Peru: The erosion of human rights by economic interests
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JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Geneva-Paris-Lima, February 25, 2021 - In Peru, the defence of human rights is a high-risk activity. Since 2011, 220 human rights defenders have been murdered and 960 criminalised, said today Peruvian collective, the National Coordinator for Human Rights (CNDDHH), and the Observatory (OMCT-FIDH) in a report titled Undermining Rights- The Defence of Human Rights hampered by economic interests.
Over the past year, Peru has seen conflict increase and social protests multiply. The response by the State has taken various forms, but has constantly been based on repression and the violation of rights. The use of the justice system against those who defend human rights, obstacles to social protest, excessive use of force against protesters and of emergency declarations are all part of a pattern aiming to obstruct the right to protest.
In recent months, we have witnessed the exacerbation of police abuses against a population that comes out to protest due to the serious institutional crisis, the precarious working conditions, and the defence of the right to life and health. The population is fed up with the priority treatment consistently granted to interests of powerful groups. The needs of the people and the structural problems of the country urgently need addressing, all with utmost respect for human rightssaid Jorge Bracamonte, Executive Secretary of the CNDDHH.
The murders of Gonzalo Pío Flores, Arbildo Meléndez Grandez, Santiago Vega Chota, and Roberto Carlos Villanueva Pacheco for denouncing the environmental impact of various extractive companies in their regions are indicative of the level of risk faced by defenders of the land, territory and environment.
The report documents how State´s obstinate insistence on the extractive model in Peru has led to not only undermining vulnerable territories, but undermining rights. The next elected authorities have a moral and legal obligation to reverse this trendstated Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General.
The report also highlights the situation of those defending the freedom of expression. An emblematic case is that of Marco Antonio 'Atoq' Ramón, a photojournalist who lost 70% of the vision in his left eye while covering a demonstration in Lima after a policeman fired a projectile at him. His case is not unique. The repression of freedom of expression is prevalent in Peru, with 239 attacks recorded in 2020, including over 40 during the recent demonstrations that occurred between November 9 and 15, 2020.
The abuse of the criminal process is the most widespread form of attack against defenders in Peru - with 960 cases over the past decade. On January 7, 2021, Jesús Mariano Cornejo Reynoso, an environmental defender, was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison for protesting the environmental damage in his region caused by the Tía María mining project of the Southern Peru company.
Peru must effectively address the structural causes of its vulnerability, including by developing a new model to respond to social conflict that avoids the criminalisation of defenders, and includes reforms of the Penal Code and greater guarantees against the abuse of rights by law enforcementdeclared Gloria Cano, Secretary General of FIDH and Executive Director of APRODEH - Peru.
The report was presented at a side event in the framework of the United Nations Human Rights Council with the participation of Mr. Germán López Ballesteros, Head of the Nueva Austria del Sira Native Community, which is threatened by illegal logging and drug trafficking; Ms. Paola Ugaz, investigative journalist criminalised for her work; Ms. Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Mr. Joel Hernández García, President and Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Justice Operators at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Ms. Mar Pérez, head of the Protection of Defenders Unit at the CNDDHH.
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For further information please contact:
- OMCT: Iolanda Jaquemet: +41 79 539 41 06
- FIDH: José Carlos Thissen: + 51 95 41 31 650
- CNDDHH: Raquel Palomino: + 51 999 556 311
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was established in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation against Torture (OMCT). The aim of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union's Human Rights Mechanism implemented by international civil society.
The National Coordinator for Human Rights (CNDDHH) is a coalition of civil society organisations that work towards the defence, promotion and education of human rights in Peru. Since its establishment in 1985, the CNDDHH has been recognised as the primary institution of reference in Latin America bringing together a collective of human rights groups at the country level. It helps to develop a culture of human rights and peace in the country, place human rights issues on the public agenda and work for the consolidation of a democratic institutions.