Peru: Congress Ramps Up Assault on Democratic System

OAS Members Should Urgently Address Backsliding, Defend Rule of Law


(Washington, DC) – Peru’s Congress is accelerating steps that undermine judicial independence, restrict civic space, and hinder investigations into organized crime and human rights violations ahead of the end of the legislative session on June 15, 2024, Human Rights Watch said today. Members of the Organization of American States (OAS) should discuss the situation in Peru during the organization’s general assembly in Paraguay in late June.

During the first week of June, lawmakers moved forward a constitutional amendment that would eliminate key judicial bodies and undermine the independence of electoral authorities. They also advanced bills that would provide the government with overly broad powers to control nongovernmental organizations and undermine investigations into human rights violations committed in the 1980s and 1990s. Under Peruvian law, constitutional amendments need to be approved in two separate congressional periods, with the next one starting on July 27.

“Peruvian legislators are ramping up their actions to control judicial and electoral authorities, weaken accountability systems, and undermine oversight and criticism of their actions with a flurry of destructive legislation suddenly moving forward, ” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “These measures are likely to have serious consequences for all Peruvians, allowing organized crime to thrive and making it harder for people to receive protection when their rights are abused.”

On June 5, Congress’ Constitutional Committee moved forward a constitutional amendment to eliminate the National Board of Justice, the body in charge of appointing and removing judges, prosecutors, and electoral authorities. The change would instead put legislators in charge of appointing and removing electoral authorities, as well as removing the heads of disciplinary bodies for the judiciary and the Attorney General’s Office. If the amendment is approved by Congress this week, and again in the next legislative period, it will severely undermine the independence of judicial authorities and threaten the legitimacy of future elections.

More:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/06/12/peru-congress-ramps-assault-democratic-system