Statement from the Latin American fact-checking network LatamChequea regarding changes to Peru’s international cooperation law and the potential negative impact on civil society.

The Latin American fact-checking network LatamChequea expresses its concern over the legislation recently approved in Peru that modifies Law 27.692, which regulates the operations of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI). The changes pose a risk to freedom of expression and could negatively affect Peru’s ecosystem of independent media, many of which are registered as civil associations.

The law, which is pending enactment or possible veto by President Dina Boluarte, would require NGOs to obtain approval from the APCI—a government agency under Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs—before carrying out projects funded by international organizations. This could interfere with their ability to operate effectively. It would also prohibit NGOs from initiating legal action against the State in national or international courts. In addition to limiting their ability to litigate on behalf of victims of human rights violations committed by the State, this could jeopardize their capacity to file legal actions to obtain public information—a tool often essential to journalistic work.

Independent legal analyses have found that the proposed changes violate several constitutional guarantees, such as the right to freedom of association, the fundamental right to free legal defense for victims and their families, and even the right to journalistic confidentiality in cases where media outlets might be subject to prior control by a government agency to carry out their reporting. Furthermore, the law imposes excessive bureaucratic hurdles and includes disproportionate sanctions for ambiguously defined infractions.

Several entities, including United Nations bodies and the European Union, had already expressed concern during the bill’s consideration due to the risks it poses to the autonomy of non-governmental organizations. The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) also raised concerns, warning that “under the pretext of monitoring foreign funds, the law imposes restrictions that could affect independent organizations and media that rely on external funding for investigative journalism” and that, if enforced, “it limits the freedoms of association, expression, and political participation of civil society organizations.”

The restrictions imposed by this law represent a direct threat to the work of independent media and fact-checkers in Peru, who play a vital role in combating disinformation and promoting accountability. Obstructing their access to independent funding and legal tools to defend the right to information undermines journalism and weakens democracy in the region.

At LatamChequea, we are deeply concerned about the impact this legislation could have on the work of independent fact-checkers in Peru, many of whom operate as civil associations. This measure aligns with other initiatives in the region aimed at controlling and limiting independent, high-quality journalism.

We reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom and reject any attempt at state control that restricts journalistic work and the efforts of civil society.