Peru wants to kick the UN out of the country
15 September 2023
3 minutes
In an unprecedented move, Peru has stoked diplomatic tensions with the United Nations (UN) after lawmakers called for the UN representative in the country to be declared persona non grata. The escalation comes after the UN criticized attacks on Peru’s judiciary.
Since President Dina Boluarte is in power in Peru, after the ousting of her predecessor Pedro Castillo, the unrest in the country has only escalated further. Extrajudicial arrests en extreme violence protests for new elections that left 56 dead quickly became emblematic of Peru’s political instability. The latest target of this anti-democratic maelstrom? The independence of the judiciary.
The ball started rolling last week when Peru’s Congress voted to launch an investigation into the members of the National Council of the Judiciary, responsible for appointing judges and prosecutors in the country. The motion, which could potentially lead to the removal of the Council members, has sparked a public battle over the independence of Peru’s judiciary.
This led to sharp criticism from the UN, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed his concern and warned of the possible impact on the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers. Türk pointed out that this year alone there had been 18 attempts to interfere in autonomous constitutional bodies in Peru.
UN representative persona non grata
The Peruvian reaction to the UN criticism was fierce. Members of parliament called on the Foreign Ministry to take diplomatic steps against the UN representative, even calling for him to be declared persona non grata. On September 12, the Peruvian Foreign Ministry issued a press release expressing its "surprise" at the UN statement.
This is a blow to the Peruvian people and brings us closer to the destruction of our democracy.
11.11.11partner National Human Rights Coordinator (CNDDHH) condemns the motion in Congress and warns of the serious consequences: “The investigation into the National Council of Justice is a blow to the Peruvian people. This situation further delegitimizes Congress and brings us ever closer to the destruction of our democracy.”
Midfield fights against exploitation
11.11.11 asks that our country also closely monitor the situation and continue to support human rights organizations that speak out against the anti-democratic trend and increasing exploitation. For example, its partner CNDDHH published a sharp statement together with 60 other organizations in which they condemned the attack on the judiciary and the balance of power in Peru.
The point is to support Peruvian civil society, which intervenes as much as possible and defends democratic values.
“It is now important to fully support the Peruvian midfield,” he emphasized. 11.11.11-expert Fay Vastenhoud. “They keep their finger on the pulse and intervene as much as possible – from the concrete follow-up of exploitation and violence by the authorities to popular campaigns that defend democratic values.”
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