Law Library of Congress
Today’s blog post is a guest post by foreign law specialist at the Law Library of Congress, Stephania Alvarez. Stephania has previously published the following blog post to In Custodia Legis: FALQs: Guyana-Venezuela Territorial Dispute, and Join Us on 11/21 for a Foreign and Comparative Law Webinar titled “Review of Law Library of Congress Research Reports Published in 2024.”
A new report on Peru’s Civic Space Legal Framework is now available on the Law Library of Congress website. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the constitutional principles governing access to information, freedom of expression, ethnic plurality and cultural expression, freedom of association, the right to privacy, and freedom of the press and media in Peru.
This report examines the scope and limitations of fundamental rights related to civic space as established by the Peruvian Constitution, various statutes, and regulatory frameworks. It is divided into several sections, each addressing a specific constitutional principle and exploring the relevant legal framework and potential challenges to the exercise of these rights.
According to the report, the Peruvian Constitution safeguards individuals’ rights to privacy, including the protection of their personal data. There are specific laws and regulations that govern the collection, use, and protection of personal information. Additionally, Peruvian law guarantees the right to access public information, subject to limited exceptions for sensitive data. The government is obligated to provide information upon request, and specific laws outline the procedures and penalties for non-compliance.
Peruvian citizens enjoy freedom of speech, expression, and assembly. However, these rights are not absolute and are subject to limitations to protect public order, morality, and individual reputation. Notably, defamation, libel, and slander are considered criminal offenses in Peru, even when committed through the media. The Peruvian constitution guarantees freedom of the press and media. However, this right is subject to limitations intended to safeguard individual reputation and public order.
Peruvian law acknowledges and protects the rights of indigenous groups to use their native languages and preserve their cultural heritage. Additionally, Peru has ratified international agreements designed to promote cultural diversity. In Peru, individuals have the right to form associations and unions without prior authorization. Organizations are subject to several regulations and are penalized for committing illegal activities.
We invite you to review our report here.
The report is an addition to the Law Library’s Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress) collection, which includes over 4,000 historical and contemporary legal reports covering a variety of jurisdictions, researched and written by foreign law specialists with expertise in each area. To receive alerts when new reports are published, you can subscribe to email updates and the RSS feed for Law Library Reports (click the “subscribe” button on the Law Library’s website). The Law Library also regularly publishes articles on Peru in the Global Legal Monitor.
