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Peru's Congress Accused of Weakening Fight Against Organized Crime
Human Rights Watch accuses Peru's Congress of weakening the legal framework against organized crime, leading to a 137% increase in homicides (2,546 in 2024) and the expansion of criminal groups, particularly in illegal mining, which generated nearly $6.3 billion in money laundering between 2015 and 2025.
- What are the immediate consequences of the Peruvian Congress's actions that weaken the legal framework against organized crime?
- Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses Peru's Congress of weakening the legal framework to combat organized crime, citing legislation that excludes corruption from the definition of "organized crime" and weakens judicial independence. This has led to a 137% increase in homicides between 2018 and 2024, reaching 2,546 in 2024, the highest in at least seven years.
- How do broader issues of corruption, political instability, and the erosion of civic space contribute to the rise of organized crime in Peru?
- The report connects this legislative weakening to broader issues of corruption and political instability in Peru, citing seven presidents between 2016 and 2022, many facing investigations. The erosion of civic space, impacting journalists and human rights organizations, further exacerbates the problem, allowing criminal groups to expand their influence, particularly in illegal mining which generated nearly $6.3 billion in money laundering between 2015 and 2025.
- What long-term systemic changes are needed to address the root causes of organized crime's expansion in Peru and prevent further deterioration of public safety?
- HRW predicts that continued Congressional actions will worsen Peru's violence indicators unless the government implements human rights-respecting security strategies and reverses legislative changes. The report highlights the ineffectiveness of emergency declarations and the need for comprehensive reforms addressing systemic corruption and political instability to curb the rise of organized crime.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The report frames the situation as one where the Peruvian Congress actively undermines efforts to fight organized crime, and where the government is either unwilling or unable to counteract this. This framing is supported by evidence, but it's important to acknowledge that other interpretations of the situation are possible. The use of strong words like "debilitate" and "impunity" contributes to this framing.
Language Bias
The report uses strong language such as "debilitate," "impunity," and "facilitating the expansion of organized crime." While these words accurately reflect the severity of the situation, their use contributes to a negative portrayal of the government and congress. More neutral alternatives might include "weaken," "undermine," and "contributing to the growth of organized crime." The repeated emphasis on the negative actions of the congress could also be toned down slightly for greater balance.
Bias by Omission
The report focuses on legislative actions and government responses, but could benefit from including analysis of the role of organized crime groups themselves, their strategies, and their internal dynamics. The socio-economic factors contributing to the rise of crime, such as poverty and lack of opportunity, are mentioned but could be explored in more depth. The report also omits perspectives from those who might defend the legislative actions, or who have differing views on the effectiveness of the government's response. While acknowledging space constraints is important, adding more context on these points would enhance the report's comprehensiveness.
Sustainable Development Goals
The report from Human Rights Watch details how the Peruvian Congress has weakened the legal framework for combating criminal organizations, hindering justice and undermining strong institutions. This directly impacts the ability of the state to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens. The weakening of judicial independence and the increase in homicides further exemplify this negative impact.