Diakonia's work in Peru is concentrated in five regions in the southern Andes, some of the poorest regions in the country, and also the most affected by violence during the armed conflict.

Four thematic platforms

The work with the partners in Peru is implemented from four thematic platforms:

• Democracy and participation
• Human rights
• Gender equality
• Natural resources and climate change

In each platform it is sought to connect the local problem with advocacy on both a national and international level.

Support to victims of the armed conflict

For example partners work with follow-up of legal processes and reparation to victims of the armed conflict, and with promotion of networks of women authorities and training of women leaders to strengthen women’s participation; defense of the rights of, and assistance to women victims of violence. 

When it comes to natural resources, compensation is sought for peasant communities with respect to environmental damage caused by extractive industries and also the adaptation of local production to climate change, for example, seeking a more efficient use of water.

Unequal distribution of wealth

Peru is a country with many riches, considerable and sustained economic growth, and it is actually classified as a middle income country.  However, the distribution of wealth is extremely unequal and social and economic gaps have increased during the last few years.  Many of the traditional patriarchal structures still exist with regard to roles and values, in spite of progress made in legislation to promote gender equality and the participation of women.  The internal armed conflict, between 1980-2000, cost the lives of almost 69,000 people; in addition, ten years under the authoritarian regime of President Fujimori weakened democratic institutions and citizen confidence in the Rule of Law. 

Structural inequalities are a challenge

In Peru, the challenges faced by Diakonia and its partners have to do with structural inequalities, for example the legal processes, truth and reconciliation for victims of the armed conflict and the new opportunities for democracy and participation that the decentralization process, which began in 2002, offers. Diakonia and it's partners have reached progress in the areas of democracy and Human Rights, for example: several hundred families of victims of the armed conflict have obtained justice as dozens of military officials and other perpetrators have been brought before justice and various have been sentenced for crimes against the Human Rights.

A country vulnerable to climate change

In addition to this comes the risks of climate change in a country that is most vulnerable to this phenomenon, with extreme water scarcity and one of the highest mining exploitation rates in the world.