Peru’s civil society actors operate in a volatile environment marked by political instability, low presidential approval and rising tensions ahead of the April 2026 national elections. Regulatory changes, public insecurity, shifting public attitudes and high-profile corruption scandals have further weakened state legitimacy and policy continuity. For CSOs, this creates unpredictable engagement with government counterparts, frequent changes in regulatory priorities and limited opportunities to influence long-term reform agendas.

Political hostility toward civil society is growing. The media faces harassment and attacks by security forces, contributing to Peru’s fall from 125th to 130th place in the World Press Freedom Index. Although the Constitution recognises freedoms of association, expression and assembly, Peru is classified as “partly free” by Freedom House.

Peru’s upper-middle-income status and natural resource wealth coexist with socio-environmental tensions linked to extractive industries, where violence also affects civil society actors. This income classification has reduced international cooperation funding, constraining the financial sustainability of smaller rights-based CSOs. Inequality and discrimination persist, particularly affecting rural, Indigenous and female communities, with the BTI Index 2024 scoring Peru 5 out of 10 on equal opportunities.

Despite these challenges, Peruvian civil society remains resilient, defending fundamental freedoms, promoting transparency and addressing socio-environmental conflicts. Strengthening CSO capacity, sustainability and public legitimacy is essential to safeguard democratic participation.