ProtectDefenders.eu has received information on acts of intimidation and defamation against the National Human Rights Coordinator (CNDDHH) and Ms. Jennie Giver, Executive Secretary of the organization. The CNDDHH, a member organization of the OMCT SOS-Tortura Network, is a coalition of civil society organizations working to defend, promote and educate on human rights in Peru.
Since 19 July 2024, the member of the right-wing movement « The Resistance, » Mr. Juan José Muñico Gonzales shared through his X account (formerly Twitter) a series of defamatory messages against the CNDDHH and Jennie Dador. He has accused them of encouraging violence in protest contexts, and spread misinformation about their human rights work. In the following days, more false accusations were spread regarding the supposed violent nature of the organisation and its widespread corruption.
The CNDDHH has also been accused by a far-right channel of calling a national protest against the president Dina Boluarte, and of receiving funds by the EU at the advantage of the communist movement in the country.
These acts of intimidation and defamation are retaliation to the National Civic and Popular Stop carried out on 19 July 2024. This measure was carried out by different social organisations and platforms, including the CNDDH, to raise awareness on the situation of democratic, social and human rights deterioration under the current administration of President Dina Boluarte.
These acts of intimidation by the « The Resistance » movement against the CNDDHH are not an isolated case. Human rights organisations and defenders are facing increasing obstacles and risks, acts of intimidation, defamation and threats, but also because of the increasingly restrictive legal framework for civil society.
The Peruvian government has recently found itself in the middle of a corruption scandal that escalated the political crisis in Peru.
While acts of corruption threaten to prolong the country’s instability, the government still has to take responsibility for the 61 individuals killed in the protests of 2022 and 2023 (of which 49 died from police repression) and put an end to the climate of impunity.
