Oceana Peru declares final victory against illegal wildlife trafficking - Oceana Peru
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noviembre 3, 2022

Oceana Peru declares final victory against illegal wildlife trafficking

  • Even though last June 16 the Peruvian Congress approved in plenary session the inclusion of illegal trafficking in the scope of the Law Against Organized Crime, the Executive made an observation to the law.
  • After more than a year since this modification was presented, and thanks to an important awareness campaign with congressmen and the media, the law was given priority in the Plenary of the Congress of the Republic.
  • With this important step, Peru becomes the first country in South America and a leader in the region to expressly recognize wildlife crime in the scope of a Law Against Organized Crime.

Peru has taken a great step towards the protection of thousands of wild animals and the preservation of hundreds of aquatic and terrestrial species. The Peruvian Congress finally approved, and by approval (with 93 votes), the inclusion of illegal trafficking in the scope of the Law Against Organized Crime thanks to the joint work of OCEANA PERU with other civil society organizations, citizens and media, thus marking a milestone in the defense of wildlife in the country.

This achievement will allow the application of the law against organized crime to crimes related to depredation and illegal trafficking of wild flora and fauna in Peru when they are carried out by criminal organizations. It will also provide better tools to justice operators to put an end to depredation and illegal trafficking of species.

The campaign undertaken more than four years ago by Oceana Peru represented a long road full of political challenges (including a presidential vacancy, the closure of Congress, three parliamentary elections, among other obstacles). However, it ends with a valuable victory against organized crime and will provide Peruvian authorities with more efficient legal tools to pursue, dismantle and punish the mafias that operate through these criminal networks.

It should be noted that the approved law improves the wording of articles 308-B and 308-D referring to the illegal extraction and processing of aquatic species, and illegal trafficking of genetic resources. Although in neither of the two cases are included as crimes activities that were not considered as such before, guaranteeing respect for artisanal fishing and combating the organizations dedicated to the harmful and powerful illegal fishing.

The campaign was supported by dozens of influencers and journalists, as well as civil society organizations and nearly 50 thousand Peruvians who signed the Change.org petition promoted by OCEANA PERU and the NGO Arba.

In addition to the documents, advice and follow-up carried out by OCEANA PERU to the responsible authorities, the website www.nomastraficoilegal.com was developed to inform citizens about the implications of this serious crime, inviting them to be part of this initiative.

With this victory, thousands of illegally trafficked wild animals, such as the carey turtle in this photo, were given a voice.