Directorate - General for Multilateral and Global Affairs​

Directorate for Organizations and Multilateral Policy

In a world of rapid change and globalization, the projection of Peru's foreign policy and its position in the international community requires a strong position and active participation in multilateral organizations and forums that contribute to advance national interests and objectives. In this context, the Directorate for Organization and Multilateral Policy (OPM) is the office responsible for designing, coordinating - with the relevant national sectors - and proposing the guidelines of our country's multilateral policy in the United Nations Organization, the Organization of American States, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, as well as in the Summits of the Americas and Ibero-American Summits processes, among others.

At the global level, the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security remain the main challenge facing the international community. Persistent armed conflicts, humanitarian crises and some global problems such as terrorism and violent extremism, drug trafficking, climate change and organized international crime threaten peace and demand concrete and effective multilateral solutions. As a contribution to the efforts of the United Nations for the promotion of international peace and security, Peru is actively cooperating with peacekeeping operations and has applied for a non-permanent post in the Security Council for the period 2018-2019.

One of the main achievements of multilateralism at the global and hemispheric level is cooperation to promote democratic governance. Peru promotes and supports efforts guided at strengthening democracy, enforcing the rule of law and institutionalism, which are indispensable for the development of our communities.

Cooperation for development is a subject of priority interest to Peru, which is currently involved in the implementation of the Agenda 2030 of the United Nations for Sustainable Development, an ambitious plan of action that seeks to transform the world in the next 14 years and to eliminate hunger, through a global process of sustainable development, with a commitment not to leave anyone behind. Peru has actively participated in the negotiation process and is now committed to the implementation of Agenda 2030. In order to advance this purpose, the OPM has been coordinating with the different sectors and national entities involved the presentation of the first voluntary compliance report for July 2017.

At the regional level, in 2018, Peru will host the Summit of the Americas, which, beyond a regular meeting of Heads of State, is a process of dialogue for cooperation. Peru assumed the Chair of the Summit Implementation Review Group in June 2016, with the objective of being a catalyst to strengthen hemispheric unity. Peru will exercise leadership in the process by striving to reach a hemispheric consensus, respectfully listening to all the States of the hemisphere without exception to achieve their own solutions to the problems of the region.

Directorate of Environment

Positioning Peru in forums and international organizations, and in addressing the issues of the global agenda on environment

At present, environmental issues have shifted from a focus on conservation of natural resources and prevention of local and regional pollution to becoming a central issue in the sustainable development agenda. In addition to the multilateral environment where climate change and biodiversity occupy important areas in negotiation and management, the environmental agenda has gradually gained relevance in regional and bilateral forums, particularly in relation to issues associated to environmental illicit activities.

In that context, Peru succeeded in maintaining and even strengthening its credibility and leadership in the Presidency exercise of the COP20 on Climate Change in Lima in 2014, contributing to the adoption of the Paris Agreement and its subsequent signature on 22nd April, 2016. In addition, significant progress has been made in the environmental and/or security component of the Binational Cabinets with Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador, through the implementation of specific mechanisms and roadmaps for cooperation in the fight against illegal mining and logging and the remediation of environmental damages caused by these illicit activities.

The main challenges in the short and medium term for our country are:

a) Climate Change, Oceans and Marine Pollution: Participate actively in the forthcoming multilateral and regional meetings for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Also, support multilateral initiatives to identify the effects of climate change on the oceans and reduce marine litter by improving integrated solid waste management and community awareness of the impact of litter on human health and on coastal ecosystems.

b) Biodiversity: To articulate the plans, programs and commitments adopted within the framework of the Biodiversity Convention and its Protocols with the principles and approaches established in the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

c) Environmental Performance Study prepared by the OECD: Within the framework of Green Growth approach, the OECD adopted by Peru in 2015, the implementation of the recommendations of this study submitted in May 2016 should be encouraged, as long as it is of national interest to improve the linkage and rapprochement with OECD standards in environmental policy.

d) Combating transboundary environmental illicit acts: Make a comprehensive and transversal analysis with a view to strengthening the design and implementation of joint actions with neighboring countries, focused to preventing and eradicating these crimes, within the framework of bilateral agreements and through the Andean Committee against Illegal Mining.

e) Forests and illicit trafficking in wildlife: Continue to strengthen public forest and wildlife management with a view to achieving sustainable management by actively participating in high-level forums of intergovernmental policies such as the United Nations Forum on Forests, CITES Conference of the Parties, or regional forums such as EGILAT within the framework of APEC.

Directorate of Human Rights

Peru is firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, by virtue of the principles of universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights. In this sense, the Peruvian State recognizes the observance and full validity of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law as fundamental pillars for the functioning and construction of a democratic and peaceful society that consecrates human dignity as the supreme goal of the performance of the State.

In that context, Peru, at the level of the United Nations Universal System, is part of the 10 main international human rights treaties and their respective Optional Protocols. We also maintain an open invitation to the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council for to visit the country and to check the advances and policies developed by the State in the matter.

On the other hand, at the regional level, the Peruvian State is attached to the Inter-American System of Human Rights and recognizes the competence and jurisdiction of the Inter-American Commission and Court of Human Rights. Likewise, Peru has signed and ratified the main inter-American instruments for the protection of human rights adopted within the framework of the Organization of American States.

Directorate of Drug Control

Illicit drug trafficking (IDT) is one of the greatest threats to security, as it undermines democratic governance and institutions, promotes corruption and encourages crime and organized crime, while weakening the economic and social system. It also threatens public health and damages the country's external image.

The Drug Control Directorate promotes and defends Peru's interests and objectives in the multilateral area in drug control, in coordination with the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (DEVIDA) and other related entities of the public administration. It also manages to the international community the support that Peru needs to implement the National Strategy against Drugs.



Directorate of Security and Defense

Participation of Peru in peacekeeping operations

Peru, as a founding member of the United Nations, is firmly committed to its overarching objectives, international peace and security. That is why, since 1958, it has actively participated in the Peacekeeping Operations (OMP), having contributed to date with more than 6,700 Armed Forces personnel, who have played responsibilities, such as Force Commanders, Military Observers, Members of the Military Staff and integrating Contingents.

Currently, Peru has 394 troops deployed, of which 141 are women, in 7 MTOs located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Darfur, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Abyei and the Central African Republic.

In January of 2016, an Engineering Company was deployed in the Central African Republic, being the first time that our country has such a participation in Africa. Peru has also reaffirmed its commitment to the OPM and has given the UN a new offer of 205 military personnel.

Humanitarian demining in Peru

In Peru, two situations occurred that gave rise to the existence of antipersonnel mines planted in its territory; the first as a result of protection of national infrastructure (high voltage towers, penal establishments and police bases) and the second is the existence of 177 hazardous areas as a result of the 1995 war conflict with Ecuador.

In 2002, the Peruvian Center for Action against Antipersonnel Mines (CONTRAMINAS) was created as a body responsible for proposing State policy on comprehensive antipersonnel landmines in Peru, as well as monitoring compliance with the objectives of the Ottawa Convention.

The process of eradicating antipersonnel mines planted on the border with Ecuador is achieved within the framework of measures of trust and transparency between the two countries by sharing information on their hazardous areas.

This process is carried out in accordance with the Manual of Humanitarian Demining Procedures and on the basis of the International Standards of Action against Antipersonnel Mines (IMAS Standard).

The humanitarian demining process concludes with the "Completion Study", known as "Certification", through which the National Authority CONTRAMINAS declares an area free of anti-personnel mines.

Peru, between January 2009 and December 2015, has destroyed 18,220 antipersonnel mines planted in its territory, according to the following detail:

- 8,843 antipersonnel mines in mined areas in the national infrastructure.

- 9,377 antipersonnel mines in the mined areas of the border with Ecuador.