Recommendation: Following the Special Review initiated in accordance with Article 16.2 of the GANHRI Statute, the SCA recommends that the DPP maintain its “A” status. 

The SCA reminds the DPP that A status NHRIs are required to take steps to ensure that, in law and practice, it is effective and independent in line with the Paris Principles. 

In its 46th session of October 2025, the SCA decided to undertake a special review of the DPP, at its 47th session in 2026, based on information received from a coalition of 74 civil society organizations and NGOs active in the defence, promotion, and education of human rights in Peru. The third-party submissions made allegations on the lack of transparency in the election of members of the National Board of Justice, noting that the Defensor chaired the Special Commission in charge of selecting the new members of this Board in 2024. The submissions also raised concerns on the DPP’s position regarding the Amnesty law; restrictions imposed by the DPP on access to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission archives; deterioration in the working conditions of DPP staff, including those belonging to the institution´s Working Union; budget cuts and limited territorial presence. Based on the third-party submissions and publicly available information before it and the DPP lack of response, the SCA raised concerns about the DPP’s continued compliance with the Paris Principles in particular the DPP´s ability to conduct its mandate efficiently, its perceived independence and credibility as well as its willingness to tackle systemic human rights violations – monitoring of deaths, shrinking civic space, weakened oversight institutions and rule of law, freedom of expression, and freedom of association, including its mandate as National Preventive Mechanism. 

During the 47th session in April 2026, the SCA received additional third-party submissions, responses from the DPP to these submissions, and conducted an interview with the DPP in which it was asked to provide responses including in relation to the following issues: 

Dismissal and appointment of staff; 

Recent selection and appointment of the Defensor and the Deputy Defensor; 

Tenure of the Defensor; 

Mandate to promote and protect human rights including the DPP’s position on the Amnesty Law, the decrease in the number of public statements on human rights issues, examples of actions on how DPP addresses and monitors arbitrary detention, the right of association, the excessive use of police intervention and the state of emergency, the rights of persons deprived of liberty, the protection of human rights defenders; 

Cooperation with civil society organizations; 

Access to the archives of the Commission on Truth and Reconciliation by victims and their families.

The DPP provided a range of responses to these questions. The DPP states that there has been no dismissal of staff since 2023 and no case for unlawful dismissal has been lodged against the DPP. The institution notes that only fixed or temporary contracts have been terminated. The institution further reports that it has challenged the constitutionality of the Amnesty Law and that it has ensured access to the archives of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission except for cases under investigation. 

On CSOs, the DPP notes that it does cooperate with civil society organizations while it indicates that some organizations might have brought allegations against the Defensor in bad faith. 

In light of all the information before it and the responses provided by the DPP in writing and during the interview, the SCA considers the matter closed at this time, keeping in mind that the next full re-accreditation of the DPP is scheduled for the 50th session of the SCA in 2027. However, the DPP is expected to conduct its mandate in an efficient and timely manner, addressing systemic human rights violations, including conformity of national legislation with international human rights standards and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, contributing actively to the protection of judges, journalists and human rights defenders, among others – in a manner that is consistent with and promotes international human rights standards. 

In a context of legislative setback and the recent crisis around the election, the SCA reminds the DPP that an NHRI should conduct itself with a heightened level of vigilance and independence and continue to promote and ensure respect for human rights, democratic principles and rule of law (including by making timely public statements) at times of national emergency.