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Peru Ombudsman to Submit Non-Criminal Hate Speech Bill to Congress This Week

The draft favors administrative remedies over criminal penalties to reinforce a culture of peace.

Overview

  • Defensor del Pueblo Josué Gutiérrez said he will present a near-final proposal targeting expressions that promote or incite discrimination or violence.
  • He emphasized the initiative does not create criminal offenses and instead seeks to set preventive standards for public discourse.
  • The proposal contemplates electoral regulation, with potential administrative measures against candidates who use discriminatory messaging during campaigns.
  • Gutiérrez stated the measure is not intended to curtail freedom of expression or interfere with the work of the press.
  • The announcement comes during a period of sharp political polarization, with UN and OAS warnings about harmful rhetoric, and Congress now expected to debate scope, enforcement, and safeguards.