The Darkening State of Press Freedom in Peru

• Peru's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has collapsed to 144th out of 180 countries in 2026, falling into the "very serious" category.
• State actors, including public officials and security forces, are responsible for 70% of the 458 recorded attacks on journalists in 2025.

Judicial Harassment and Political Vendetta

• Investigative journalists like Gustavo Gorriti, founder of IDL-Reporteros, face constant legal persecution and death threats for uncovering systemic corruption.
• Legislative and prosecutorial bodies have launched investigations against journalists, framing their investigative work as criminal acts of influence peddling or obstruction.

Vulnerability of Regional Journalism

• Journalists outside of Lima face the highest risks, operating without institutional support or protection in environments dominated by criminal organizations.
• Four journalists—Gastón Medina, Raúl Celis, Fernando Núñez, and Mitzar Castillejos—were murdered in 2025 while investigating local corruption, with these cases currently languishing in impunity.

Systematic Threats

• Reporters, such as Manuel Calloquispe, endure constant threats, violence, and forced displacement for documenting environmental crimes and illegal gold mining.
• The normalization of state-led intimidation and the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) have effectively eroded the role of the press as a democratic watchdog.

Implications for Democracy

• The concentration of power among corrupt factions has led to the dismantling of key anti-corruption investigations, such as Lava Jato and the Cuellos Blancos cases.
• Journalists warn that with the state actively targeting those who expose power, the fundamental mechanisms of democracy in Peru have effectively ceased to function.