Peru - September 2025

In September, youth groups mobilized protests against the government and a recent reform to the pension system. The latter introduced changes requiring self-employed workers to contribute to private pension administrators—the private financial entities that manage the funds—and restricts, for those under 40, access to one of the current options, which is that a worker can choose to receive 95 per cent of their accumulated funds upon retirement instead of receiving a monthly pension. Though Congress had walked back the changes after public outrage, the demonstrations continued, with young people—also known as ‘Gen Z’—expressing frustration with decision-making affecting their future. More broadly, demonstrators demanded the government take action to curb insecurity and end corruption. Public transit operators and bus drivers, who have been raising alarms for over a year about the increasing extortion and violence they face, joined the protests. Clashes between demonstrators and police resulted in at least 18 injured, mostly protesters, and further reports of injuries among journalists and police officers.