The Republic of Peru

The Republic of Peru

1 | Page

Position Paper of the

Republic of Peru

I. GENERAL STATEMENT

The Republic of Peru is honored to engage with fellow member states in this year’s Summit proceedings. Peru respects and encourages the realization of the goals and programs of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the hemisphere which promote ideals of development, cooperation, civil and human rights, and democratic participation and inclusion. As stated in Chapter 1 Article 2(f) of the OAS Charter, a fundamental goal of the organization is “To promote, by cooperative action, their economic, social, and cultural development.”[1] This suggests that member states have a duty to improve the social standing of all their citizens and to take steps to improve the national economic position of both their individual states and those of neighboring states. Keeping in mind the pillars of security, human rights, democracy, and development, and the financial limitations of the Organization, the delegation representing the Republic of Peru is particularly dedicated to making progress on issues of economic integration and social inclusivity.

The Republic of Peru has made remarkable economic and democratic progress in the wake of authoritarianism and guerrilla threats to the state over the past decades. It has proudly transitioned to a more stable democracy that promises a bright future for all Peruvians, including the indigenous peoples of the country. The Republic of Peru has been guided by the leadership of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Godard since July of 2016; he is an experienced policy maker, having served as Prime Minister of Peru from 2005 to 2006, and Minister of Economy and Finance from 2004 to 2005. President Kuczynski has managed to further his agenda of growth through promotion of economically liberal trade policies and inclusion of indigenous peoples in the national dialogue despite lacking a political majority in congress. Peruvians are confident of continued economic and cultural development under President Kuczynski’s leadership. In addition to being a leading example of liberal growth and development in the Americas, Peru has a proud cultural legacy as the home of the Incan Empire and protector of natural beauty from the Amazon to the Andes.

Social inclusion of all citizens of the hemisphere has been and should continue to be an important mandate of the Summit that should be supported by OAS programs. A foundational principle of the OAS, as written in the preambles to the Charter, is the belief that “the historic mission of America is to offer to man a land of liberty and a favorable environment for the development of his personality and the realization of his just aspirations.”[2]

The administration of President Kuczynski believes that social inclusion is the best avenue of politically realizing this ideal. Through programs addressing poverty, education, and discrimination against minority groups, such as indigenous peoples, the Republic of Peru has taken great strides in promoting the rights and prosperity of all its citizens. President Kuczynski recognizes the need for both a modern Peruvian society and respects the rich history of its people, saying, “[Peru] is a millennial country and a cradle of civilization.”[3] The Delegation of Peru recognizes that the individual strides of member states in social inclusion are insufficient to affect systematic change in the hemisphere as a whole, and calls on all member states to join its fight for the equal rights of all peoples of the hemisphere. The Delegation of Peru believes this can only be accomplished through the cooperation of member states to recognize the devastating realities of inequality and correct them through joint economic goals and practices. For example, the Administration of President Kuczynski began broadcasting daily news in Quechua, the most common indigenous language of the Americas, ending decades of social stigma and discrimination. While four million Peruvian citizens speak Quechua fluently, another four million citizens across the Andean regions of member states also speak the language; this provides an ideal opportunity for transnational cooperation on the social inclusion of indigenous peoples.[4] The Delegation of Peru remains aware of the realities of racism, sexism, and discrimination that permeate the history of the hemisphere, and looks forward to cooperating with member states to undo the traumas of the past and unveil the unlimited potential future of a socially inclusive hemisphere.

The Republic of Peru fully supports OAS initiatives that support hemispheric economic integration. As a state that has benefited from regional economic openness, the Republic of Peru that placing greater emphasis on enhancing regional trade will provide a solution to the issue of OAS financial solvency. As Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said during an address at Universidad del Pacífico in Lima, “Let us think of the essential role that global economic integration has played in this region and around the world. By opening countries to trade, migration, capital flows, and technology sharing, the world has been transformed.”[5] Peru has benefited from policies of hemispheric economic cooperation, and, as IMF Senior Resident Representative for Peru and Paraguay Alejandro Santos explains, “The transformation of the Peruvian economy over the past quarter of a century has been remarkable. Peru is a great example of how a stabilization program with a comprehensive structural reform plan should be implemented to significantly improve the standards of living of the population.”[6] Application of economic integration throughout establishment of investment programs has opened Peru to a new international market that would have otherwise neither been accessible nor realistic. Launched in Peru in December 2014, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Country Programme stands as one the most promising programs for inclusive growth in Peru. As one of the original supporters, the Peruvian government has increased cooperation in a multilateral context due to its engagement with OECD. The program was built around five key areas of economic growth; public governance; anti-corruption and transparency; human capital and productivity; and environment.[7] Peru believes that other member states of the OAS would greatly benefit by engaging in multilateral economic programs in the same way Peru has. The Kuczynski Administration strongly encourages the direct attention of the body in the next session on the pertinent issue of global economic integration as it not only pertains to economic vitality, but also the interests of various social groups within member states to ensure prosperity of all hemispheric citizens.

The Delegation of Peru is excited to work with its fellow member states throughout these coming sessions in the hopes of formulating new ideas and solutions to address these pertinent topics. Peru is honored to be attending this year’s Summit to discuss pressing policy issues with fellow member states, and it is confident that opening up a platform for dialogue will lead to the advancement of our hemisphere as a whole.

II. PARTICULAR STATEMENTS

A. Committee: General Committee (GC)

Topic A: Strengthening and Improving the Reach of the Inter-American Convention against Racism

The OAS has a longstanding goal of eradicating racism from the hemisphere as evidenced by their official statement: “the Organization of American States (OAS) still seeks to eliminate these poisonous ideas from the Hemisphere to as great a degree as possible.”[8] To achieve this goal the OAS has committed itself to the creation of a new set of hemispheric standards of racial justice, and the Delegation of Peru commends the OAS for its work in drafting the 2013 Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance, a document which clearly defines the egregious problem of racism in the hemisphere and lists the relevant measures all member states are encouraged to take to combat this heinous issue. Racism has no place in the member states of the hemisphere; all people regardless of race, ethnic origin, nationality, and cultural background should have a say in the affairs of their governments and societies, and they should never fear for their safety, dignity, or equal treatment due to racial or race-related factors. Twelve states have signed the Convention, and Costa Rica has ratified and acceded to the agreement.[9] This demonstrates that there is both support and reservations in the various member states, but much more work is needed to bring more member states on board to realize the goals of the convention and make the hemisphere a more safe and equitable place for all.

The government and citizens of the Republic of Peru have taken great strides to eliminate bigotry and make the country a more inclusive, sensitive, and multicultural place of residence for every Peruvian. In November of 2009, the state officially apologized to Afro-Peruvians for “centuries of abuse, exclusion and discrimination,” signaling a move toward reconciliation and a new official policy of tolerance and non-discrimination in the state apparatus.[10] The consumer protection agency issued a ruling in 2007 shutting down a restaurant known for discriminating against Afro-Peruvians, and the Asociación Palenque and the Asociación pro Derechos Humanos del Negro have formed to help advocate for and legally aid Afro-Peruvians.[11] In the Kuzcynski administration, inclusion of indigenous peoples has been a priority. The state news agency, TV Peru, now broadcasts in the indigenous Quechua and Aymara, and the president’s most recent State of the Union address was translated into Quechua; there are also plans to soon expand to other indigenous languages such as Ashaninka and Shipibo-Konibo.[12] President Kuczynski is proud of the advances that have been made on his watch, but he fully realizes the need for further progress in the issue of racial equality in Peru. For this reason his administration fully supports the Inter-American Convention against Racism, having been one of the twelve original signatories.

The Delegation of Peru recognizes that the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 1965 made noteworthy strides in combatting the persisting problem of racism, but this has clearly not solved the issue.[13] The Delegation of Peru believes that a hemisphere-specific approach is needed to combat the unique issues facing member states, such as socio-economic racial discrimination, the mestizaje and blanqueamiento phenomena, racial-linguistic discrimination, and the plight of indigenous peoples in the Americas. The delegation believes that the Inter-American Convention against Racism is the right tool to promote racial justice in the hemisphere, and it looks forward to help ensure the eventual ratification of this convention by all fellow member states.

Topic B: Achieving More Equitable Inclusion and Participation in the OAS among All States of the Hemisphere

The OAS is a multilateral institution, and it therefore depends on the participation of each and every member state to continue functioning properly and promote hemispheric progress and the universal implementation of the four pillars. The OAS charter states that “states are juridically equal, enjoy equal rights and equal capacity to exercise these rights, and have equal duties”[14] under international law, and they therefore should participate equally as members of the OAS. Only through involvement of all members of the OAS can substantive change occur on an international level throughout the hemisphere.

The Delegation of Peru is optimistic that member states can come together to find new ways to promote participation in the OAS and new and more effective means of adopting the recommendations of OAS resolutions and ratifying treaties in individual member states’ legislatures. The OAS acts as a mediating body for the members of the hemisphere, and the Kuczynski administration deeply respects the role of the OAS and the responsibilities that fall upon member states as a result of belonging to the institution. The Delegation of Peru seeks to work with fellow delegations in the upcoming Summit to achieve a more inclusive and efficient OAS for all citizens of the hemisphere.

B. Committee: Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI)

Topic A: Promotion of the Rights of People in Vulnerable Situations

The Republic of Peru supports the promotion of all human rights including those for people in vulnerable situations. The defense of human rights is an evolving project and requires constant vigilance. Often times the most vulnerable people are the ones who are denied their human rights. Every state in the hemisphere needs to address or improve conditions for those living in poverty, indigenous populations, the elderly, victims of violence, and women and children.

Today there are multiple non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help those living below the poverty line in Peru. One good example is CARE, an organization that “works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice.”[15] With help from various NGOs, and under President Kuczynski’s administration, “Peru’s poverty rate dipped by 1.1 percentage points in 2016 to 20.7 percent.”[16] It is evident that the situation of some of Peru’s most vulnerable is improving, but there is still work to be done.

A vulnerable population in Peru as well as the hemisphere (and the world) that needs more resources is sexual assault and domestic violence victims. As evidence of this, one need not look any further than the #MeToo social media movement. It has spread to 85 countries with over twelve million interactions on Facebook and 1.7 million tweets.[17] Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are denied their human rights, facing violence that compromises their personal and physical security as well as the social stigma that isolates them and diminishes their opportunities for justice and prosperity. This can include financial struggles due to potential cost of treatments, lost wages, and loss of housing. The effects of domestic violence can also negatively impact the family of a survivor, particularly children. The government of Peru has worked diligently to solve these issues by establishing the National Programme against Family Violence and Abuse in 2001.[18] This legislation provides training for local authorities to recognize and prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Delegation of Peru hopes to continue supporting assault victims by considering programs that help all member states combat assault and provide aid for victims who often fall into a vulnerable position.

Since one of the pillars of the OAS is human rights, the body must advocate for the well-being of victims of these crimes. The Delegation of Peru hopes that OAS member states will consider taking actions to establish hemispheric-wide guidelines of best practices to alleviate the suffering of this vulnerable group of citizens. These practices should include, but are not limited to, access to affordable counseling, enhanced police training in sexual assault and violence, and provision of advocates to help victims navigate the judicial system and secure medical care. In this way, through the OAS, member states can address this very serious issue that is ubiquitous throughout the hemisphere.

Topic B: Public Policies for Improving Workers’ and Employers’ Rights

The OAS recognizes in Article 34(g) of the Charter that “Fair wages, employment opportunities, and acceptable working conditions for all” is a priority to provide equality of opportunity and enhancement of integral development for all peoples of member states.[19] Over the 69 years of the existence of the OAS, labor has evolved in agriculture, industry, and technology. In the first Summit of the Americas Mandate on Labor in 1995, Heads of State and Government renewed their commitment to the “common interest in creating employment opportunities that improve the incomes, wages and working conditions of all our people.”[20] The Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor and the Department of Human Development, Education, and Employment investigates labor issues for the OAS, and these entities have recognized the necessity of providing stable, safe employment for the 160 million people striving to overcome poverty in the hemisphere.[21]

The Republic of Peru recognizes the value of cooperation between member states and recognition of best practices for establishing effective and humane labor laws. Peru believes the worker is vital to the economy by producing and offering services that contribute to Peru’s GDP. In addition, the government of Peru supported the idea that protecting human rights is critical for an effective workforce. In 2011, Peru’s legislature passed Law 29783 on Safety and Health at Work that extended protections to workers in all public and private companies.[22] The legislation focused on avoiding hazardous incidents at work. Law 29783 mandated compensation for injury if employers failed to supply preventative measures guarding against injury or disease. Not only does Law 29783 require compensation, but it criminalizes failure to implement preventative measures; infractions of this type now are punishable under law with sentences ranging from one to eight years.[23] The administration of President Kuczynski supports the rights and safety of foreign workers as well; he recently created temporary work permits for Venezuelan refugees.[24] This humanitarian effort, in alignment with Peru’s policies of regional economic integration and social inclusion, is an apt example of the intersection of workers’ rights and human rights. The Delegation of Peru believes that these respective innovations in labor law bear potential for replication and implementation across member states, guaranteeing the enhancement of human rights across the hemisphere.