The right to protest in Peru has returned to the center of public debate in a context marked by insecurity, institutional distrust, and allegations of disproportionate use of force during social mobilizations.
Denied Rights in Latin America
Social protests in Peru have resurfaced amid a prolonged crisis of insecurity, political instability, and public discontent—an environment in which exercising the constitutional right to peaceful protest has been accompanied by high levels of risk to the safety and lives of demonstrators.
Right to protest in Peru: youth, repression, and an unresolved crisis
The Ombudsman’s Office reported that between 2022 and 2023, dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured during social mobilizations, mainly in the context of protests triggered after the removal of former president Pedro Castillo. These events have been monitored by national and international human rights organizations.
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Recent demonstrations have been largely led by young people, especially those from Generation Z, a group that has expressed dissatisfaction with the persistence of governments marked by corruption scandals, recurring institutional crises, and a lack of effective accountability.
Institutional distrust and lack of effective channels for dialogue
Studies by the Institute of Peruvian Studies indicate that distrust toward political parties and state institutions remains high, particularly among young people, who perceive a disconnect between traditional mechanisms of participation and their social demands. In this context, protest has become one of the main forms of political expression.
Although successive governments have reiterated their commitment to respecting the right to peaceful protest, reports from international organizations have questioned the actions of security forces during demonstrations. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have warned about the disproportionate use of force, arbitrary detentions, and alleged extrajudicial executions in police and military operations.
Both organizations have urged the Peruvian state to ensure independent investigations, hold those responsible accountable, and move forward with comprehensive reparations for victims. For organizations such as the National Human Rights Coordinator, these dynamics have created a climate of social deterrence, where protesting can lead to criminalization, stigmatization, or repression.
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Allegations of human rights violations and demands for justice
Protesters’ complaints include violations of fundamental rights such as the right to life, personal integrity, access to justice, and the right to truth. Meanwhile, victims’ families continue to demand answers from the state, amid judicial processes that are slow-moving or remain unresolved.
The Ombudsman’s Office has reiterated that clarifying the facts and ensuring accountability are key elements to preventing the recurrence of violent episodes and restoring public trust in institutions.
In this context, the participation of Generation Z is characterized by the absence of traditional party structures and the intensive use of social media as tools for organization and advocacy, in an environment where broad sectors of society believe that institutional channels do not provide effective responses to their demands.
