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Peru

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

August 2025

Amnesty bill benefiting accused human rights violators is promulgated

On 13 August, a law entered into force through which amnesty will be granted to members of the security agencies on trial for human rights violations committed in the context of the internal armed conflict (1980-2000). The amnesty applies to members of the armed forces, national police, self-defense committees and to public officials under investigation without a final conviction. It also applies to those convicted over the age of 70 years on ‘humanitarian’ grounds. CSOs estimate that up to 600 people on trial and over a hundred who have been sentenced could benefit from the amnesty. Proponents of the bill have argued that those who defended the country from terrorism should not be subjected to decades-long investigation and trials. Human rights experts have condemned the bill, as amnesty for gross human rights violations is contrary to international law and standards and denies victims and their families access to justice and truth.

Sources: Diario El PeruanoOHCHR (1), OHCHR (2), El ComercioCEJILEl Pais, BBC

Constitutional Tribunal ruling temporarily suspends inquiries into President Boluarte

On 19 August, the Constitutional Tribunal ruled that investigations into President Dina Boluarte should be suspended until the end of her tenure in 2026. The Tribunal reasoned that inquiries into cases not considered in Article 117 of the Constitution, which establishes the cases in which members of the executive can be accused during their tenure (such as treason, preventing elections, or dissolving Congress) should be limited to taking a statement, information requests and presentation of supporting documentation. The Tribunal, however, reiterated that the process can continue after the end of her tenure. Critics argue that the ruling undermines accountability and anti-corruption efforts.

Sources: La RepublicaEl Comercio, Infobae, El Pais

June 2025

Congress reintroduces parliamentary immunity
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On 12 June, Congress passed an amendment to the Constitution that would reintroduce parliamentary immunity for common offenses, which had been removed in 2021 in an attempt to eliminate impunity and enhance anticorruption efforts. The amendment grants lawmakers immunity from criminal prosecution or arrest unless Congress authorizes such actions. Immunity would, however, not cover parliamentarians who were caught in the act of committing a crime, or immediately thereafter. Proponents of the change argue that most countries in the region have parliamentary immunity and that its purpose is to shield lawmakers from improper political or judicial pressure. Critics consider that it will enable impunity. The amendment must be ratified by the next legislature, which will be elected during the April 2026 general election.

Sources: Congreso de la RepublicaLa RepublicaExpreso

April 2025

Former President Ollanta Humala is convicted of asset laundering

Former President Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) was convicted by a three-judge body of the National Superior Court (Tercer Juzgado Colegiado de la Corte Superior Nacional) to 15 years imprisonment for asset laundering. After a trial of over three years, the judges concluded that Humala’s presidential campaigns in 2006 and 2011 received illegal financing from Venezuela’s government under Hugo Chavez and from Brazilian engineering company, Odebrecht, which has been implicated in other bribery cases. Humala’s wife and co-founder of the Nationalist Party, Nadine Heredia, was also convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for her role in the illicit financing of Humala’s campaigns; she sought and was granted political asylum from Brazil upon her conviction. The judges determined that in 2011 alone, Humala’s Nationalist Party received around USD 3 million in illegal contributions through means such as cash payments and false contracts. Humala has stated he will appeal.

 Sources: La RepublicaFrance 24BBCEl Pais 

Amendments to scrutinize CSO work enter into force

On 15 April, President Dina Boluarte promulgated amendments to the bill that established the Peruvian International Cooperation Agency (APCI), passed by Congress the previous month. The amendments provide that civil society organizations (CSOs) must register and receive approval from the APCI to engage in international cooperation. Other provisions include sanctions for activities that are detrimental to public order or national security in the form of admonition, fines, suspension or cancellation of registry. They further classify financing of lawsuits against the government as an aggravating circumstance (meaning that CSOs could be sanctioned for legally challenging policies with which they disagree). The amendments, which proponents of the bill and the President characterized as vital to ensuring accountability in how CSOs use funds received from international cooperation, will tighten government scrutiny over CSOs. Rights organizations have denounced the bill as an attempt to stifle criticism of the government or legal action against the state, including judicial complaints over human rights abuses. 

Sources: Diario El Peruano, TV Peru, OHCHR, Amnesty International, International IDEA

March 2025

Congress approves controversial amendments to scrutinize NGO work
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On 12 March, Congress approved amendments to the bill that established the Peruvian International Cooperation Agency. The amendments will strengthen government control and scrutiny over the work of civil society organizations that receive international funding. Controversially, the amendments establish sanctions for NGOs for activities that could be detrimental to public order or national security. The vagueness of the provisions would allow for their discretional application, prompting concern among human rights practitioners. The amendments would classify the financing by an NGO of legal action against the government as an aggravating circumstance, meaning that organizations could be sanctioned for legally challenging government policies with which they disagree. Analysts assert that they restrict civic space and serve as a hurdle to access to justice for victims of human rights violations. Proponents of the bill allege that the amendments will strengthen transparency and accountability in the work of NGOs. President Dina Boluarte is expected to either make observations or sanction the amendments. 

 Sources: Congreso de la RepublicaWolaInfobaeAmnesty International 

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2024

Chevron
Representation
55/173
Rights
96/173
Rule of Law
86/173
Participation
86/173

Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
34 217 848
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
President Dina Boluarte (since 2022)
Head of government party
Independent
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
41.5%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2021
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
12.62
Head of state
President Dina Boluarte
Selection process for head of state
Direct election (two-round majority)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
25/01/2023
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
94.05%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
State Party
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
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Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
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Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
State Party
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
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Representation neutral Rights
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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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