In a polarizing move, Peru’s Congress recently approved a contentious reform to the nation’s international cooperation law, significantly tightening regulations on civil society organizations. Human rights advocates are raising alarms that these new measures could debilitate efforts aimed at defending vulnerable communities and combating corruption. The newly passed legislation modifies a law implemented in 2002, originally creating the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) to oversee international aid. This reform, however, expands APCI’s authority in ways critics argue compromise the autonomy and operations of non-profit institutions.
Supporters assert the reform enhances transparency, yet opponents believe it is designed to exert undue pressure on human rights organizations. Carlos Rivera, director of the Legal Defense Institute, a Peruvian NGO, argues that the purported goal of transparency masks intentions to foster a climate of repression. Rivera especially condemns a provision making it a serious offense for non-profits to offer any legal resources or aid in governmental cases on a national or international scale. Furthermore, he claims the legislation is among the most unconstitutional measures passed in Peru since the 1995 amnesty laws. These laws, later declared unconstitutional, had shielded military and police officers from human rights abuse prosecutions during Peru’s internal conflicts.
Rivera highlights that the new law could severely undermine Indigenous communities’ access to justice, as they heavily rely on non-profit legal assistance. “Overnight, they could lose their ability to manage defenses—nearly 100% of these cases are handled by NGOs,” he points out. Thus far, Peru’s government has remained silent in response to inquiries about this legislation.
A critic of non-profits, right-wing congressman Alejandro Munante accused NGOs of lacking accountability, claiming they evade taxes and steer the national political agenda. However, Julia Urrunaga, director of Peru Programs at the Environmental Investigation Agency, refutes these allegations, emphasizing that APCI has regulated NGOs for over two decades, ensuring transparent reporting from these organizations. Expressing her concerns, Urrunaga warns that the reform jeopardizes the independence of NGOs, granting the government the ability to censor activities they disagree with since NGOs must now seek governmental approval for their plans.
Tom Younger of the U.K.-based Forest Peoples Programme describes the law as a severe blow to those defending human rights, environmental territories, and climate efforts across Peru. He contends that the consequences reach beyond the country, reflecting a broader trend towards authoritarianism on a global scale.
