Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

In the 1980s and early 1990s Peru suffered great political violence and brutal human rights violations.  Security organizations and government officials harshly criticized the neutral defense of human rights (holding state and non-state actors equally accountable for their actions).  The government accusations seemed to resonate with many Peruvian citizens.  To gain greater credibility and to seek protection, the human rights groups throughout the country came together in a united organization called the Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDDHH).  Together they helped victims of human rights violations, influenced legislation related to human rights, and generated both national and international pressure on many human rights issues.  This coordinating body represents a unique ability to work together and the potential power created by coalitions.

The National Coordinator for Human Rights (Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos) is a coalition of 63 of Peru's leading human rights groups. The Coordinadora, founded in 1985, has survived because of its ability to unite member organizations and adapt to a constantly-changing political environment. Its mix of both urban and rural members has enhanced the group’s legitimacy throughout the country and internationally, while constructive engagement of government officials has contributed to its power as a political player.

Following the military regime of General Francisco Morales Bermúdez and the launch of the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) armed revolution, human rights groups were overwhelmed by the increasing atrocities. During 1983 and 1984, nearly 6,000 Peruvians lost their lives as a result of political violence. It was vital to create a space for groups to collaborate that was independent of religion and politics.

The success and strength of the coalition is due to a number of factors, including:

• Clear principles of internal functioning: The coalition decided from its first meeting that they would pledge to reject violence of all types, remain independent of political parties and the State, be committed to a democratic society and oppose the death penalty. Those organizations that do not adhere to these principles are not allowed to be part of the coalition.


• Decision-making by consensus: Their decision-making process creates a sense of common agreement and solidarity. All the groups must be in agreement. While groups in the coalition are of all different sizes and come from various parts of the country, each group has an equal voice when it comes to decision-making, including the formation of a National Board, which is elected by members at a General Assembly which convenes every two years.


• Representing the collective: The internal process of selection and agreement on a representative for the organization gives legitimacy, both internally and externally, to this person and to the organization. When a person, for example, is selected by the member organizations to participate in an international meeting, the individual participates not as a representative of the specific organization that he/she represents but rather as a representative of the Coordinadora. 


• Agreement on priorities that will be carried out together: Every two years, the member organizations come together in a national assembly and decide on priority topics they will address as a coalition. Their work on these topics is then carried out collectively and nationally by the Executive Secretary, a permanent body that carries out the decisions of the National Board and General Assembly.  The Executive secretary is elected for a two-year term and serves as the official spokesperson for the coalition, organizing and facilitating the meetings, and mobilizing the members. The Coordinadora only takes on activities that are distinct from those implemented by individual coalition organizations and as related to the priority areas.

When human rights groups work together they can often do much more to improve the human rights situation in a country than individual groups could have done on their own. The National Coordinator for Human Rights in Peru proves that this is possible even on a very large scale.
By coordinating their efforts, the Coordinadora efficiently and effectively mobilizes people on a national scale, having a much greater impact than individual organizations or a temporary coalition. For example, when the former Peruvian President Fujimori threatened to withdraw participation in the Inter-American Court system, the Coordinadora mobilized people across the nation within one week. All of its member organizations signed a statement and carried out efforts against the president’s proposal plus more than 400 additional organizations were mobilized to act. Every organization then took steps in its own community to build support and engage people to speak out against the situation. If it was not for the Coordinadora’s clear position, credibility and structure, this would not have been possible.

The Coordinadora was created in an atmosphere of violence and extreme human rights abuses, demonstrating that it is possible to implement this coalition-building tactic in adverse situations.
Yet, the true success of this coalition is based much more than a need to come together at a very difficult time. Clear objectives, a solid framework and principles for collaboration, and a clear stance against violence have brought the organization greater legitimacy. These principles have also won the support of the international community and have served to ensure the long-term success of this coalition.