Vance Center Participates in IACHR Hearing on New Law Restricting Civil Society in Peru

Vance Center staff and representatives of other civil society organizations, representatives of the Peruvian State, and IACHR Commissioners, participate in the hearing, July 21, 2025. Screenshot of hearing.

Program Advisor Milena Klimberg van Marrewijk joined Peruvian and international human rights organizations, as well as victims and relatives of victims of human rights violations in Peru, to raise concerns about the threats to human rights posed by Law No. 32301, also known as the APCI Law. 

The new legislation, passed in April 2025, modifies the law that created the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI). In April, the Vance Center signed on to a New York City Bar Association statement expressing serious concern about the law and warning that it could restrict the activities of civil society organizations and threaten fundamental rights.  

During the hearing, entitled “Peru: Impacts of the law modifying the creation of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation,” the organizations raised alarms about the potential harmful impact of the law for fundamental rights and civil society in Peru. Speakers warned that the new legislation violates key human rights, restricts freedom of association, undermines access to justice, and promotes impunity. 

They described the APCI Law as legislation that, in theory, could encourage greater transparency, but in practice is being used as a legal tool to restrict and criminalize the legitimate work of human rights organizations in Peru.  

Watch the full hearing here. 

The law bars international funding sources from contributing to litigation against the state, effectively cutting off a key source of financial support for victims of human rights abuses seeking legal representation to bring cases against the Peruvian State. 

The civil society representatives framed the law within the current political and social context in Peru, which has seen significant deterioration of the rule of law and civic space in recent years. They noted that institutional have been weakened, while human rights defenders and independent justice operators have faced increasing pressure and harassment related to their work. Last, they pointed to the lack of a robust public policy to protect human rights defenders, which exposes them to greater risk and facilitates impunity for individuals and groups that do threaten them. 

The speakers noted that the law is already having a chilling effect on Peruvian civil society, with some Peruvian organizations choosing not to speak during the hearing out of fear they might face reprisals for their participation. They also shared examples of organizations, including Indigenous groups, who were forced to change their legal representation because of the law. 

The civil society groups concluded with a request that the IACHR urge the Peruvian State to repeal the APCI Law, condemn the regulation, and emphasize the fundamental role of civil society organizations in Peruvian democracy. They also requested the Commission include Peru as an area of concern in its next annual report.  

The other groups participating in the hearing were Amnesty International, the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Federación Internacional por los Derechos Humanos (FIDH), Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF), Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Red Pro Bono de las Américas (Pro Bono Network of the Americas), and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. 

Responding to threats to civic space

As part of its work defending civic space, the Vance Center has also collaborated with the Pro Bono Network of the Americas, clearinghouse Alianza Pro Bono Perú, and Peruvian law firms to create resources to help CSOs navigate the requirements of the new law.

Learn more and find these resources here.