LatinNews Daily - 13 February 2023

Peru: On 2 February, Peru’s Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi concluded a work trip Washington D.C. during which she held around 20 meetings with high level US officials, congress members, human rights organisations, trade unions and think tanks, according to a foreign ministry statement. On 1 February, Gervasi met with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. According to a US Department of State press release, Sherman expressed US support for the Peruvian government and for President Dina Boluarte “and her efforts to affirm Peru’s democracy”. In light of on-going anti-government protests in Peru, Sherman also encouraged the Peruvian government to take steps to ensure that those responsible for acts of violence were being held accountable. Posting on Twitter, Sherman said she had conveyed her “unwavering support for Peruvian democracy and the Peruvian people” and that the US government was working with Peru to “support peace and human rights”. Peru’s foreign ministry tweeted that both parties had emphasised their interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation “in the areas of security, human rights, democracy, economic prosperity, the fight against corruption and illicit drug trafficking.” The meeting comes after US House of Representatives from the Democratic party published an open letter to US President Joe Biden expressing alarm about human rights violations committed by Peruvian state security forces during the protests and calling on the US government to halt security funding to Peru. 

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