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Background

FACT SHEET: frequently asked questions about the OAS High-level Group to analyze the situation in Peru

Why is the OAS sending a High-level group to Peru?

The Government of President Pedro Castillo requested, by invoking Articles 17 and 18 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter adopted in Lima, Peru, on September 11, 2001, the support of the member states as it considered that Peru’s democratic stability was threatened. This request was made through a letter addressed to the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, in which the Peruvian government expressed its willingness to establish a dialogue process with all the stakeholders in Peru in order to recover democratic stability. Subsequently, the Peruvian Foreign Minister, César Landa, ratified the request.

What will the High-level Group do in Peru?

The group is going to listen to different actors. The group’s objective is to meet with as many individuals, groups and institutions as possible, to listen to the greatest number of voices that have something to say about the current situation in Peru, in order to prepare the most comprehensive report possible for the Permanent Council.

What decisions can the High-level Group make regarding the situation in Peru?

None. The function of the group is to learn about the situation in Peru, by listening to the Peruvian people. After its visit, the group will prepare a report that will be presented to the OAS Permanent Council.

What authority does the OAS have to send a High-level Group to Peru?

The Inter-American Democratic Charter, which was approved in Lima in 2001 by acclamation of all member states, including of course Peru, establishes in its Article 17 that any government of the member states can request at any time assistance to the OAS to strengthen and preserve its democratic political and institutional stability. The High-level Group will go to Lima at the request of the Government of Peru, as established in the Charter.

What mandate does the High-level Group have?

The specific mandate of the group is to make an on-site visit to Peru with the aim of analyzing the political situation and report on this to all member states. Once the report is received, it will be up to the member states, meeting in the Permanent Council, to decide the following steps. The resolution leading to the creation of this group is available here.

What legitimacy does the High-level Group have?

The mandate of the High-level Group has full legitimacy, since it is based on the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, accepted by all member states, and because the resolution ordering the creation of this group was approved unanimously by the Permanent Council of the OAS (with the support of all member states). The intention of the support provided by the OAS member states is indicated in the resolution’s title: “Supporting the Preservation of the Democratic System and Representative Democracy in Peru.”

Who is a member of the High-level Group and how was the composition decided?

The composition of the High-level Group was decided by the Chair of the Permanent Council, the Permanent Representative of Suriname to the OAS, Ambassador Marten Schalkwijk, after consultations with the rest of the member states. The members of the group are::

• Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Immigration of Belize
• Arnoldo André, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica
• Juan Carlos Holguín, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador
• Mario Adolfo Búcaro, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala
• Julio César Arriola, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay
• Pablo Tettamanti, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Argentina
• Laura Gil, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Colombia
• Eladio Loizaga, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, representative of the OAS General Secretariat and spokesperson for the Group

Does the High-level Group have a predetermined idea of the situation in Peru?

No. The group comes to Peru to listen and will reflect on what it hears in its report. The starting point of the group’s work will be the institutional capacity of the Peruvian State, reflected in its Constitution and the laws that develop it. The group will not travel to endorse one side or the other, but rather prepare a report on the situation.

When will the High-level Group arrive?

The group will arrive in Peru on Sunday, November 20, and will conclude its work on Wednesday, November 23.

Who will the High-level Group meet with during its visit?

The objective of the group is to meet with the greatest number of institutions, individuals and groups that play a relevant role in supporting and preserving Peru’s institutional capacity. Hence, the group plans to meet with representatives of the executive, legislative and judicial branches; the government and the opposition; faith organizations and groups; entrepreneurs, civil society and trade union organizations, among others.

When will the High-level Group present its report?

There is not a fixed date or deadline set for the report. The group, nonetheless, expressed the importance of presenting the report as soon as possible. Subsequently, it will be up to the Chair of the Permanent Council to convene a meeting for the presentation of the report.

Reference: S-026/22