In a passionate advocacy note, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), alongside local member organisations such as Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos (APRODEH) and Peru EQUIDAD, has voiced its concerns regarding Peru’s accession to the OECD. They strongly argue for the OECD to make Peru’s membership dependent on authentic and immediate adherence to crucial human rights and democratic principles, given the country’s troubling political landscape.
Gloria Cano, the Director of APRODEH, highlighted the crucial role of the OECD accession process, providing an opportunity to fortify Peru’s democratic institutions. “The OECD accession process represents a unique opportunity to strengthen Peru’s democratic institutions and guarantee respect for human, labour and environmental rights… It is essential that the OECD firmly maintains these values and principles,” she stated, emphasising the need for high ethical standards at a time of global democratic instability.
The advocacy document points out glaring deficiencies in areas vital to OECD membership such as public governance, rule of law, and respect for human rights. With political turmoil affecting the country since 2016, entrenched issues like systemic discrimination, state violence, and human rights violations remain prevalent, all indicated by the brutal response to political protests leading to a tragic loss of life.
The report also outlines the severe state of labour rights in strategic sectors such as mining, where workers endure brutal conditions and barriers to basic rights like collective bargaining. Environmental challenges, exemplified by last year’s disastrous oil spill, further illustrate the negligence shown by authorities toward environmental justice and corporate accountability.
Highlighting Peru’s precarious position between democracy and authoritarianism, Enrique Fernandez Maldonado from Peru EQUIDAD insisted on the necessity for the Peruvian government to transparently adhere to OECD principles. However, recent actions undermine this, demonstrating a disturbing disregard for civil liberties and law.
Given these dimensions, the organisations have urged OECD member states and committees to take these serious issues into account and set comprehensive reforms as prerequisites for Peru’s integration into this community of developed nations.
The FIDH and its member organisations are urging the OECD to condition Peru’s membership on adherence to key democratic principles and human rights. They emphasize Peru’s democratic fragility, labour rights crises, and environmental negligence, highlighting the vital need for substantial reforms before accession can be considered. The ongoing political turmoil since 2016 underlines systematic issues regarding governance and respect for fundamental rights, which must be addressed.
The situation in Peru necessitates the OECD’s careful scrutiny before granting membership, as core principles of democracy, rule of law, and human rights remain precariously unaddressed. Without robust reforms to rectify these serious flaws, Peru’s accession could undermine the values that the OECD stands for. The commitment to monitoring these developments illustrates a determined effort to uphold justice and equality in the region.
Original Source: www.fidh.org
