The Peruvian Press Council warned that the preliminary report approved by the Congress’s Foreign Relations Committee regarding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) “may become a gag,” since “it targets the media that oversee power.”
“The preliminary ruling on NGOs in Peru could become a gag: it also targets media outlets that monitor power, since they receive funds from NGOs and international cooperation. Since the ruling was presented to Congress, a sector of the press has exposed – and criticized – those who operate under this business model.“, the CPP stated in a report on the impact that this regulation would have if it were approved by the Plenary.
On June 5, the Foreign Relations Committee of Congress approved, with 12 votes in favor and only one against, the preliminary report that seeks to modify the legislation on the supervision and control of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Peru.
The CPP warns that the Peruvian preliminary report is similar to anti-NGO laws passed by dictatorships in Latin America and around the world, such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, Georgia and Russia.
In this regard, they point out that the project will not only affect these organizations and independent media, but also private companies.
“If it becomes law, it would not necessarily stop at human rights, environmental and media organizations: it can also be applied against private enterprise organizations (IPAE, Es Hoy, SNI, Confiep) if they are considered within the figures of “political activism” and “attacks against public order.”“, the CPP said.
“Without income from advertising or subscriptions, independent digital media have found resources in subsidies, international cooperation and philanthropy, a model applied in Peru and the world”, he explains.
“It is no coincidence that all the groups and parties that have contributed to this preliminary report have been audited by independent digital media, according to IDL-Reporteros, which implies a conflict of interest.“, adds the Peruvian Press Council.
