Event Summary
On 21 October 2025, President José Jerí declared a 30-day state of emergency in Metropolitan Lima and Callao to address the ongoing crisis of violence and extortion affecting the country. The Supreme Decree stipulates that the National Police of Peru and the armed forces will assume control of internal order, granting them the authority to intervene at any time and temporarily suspend certain constitutional rights, including freedom of movement, assembly, and the inviolability of the home. The decree also prohibits the transportation of two adults on motorcycles as a crime-prevention measure, restricts visits to prisons in Lima and Callao, and requires prior authorisation for mass religious, sporting, and cultural events.
In a message to the nation, the President stated that the country is moving “from defense to offense” in the fight against insecurity. He also emphasised that “wars are won with actions, not words.” However, he did not specify which concrete measures against crime would be implemented.
For their part, youth organisations denounced the measure as an attempt to suppress social protest following the killing of Eduardo Ruiz during the October 15 demonstration. Furthermore, the National Human Rights Coordinator warned that the state of emergency undermines the rule of law and restricts fundamental freedoms.
In a context of growing social protest, this measure risks being used as a pretext for arbitrary arrests and other violations against individuals who express criticism of the government. Moreover, the involvement of the armed forces in internal security tasks heightens the risk of human rights violations, particularly if proportionality, transparency, and effective oversight mechanisms are not ensured.