“UN expert to Peru: guarantee indigenous peoples’ rights, title their lands and end criminalisation to protect Human Rights Defenders” – 7 February 2020

The United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, has concluded his visit to Peru stating he is “appalled” by the criminalisation of environmental defenders. UNSR Forst has outlined key measures the Peruvian Government must now take to protect those defenders at greatest risk - Indigenous communities, peasants, land rights and environmental defenders. 

Between 21 January and 3 February 2020, UNSR Forst undertook an official mission to Peru to assess the situation facing human rights defenders in the country. Following meetings with over 475 human rights defenders, Government and civil society representatives in diverse coastal, Andean and Amazonian regions of the country, the UN expert issued his initial conclusions, stating, “I regret to conclude that a large number of human rights defenders, and especially indigenous people and local communities defending the environment and their human rights are not able to operate in a safe and enabling environment.”