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BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) \u2014 Peru\u2019s Congress has approved a controversial reform to the country\u2019s international cooperation law which imposes sweeping restrictions on civil society organizations in a move human rights groups warn could cripple efforts to defend vulnerable communities and fight corruption.<\/p>\n
The decision modifies legislation passed in 2002 which established the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) and regulates the oversight of international aid, but now expands the agency\u2019s powers in ways critics say threaten the independence and work of non-profit organizations.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the decision say it boosts transparency, but critics see it as a way to pressure human rights groups.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBeyond the false argument of transparency, the law doesn\u2019t seek to make anything more transparent,\u201d Carlos Rivera, director of the Legal Defense Institute, a Peruvian human rights advocacy NGO, told The Associated Press. \u201cWhat it really aims to do is create a climate of repression and persecution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rivera says he is particularly concerned about a provision that makes it a serious offense for non-profits to provide legal action, advice, assistance, or funding for any administrative or judicial cases against the government, both nationally and internationally.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s obviously one of the most unconstitutional things \u2014 perhaps the most unconstitutional \u2014 passed in Peru since the 1995 amnesty laws,\u201d Rivera said.<\/p>\n
The 1995 amnesty laws in Peru<\/a> shielded military and police personnel from prosecution for human rights abuses committed during the country\u2019s internal conflict, including massacres, torture, and forced disappearances. They were later declared unconstitutional for violating the right to justice and breaching international human rights standards.<\/p>\n Rivera said the law could severely restrict Indigenous<\/a> communities\u2019 access to justice, as they rely heavily on legal support from non-profits.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom one day to the next, they won\u2019t be able to manage their defenses \u2026 nearly 100% of cases are handled by non-governmental organizations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Peru’s government did not respond to a requests for comment.<\/p>\n Ahead of the vote, right-wing congressman Alejandro Munante delivered a sharp critique of non-profits, claiming they \u201care not accountable to anyone, do not pay taxes, and set the country\u2019s political agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not true that NGOs have been operating in Peru without any accountability,\u201d Julia Urrunaga, director of Peru Programs at the Environmental Investigation Agency, told the AP. \u201cThe APCI agency has existed for the last over 20 years and the NGOs operating in the country and receiving tax benefits have been reporting to them with plenty of detail.\u201d<\/p>\n Urrunaga is \u201cseriously concerned\u201d because the law will eliminate the independence of the NGOs and Indigenous organizations.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder the bill, the Peruvian government will have the capacity to censor any activities that they won’t like from NGOs, given that under this new law NGOs will have to present their plans in advance to be pre approved by the government,\u201d she said. \u201cOperating without such approval, or taking actions that have not been approved will be considered illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n Tom Younger, Peru Programme Coordinator of the U.K.-based Forest Peoples Programme, said the \u201creactionary law strikes a harsh blow against all of those struggling to defend human rights, territories of life and the climate across Peru,\u201d but that it “has much broader ramifications, given the strengthening of authoritarian forces internationally.”<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n The Associated Press\u2019 climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP\u2019s standards<\/a> for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n