Peru
In early 2026, Peru is experiencing a period of significant democratic backsliding. The country is marked by a "power pact" between the executive and a highly unpopular Congress, which has resulted in several controversial laws that human rights organizations describe as institutionalized impunity.
The following are the primary human rights issues currently facing Peru:
1. Impunity for Historical and Recent Violence
The Peruvian government has taken legislative steps to shield security forces and officials from accountability for both past and recent human rights violations.
Amnesty for "Crimes Against Humanity": In August 2025, President Dina Boluarte enacted a law granting amnesty to military and police personnel for crimes committed during the internal armed conflict (1980–2000). This move was condemned by the UN and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights as a breach of international law.
Lack of Justice for Protesters: Three years after the 2022–2023 mass protests, there have been zero convictions for the killing of 49 civilians by security forces. In late 2025, Congress shelved a constitutional complaint against Boluarte regarding her role in the repression.
Criminalization of Dissent: New legislative reforms have narrowed the definition of "organized crime," which critics argue is being used to characterize social protest leaders as criminals while simultaneously making it harder to prosecute corruption.
2. Erosion of Judicial Independence
The separation of powers in Peru has reached a critical low point as the legislature exerts increasing control over judicial bodies.
Control of the National Board of Justice (JNJ): In 2025, a new JNJ was sworn in through a process that international experts claimed lacked transparency. The JNJ is responsible for appointing and removing judges and prosecutors.
Harassment of Prosecutors: High-profile anti-corruption prosecutors have been removed or faced disciplinary investigations led by the Attorney General's office, particularly those investigating lawmakers and the President.
Electoral Siege: Legislative reforms in early 2026 have targeted the National Jury of Elections (JNE), seeking to shorten terms and change appointment rules ahead of the April 2026 general elections, raising fears about the fairness of the upcoming vote.
3. Indigenous Rights and Environmental Threats
Indigenous communities in the Amazon and Andes face escalating threats from both legal policy shifts and illegal industries.
The "Extermination Bill": A controversial bill (Proyecto de Ley 12215) proposed in 2025 would allow for the "review" and potential cancellation of reserves for uncontacted Indigenous peoples every six months, effectively opening their lands to oil, gas, and logging.
Violence Against Defenders: Environmental and Indigenous leaders are frequently targeted by illegal miners and drug traffickers. Protection mechanisms remain severely underfunded and ineffective.
Forestry Law Changes: Recent regulatory changes have weakened protections against deforestation, favoring large-scale agribusiness and illegal logging operations in the Amazon.
4. Migrant and Refugee Crisis
Peru hosts over 1.6 million Venezuelan migrants, the second-largest population in the world, and the state response has become increasingly restrictive.
Forced Expulsions: Authorities have implemented an "expedited expulsion" procedure for irregular migrants, often bypassing due process.
Barriers to Legal Status: While laws on paper allow refugees to work, bureaucratic paralysis has left over 500,000 asylum applications pending, leaving many in a legal limbo without access to formal jobs or healthcare.
Xenophobic Rhetoric: Public discourse has turned increasingly hostile, with political leaders frequently blaming migrants for the rise in urban crime (extortion and kidnapping).
5. Women’s and LGBTQI+ Rights
The current administration and the ultra-conservative coalition in Congress have rolled back several social protections.
Targeting the Ministry of Women: In 2025, the government announced plans to restructure or close the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, a move activists say will gut the state’s ability to combat the country's high rates of femicide.
LGBTI+ Pathologization: A 2024 decree that officially categorized "transsexuality" as a mental disorder remains on the books in 2026, despite international condemnation and "clarifications" from the Ministry of Health.
Reproductive Rights: Access to therapeutic abortion (the only legal form in Peru) remains severely restricted. In 2025, reports highlighted that over 1,000 girls under the age of 15 were forced to carry pregnancies to term.