Alarm Over Peru's Law To Stop Human Rights Legal Challenges

Human rights groups in Peru have voiced alarm over an anti-NGO law that prevents civil society organisations taking legal action against the state for human rights abuses - a move that activists say will prevent the vulnerable from accessing justice.

- Dan Collyns

Peru's deeply unpopular congress added a harsher amendment to an existing bill that was fast-tracked with 81 votes in favour, 16 against and four abstentions on Wednesday.

The vote expands the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI), giving it more oversight of international aid but in a way that threatens the independence of non-profit organisations.

The move is the latest in a series of curbs on civil and human rights and attacks on press freedom that have prompted international concern. Polls show that President Dina Boluarte and the country's congress have approval ratings of less than 5%.

The law's backers say it boosts transparency over funding and augments government oversight of foreign interference in state matters.