Financial Crime World

Peru’s Failure to Address Labour Exploitation: A Crisis of Accountability

Lima, Peru - As protests continue to rock Peru, exposing widespread labour exploitation and human rights abuses, it has emerged that the Peruvian State invests a mere 0.004% of its budget towards preventing and addressing these crimes.

The Crisis Deepens

  • Social conflicts have skyrocketed in recent years, with 221 reported cases in March alone - a 13% increase from the same period last year.
  • Protests have been fueled by socio-environmental concerns, including mining, as well as political demands for representation, inclusion, transparency, and accountability.

Human Rights Abuses on the Rise

  • The appointment of President Dina Boluarte has only exacerbated tensions, with widespread protests demanding the closure of Congress and new general elections.
  • Alleged human rights abuses linked to excessive force have resulted in:
    • 67 deaths
    • 1785 injuries
    • Almost 1000 detentions (according to official sources)

Human Rights Defenders Under Threat

  • Despite dire circumstances, human rights defenders (HRDs) continue to face threats and intimidation.
  • At least 30 HRDs have been killed since 2011.
  • The government’s multisector mechanism for protecting HRDs remains ineffective, with initiatives often mired in bureaucratic red tape.

Corruption Remains Endemic

  • Peru is listed as the 8th most corrupt nation in South America by Transparency International.
  • The Peruvian Comptroller General’s Office estimates that around 15% of the public budget was lost to corruption and misconduct in 2019 alone.
  • Major corruption scandals linked to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht have implicated all former Peruvian Presidents since 2001, highlighting the need for greater accountability and transparency.

The Way Forward

  • It is clear that more needs to be done to address labour exploitation, human rights abuses, and corruption.
  • The government must prioritize the welfare of its citizens and take concrete steps to prevent these crimes from occurring in the first place.