimori to the second round (April 2011)

USAID to begin second phase of poverty-reduction project in Peru (October 2010)

Peru: Amend Decrees for Prosecuting Military and Police Abuses (September 2010)

Police Repress Protest (August 2010)

Fujimori 25-year sentence upheld by Peru Supreme Court (January 2010)

Peru army and navy continue with war memorial plans (December 2009)

Peru: Investigate threats against rights defender (September 2009)

Peru: Radio closure could undermine press freedom (June 2009)

HISTORICAL NOTES

Civil society organizations (CSOs) have played a significant role in Peru’s development, shaped by the country’s history of military rule, democratic instability, and endemic corruption. While CSOs have operated in Peru for decades, the sector experienced a major expansion in the 1970s under the government of General Juan Velasco Alvarado, which introduced an atmosphere conducive to reform.

The return to democratic governance in the 1980s spurred a second wave of CSO growth, with many organizations focusing on grassroots issues and bottom-up approaches. However, persistent corruption, particularly under President Alberto Fujimori in the 1990s, and the ideological divide between a left-leaning CSO community and the government fueled recurring tensions. These frictions have often resulted in efforts by authorities to restrict CSO activities over the past several decades.

In recent years, social conflicts and protest movements have increased in Peru. According to the Ombudsman’s Office, these movements include not only socio-environmental demonstrations but also protests by heavy cargo carriers and agrarian organizations.

In December 2022, former President Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Congress, prompting his removal from office. Vice President Dina Boluarte subsequently assumed the presidency amid widespread protests demanding her resignation, early elections, and constitutional reform. Security forces responded to these protests with violence, resulting in the deaths of nearly 50 protesters. Peru subsequently underwent further presidential transitions during 2025–2026, followed by national and congressional elections in 2026. Keiko Fujimori was proclaimed president-elect in July 2026 and assumed office as President of the Republic on July 28, 2026.

According to the Ombudsman’s July 2026 Social Conflict Report, Peru recorded 191 social conflicts, including 150 active and 41 latent conflicts, as well as 159 collective protest actions.

Key Events

On April 11, 2021, elections were held in Peru to elect the president and vice-presidents of the Republic and congressmen for the government period 2021-2026. The candidates who went to the second electoral round were: Pedro Castillo (Perú Libre) and Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular). The second round took place on June 6, 2021. Pedro Castillo was proclaimed the winner of the presidential elections more than a month after the elections. In December 2022, ex-president Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve the Congress, but the Congress removed him and vice president Dina Boluarte assumed the presidency. She currently holds the presidency of Peru.