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	Democracy is on the line in Peru by OHCHR, IPS- Journal, HRW, agencies   May 2023   Peru: UN expert calls for accountability and political reform to overcome crisis. (OHCHR)   The Government of Peru must ensure those responsible for killing and injuring protestors during a recent wave of historic demonstrations in the country are brought to justice, a UN expert said today.   “Excessive and disproportionate use of force led to the killing and injury of protestors and bystanders during the protests that began in December 2022,” said Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to peaceful assembly and association in a statement at the end of a 10-day official visit to Peru.   Voule said accountability and political reform were key to overcoming the social and institutional crisis in Peru.   “To resolve the current crisis, the Government must address the victims of recent protests and recognise their suffering. It has an obligation to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations during the protests are effectively held to account,” the expert said.   “The State must guarantee access to justice, remedies, reparation and compensation to victims, including by bearing the cost of medical treatment for wounded persons,” he said.   Protests erupted across Peru after President Pedro Castillo was removed from office by Parliament in December 2022 for attempting a coup. Law enforcement responded with a crackdown on protestors and use of excessive and disproportionate force by law enforcement. Over 60 people were killed in clashes which also injured hundreds, including law enforcement officials, and led to the destruction of property. While I condemn any act of violence within the context of a demonstration, I am alarmed by the number of deaths, which includes bystanders, children, women, members of indigenous communities and law enforcement officials.   “The protests reflect a decline of trust in Peru’s existing democratic order and its institutions,” the UN expert said. “Indigenous and rural populations feel particularly excluded and unrepresented in Peru’s economic, social and political systems. They suffer the bulk of Peru’s exclusion and poverty, and claim they have been unable to benefit from years of democracy,” he said.   The expert urged the Government of Peru to uphold the human rights of all Peruvians by addressing historical root causes of the protests.   “Peru must recognise that the solution to this crisis lies in addressing profound social and economic injustices, and disparities affecting rural and indigenous communities,” Voule said. “This includes ensuring access to justice, education and health care services, and adopting political reforms to strengthen the rule of law, the separation of powers and create a more representative and participatory democracy.”   A broad and representative dialogue to discuss reform, including with protesting communities, will help to lower tensions in the country, the expert said. In this regard, I encourage both the Government and civil society to promote dialogue to resolve the current crisis.   Voule was alarmed by how structural racism and discrimination had affected the management of the protests.   “I deplore the way indigenous people protesting were stigmatised and treated. The Government must recognise that indigenous people suffered disproportionately during the violent repression of the protests,” he said.   The expert condemned the hostile rhetoric used against the protest movement, particularly the labelling of protestors as terrorists. “Given Peru’s violent history of terrorism, this accusation is dangerous and traumatic,” Voule said.   The UN expert said the Peruvian judiciary had upheld the rights of peaceful assembly and association in the past and recalled the State’s responsibility to protect these rights, including against criminalisation and stigmatisation.   “Today, more than ever, Peru’s judiciary must act independently to preserve the human rights to peaceful assembly and association,” he said.   “Victims rely on the judiciary to uphold human rights standards and protect their rights, and I urge authorities to guarantee due process to all those who have been charged or are being investigated,” Voule said.   The expert commended the work of victims’ associations and civil society and recommended strengthening the capacity and independence of the Ombudsman´s Office (Defensoría del Pueblo) which had played a key role in monitoring, ensuring legal support to victims and preventing further violence.   https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/05/peru-un-expert-calls-accountability-and-political-reform-overcome-crisis http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/06/peru-draft-bill-establishing-statute-limitations-atrocity-crimes-contravenes http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/peru-killings-injuries-protests-president-chain-command-criminally-responsible/   Jan. 2023   Democracy is on the line in Peru. (Human Rights Watch)   With all eyes on the fight for democratic government in Brazil, with its obvious parallels to events in the United States, it’s easy to miss another equally alarming struggle in the region. Peru has been shaken by protests and violence since the Peruvian Congress removed President Pedro Castillo from office on December 7 following his own attempt to shutter Congress. As of this writing, 55 people have died so far in the unrest, with 18 killed in the town of Juliaca on January 9 alone.   The deepening crisis is a cautionary tale about the risks of democratic governments’ failure to do their jobs and deliver for ordinary people.   Since its independence from Spain in 1821, Peru has been riven by severe economic inequality and systemic racism. A third of the population lives in Lima, where the bulk of government services and wealth are concentrated, while rural areas and Indigenous populations in general have significantly higher rates of extreme poverty and social exclusion. Inequality, including the lack of access to health services in many rural areas, contributed to Peru experiencing the world’s highest reported death rate from COVID-19.   Poverty has shot up in the last three years, including in rural areas where it was already most acute. Food insecurity has doubled since the start of the pandemic. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported in 2022 that more than half of Peruvians are food insecure — the highest rate in South America.   Meanwhile, Peru has experienced unrelenting political turmoil. In part, that’s due to corruption scandals touching nearly every president in the last decade. But it’s also because so many members of Congress seem more interested in horse-trading, partisan gains, and pursuing petty personal agendas — such as an unpopular law weakening the university accreditation system — than in addressing the country’s problems.   Since Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of the autocratic and now imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori, lost the 2016 presidential election, her party and others aligned with it in Congress have repeatedly sought to undermine whoever held the presidency. In 2020, they successfully ousted President Martin Vizcarra on questionable legal grounds. Several members of Congress, as well as Keiko Fujimori, are themselves under criminal investigation for various offenses. In a January poll, 88 percent of Peruvians disapproved of Congress’s performance.   The ousted President Castillo, a rural school teacher, was never widely popular either. But in some rural areas, he was able to gain support from communities who identified with him and believed his promises of greater inclusion.   When Castillo took office after eking out an electoral victory over Keiko Fujimori in 2021, it was clear from the behavior of some members of Congress — including false claims of electoral fraud — that they would seek to remove him as they did Vizcarra. When Congress finally did remove Castillo for what was effectively an attempted coup and Vice-President Dina Boluarte assumed the presidency, to some Peruvians this read as an effort to wrest power from them. As a result, protesters’ main initial demand was for new elections in the short term.   While thousands have protested peacefully, reports of violence, arson, vandalism, and attacks on journalists have been common. Many police officers have been injured and one killed. Protesters have blocked roads, in some cases interfering with ambulances and contributing to deaths. The government has a responsibility to provide security and ensure accountability for violent acts.   At Boluarte’s request, Congress voted on December 20 to move elections up from 2026 to 2024, but that decision needs to be confirmed in a second round of voting. Meanwhile, the government’s brutal response to the protests is only compounding the indignation many feel.   President Boluarte has failed unequivocally to call on security forces to respect protesters’ rights, even in the face of reports of excessive use of force and mass detention. The pervasive lack of accountability for police violence, and successive governments’ failure to reform the police to ensure respect for human rights, amounts to a blank check for abuse.   Instead, administration officials have blamed the protesters for causing “chaos” or dismissed them — without offering evidence — as under the control of “foreign agitators” like former Bolivian President Evo Morales.   In a January 13 speech, Boluarte apologized for protesters’ deaths, but further incensed many by stating that those “truly responsible” for the violence needed to be held accountable — and suggesting that “terrorism” played a role. In Peru, the “terrorism” label is often used in reference to the Maoist Shining Path insurgency, which killed thousands in the 1980s, to stigmatize protesters, activists, Indigenous people, or left-leaning political actors.   Protests have kept spreading, affecting more than a quarter of the country on January 19, with many protesters traveling to Lima. Increasingly, their calls are for Boluarte to resign, or for a constituent assembly to review the constitution.   Democracy is very much on the line in Peru. The protesters’ demand for new elections is, ultimately, democratic. But repression and denial are likely to breed more anger and despair, playing into the hands of would-be autocrats across the political spectrum.   National and regional leaders need to rise above the petty politics, corruption, and personal interests that have marred Peru’s political system. Broad, genuine, and constructive dialogue that takes people’s needs and aspirations into account, along with positive outcomes secured through democratic institutions and effective action to protect the right of peaceful assembly, should be the priority.   Peru is far from the only democracy where the political system is increasingly divorced from the problems of its people. Others should take heed.   http://www.hrw.org/news/2023/01/24/democracy-line-peru http://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/26/peru-egregious-abuses-security-forces http://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democracy-and-society/perus-democracy-is-under-threat-6575/
	Crisis fatigue not an option as global hunger crisis deepens by ICRC/IFRC, Humanitarian agencies   Sep. 2022   With one person estimated to be dying of hunger every four seconds, 238 local and international non-governmental organisations are calling on leaders gathering at the 77th UN General Assembly to take decisive action to end the spiralling global hunger crisis.   Organisations from 75 countries have signed an open letter expressing outrage at skyrocketing hunger levels and recommendations for action. A staggering 345 million people are now experiencing acute hunger, a number that has more than doubled since 2019.   Despite promises from world leaders to never allow famine again in the 21st century, famine is once more imminent in Somalia. Around the world, 50 million people are on the brink of starvation in 45 countries.   Dear UN Member States,   "No water, no food, a hopeless life. Above all, my children are starving. They are on the verge of death. Unless they get some food, I'm afraid they will die." - Sumaya, 32, mother of four, IDP camp in the Somali Region, Ethiopia   We, the undersigned 238 non-governmental organizations working with the most vulnerable communities and witnessing the catastrophic effects of the unprecedented global food crisis unfolding, urgently request that you act immediately to prevent more unnecessary suffering.   From Somalia to Haiti, South Sudan to Yemen, Afghanistan to Nigeria, people’s lives in the most fragile contexts are being devastated by a global food crisis, fueled by a deadly mix of conflict, climate change, rising costs and economic crises, exacerbated by COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict.   Fifty million people are now just one step away from starvation. Over 345 million more are bowing under the crushing weight of hunger, struggling to feed their families and at risk of death.   Behind these statistics are real people and lack of action has horrific, real life and death consequences. For the woman who fled her country to escape the violence of war and now has her food ration halved or suspended completely. For the hungry child forced to drop out of school to work so their family can eat. For the young girl forced into marriage, where she faces sexual exploitation and abuse. And for the caregiver who makes the long journey to seek treatment for a severely malnourished toddler only to find the health clinic is closed due to funding shortages.   The international community and national governments are failing to meet their duty and have prioritised political and economic interests over the wellbeing of the world’s most vulnerable children, families and communities. While political leaders have made many promises, in the cities, towns, villages, and refugee and internal displacement camps where millions of lives hang in the balance, far too little has changed.   In a world of plenty, leaving people to starve is a policy choice. We call on you as world leaders to take urgent action to stem this crisis and prevent future ones.   You must immediately deliver the funding needed to reach 50 million people on the edge of starvation to save lives NOW. You must also support vulnerable countries and communities to build resilience NOW.   And you must take action to anticipate, prevent and prepare for subsequent crises to secure the future, including by delivering much needed climate finance, reallocated Special Drawing Rights, and meaningful debt relief.   We repeatedly miss the opportunity to prevent hunger and hardship from happening in the first place by not responding quickly enough to early warnings to save lives, build resilience, and make the smart investments needed to sustainably address hunger crises in the long term.   If the pandemic taught us anything it is that prevention is more humane and much less expensive than waiting to respond. The lack of political will and institutional failure to act quickly before the worst-case hits means people are being left to lurch from crisis to crisis. People are not starving; they are being starved.   Accompanying this letter, we outline a set of specific recommendations to help address the current hunger crisis and prevent future crises, endorsed by NGOs across the world.   We have already lost far too much time – the families we work with every day need action NOW.   The lives of millions of girls, boys, women, and men depend on the bold and courageous actions you, the United Nations Member States, take - or fail to take – when you gather at the UN General Assembly in the coming weeks.   We must not let people starve to death on our watch. There is no place for famine in the 21st century.   http://reliefweb.int/report/world/humanitarian-organisations-estimate-one-person-dying-hunger-every-four-seconds   Sep. 2022   Crisis fatigue not an option as global hunger crisis deepens. (ICRC/IFRC)   The warning lights are flashing on high: armed conflict, climate-related emergencies, economic hardship and political obstacles are leading to a growing wave of hunger in countries around the world. The misery for millions will deepen without immediate urgent action.   Systems-level improvements must be made to escape a cycle of recurrent crises, including investments in climate-smart food production in conflict-affected areas, and reliable mechanisms to support hard-to-reach communities hit by food shortages and skyrocketing prices, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.   The international armed conflict in Ukraine has greatly disrupted global food supply systems as well as future harvests in many countries due to the impact it's having on the availability of fertilizer. The importance of more shipments by the Black Sea grain initiative reaching vulnerable populations in East Africa cannot be overstated. Too few grain shipments are getting to where they are needed.   As hunger emergencies hit the headlines, the risk of crisis fatigue is high. Yet what's uniquely frightening about this moment is the breadth and depth of the needs. More than 140 million people face acute food insecurity due to conflict and instability, even as climate change and economic precarity indicate that hunger needs will rise in the coming months.   Political will and resources are needed now. Without them, many lives will be lost, and the suffering will endure for years. An emergency response alone will not end these hunger crises. Concerted action and long-term approaches are the only way to break the cycle.   While addressing urgent needs, it is essential to set the foundation for resilience. More efforts must be made --- by governments, private sectors, and humanitarian and development groups --- to support long-term food security, livelihoods, and resilience plans.   Measures must include investments in strengthening grassroots food systems and community actors to sustainably achieve food and economic security. One of the approaches to consider is anticipatory action for food security, based on forecasts and risk analysis.   Francesco Rocca, President of the IFRC, said:   "Two dozen countries across Africa are grappling with the worst food crisis in decades. Some 22 million people in the Horn of Africa are in the clutches of starvation due to such compounding crises as drought, flooding, COVID-19's economic effects, conflict -- even desert locusts. Behind the staggeringly high numbers are real people -- men, women and children battling death-level hunger every day. The situation is expected to deteriorate into 2023. However, with swift action, many lives can be saved. We need urgent and massive action to scale up life-saving assistance to millions of people in dire need of aid, but also to decisively address the root causes of this crisis through longer term commitments."   The IFRC and its membership---which consists of Red Cross and Red Crescent teams in nearly every corner of the globe---are delivering aid in hard-to-reach communities. Assistance includes getting cash into the hands of families to meet food, health and other urgent needs. In Nigeria, Red Cross volunteers focus on pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, whose nutrition is paramount for healthy births and childhoods. In Madagascar, volunteers restore land and water sources through anti-erosion activities, the construction of water points, and a focus on irrigation in addition to traditional ways to fight hunger, like nutrition monitoring.   Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC, said:   "Conflict is a huge driver of hunger. We see violence preventing farmers from planting and harvesting. We see sanctions and blockades preventing food delivery to the most vulnerable. My wish is that we build resiliency into the fabric of humanitarian response, so that communities suffer less when violence and climate change upend lives. A cycle of band-aid solutions will not be enough in coming years."   The ICRC this year has helped nearly 1 million people in south and central Somalia buy a month's worth of food by distributing cash to more than 150,000 households. A similar programme in Nigeria helped 675,000 people, while more than a quarter million people received climate smart agriculture inputs to restore crop production. The ICRC works to strengthen resilience through seeds, tools and livestock care so that residents can better absorb recurrent shocks. And its medical professionals are running stabilization centres in places like Somalia, where kids are getting specialized nutrition care.   Communities around the world are suffering deep hardship. A short snapshot of some of the regions in need includes:   In Sub-Saharan Africa: One in three children under the age of five is stunted by chronic undernutrition, while two out of five women of childbearing age are anaemic because of poor diets. The majority of people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $1.90 a day.   In Afghanistan: The combination of three decades of armed conflict and an economic crash resulting in few job opportunities and a massive banking crisis are having a devastating effect on Afghan families' ability to buy food. More than half the country -- 24 million -- need assistance. The International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement welcomes any measure aimed at easing the effect of economic sanctions. But given the depth of the humanitarian crisis, long-term solutions are also needed, including the resumption of projects and investments by states and development agencies in key infrastructure.   In Pakistan: The recent flooding has led to an estimated $12 billion in losses. Food security in the country was alarming before this latest catastrophe, with 43 percent of the population food insecure. Now the number of acutely hungry people is expected to rise substantially. Some 78,000 square kilometers (21 million acres) of crops are under water. An estimated 65 percent of the country's food basket -- crops like rice and wheat-- have been destroyed, with over 733,000 livestock reportedly killed. The floods will also negatively affect food delivery into neighboring Afghanistan.   In Somalia: We have seen a five-fold increase in the number of malnourished children needing care. Last month the Bay Regional Hospital in Baidoa admitted 466 children, up from 82 in August 2021. Children admitted here die without the specialized nutritional care they receive.   In Syria: Food insecurity rates have risen more than 50 percent since 2019. Today, two-thirds of Syria's population --12.4 million out of 18 million -- can't meet their daily food needs. The compounding effects of more than a decade of conflict, including the consequences of sanctions, have crippled people's buying power. Food prices have risen five-fold in the last two years.   In Yemen: Most Yemenis survive on one meal a day. Last year 53 percent of Yemen's population were food insecure. This year it's 63 percent -- or some 19 million people. Aid actors have been forced to cut food assistance due to a lack of funds. Some 5 million people will now receive less than 50 percent of their daily nutritional requirement because of it.   http://www.ifrc.org/press-release/crisis-fatigue-not-option-global-hunger-crisis-deepens-international-red-cross-red http://www.ifrc.org/news-press-releases-speeches/emergency/1725 http://www.icrc.org/en/document/when-child-dies-hunger-its-result-systemic-failures
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