Club De Madrid: Promoting Democracy in Peru While Fighting Discrimination and Guaranteeing Fundamental Freedom

Today, Peru faces several challenges related to democracy and human rights such as racism and discrimination. These issues reflect the overall socio-political situation in Latin America. 

In 2020, Club de Madrid, through its Shared Societies Project, started working with the Afro-Peruvian organization Ashanti Perú– Red Peruana de Jóvenes Afrodescendientes to foster an egalitarian, pluralistic, and inclusive democracy in Latin America. The main focus was on combating racism and discrimination while promoting the inclusion of Afro-descendants in Peru with the goal of reducing historical inequalities by ensuring the full recognition, enjoyment, and exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The partnership involved several initiatives aimed at strengthening the political advocacy and participation capacities of the Afro-Peruvian civil society within the Legislative Power. This was aimed at promoting legislative projects to acknowledge the Afro-Peruvian peoples’ role in building national identity and to prevent, punish, and eradicate ethnic-racial racism and discrimination in Peru. Some of the activities included drafting a report focused on norms for preventing, eradicating, and punishing racism and racial discrimination in the Americas but also bilateral meetings with Peruvian Congress members and an dialogue tables between Congress Members and Afro-Peruvian Leaders.

The partnership and its many initiative, sensitized 32492 people about the need to promote policies for the Afro-Peruvian population. Eight bilateral meetings between Ashanti Perú and Peruvian Congress members were held to promote legislative initiatives favoring the Afro-Peruvian community, resulting in the presentation of two legislative projects: the Project for the Constitutional Recognition of the Afro-Peruvian People and the Incorporation of Reserved Seats for the Afro-Peruvian People in the bill calling for a Constituent Assembly. Additionally, meetings with the Executive Branch (Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations) and the Ombudsman’s Office led to the promotion and approval of the National Policy for the Afro-Peruvian People by President Pedro Castillo. An important report titled Legislation against Racism and Racial Discrimination in Ibero-America was also presented. These successes highlighted the impressive work done to enhance democracy, its core principles and protect minorities while guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and human rights. 

https://www.gob.pe/institucion/cultura/noticias/615779-gobierno-aprobo-la-politica-nacional-que-beneficiara-a-mas-de-800-000-afroperuanos-y-afroperuanas 
https://ashantiperu.org/