"Peru - Release of New Report on Human Rights Defenders" - 30 June 2014

Front Line Defenders visited Peru in February 2014 and travelled extensively in the Cajamarca and Cusco regions investigating ongoing conflict between mining companies and indigenous and campesino rights defenders—[In] the report…Front Line Defenders expresses its deep concern regarding the situation of human rights defenders (HRDs) working on human rights and environmental issues related to the extractive industries in Peru. Front Line Defenders has found that HRDs in Peru often live and work in a very tense situation and have been the direct target of intimidation, death threats, physical attacks, surveillance, stigmatisation, smear campaigns, and judicial harassment. All these documented instances appear to be directly related to legitimate and peaceful work carried out by the HRDs concerned, in particular in supporting the local communities opposed to mining projects and their impact on their environment, territory and livelihood.