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27, Nov. 2023, Lima.- UNESCO Peru has joined global efforts to enhance professional relationships between security forces and the media by providing training to national security forces. In partnership with the National Police of Peru (PNP), UNESCO successfully organized two intensive training sessions, with valuable support from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Embassy of Switzerland in Peru.

On 13 November 2023, the training started with welcoming words from Fernando Berrios, official in charge of the representation of UNESCO Peru. “The police and journalists are both essential protagonists of democratic life. This training aims to build mutual respect,” he stressed. Maia Campbell, coordinator of the OHCHR Technical Mission in Peru, went on to note the important role of journalists in monitoring protests and gathering information to prevent human rights violations. Víctor Zanabria Angulo, national director of Order and Security of the PNP, concluded by acknowledging the PNP's commitment to fostering a culture of peace and the need to strengthen relations between Peruvian police and journalists.

The Training of Trainers (ToT) Model was applied so that the participants could apply what they learned to their own training. The training was conducted in an overall dynamic manner, consisting of theoretical lectures as well as practical sessions, open discussions in working groups and interactions with invited journalists.

Over the course of 4 days, each morning began with a session by main instructor Philippe Pérez, an expert in journalist safety and democratic crowd management. In addition, various lecturers, including Federico Chunga, human rights and freedom of expression expert, Miriam Larco, ConcorTV technical secretary, Alberto Cruces Burga, professor at the Faculty of Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Jeannette Llaja Villena, technical secretary of the Gender Justice Commission of the Judicial Branch of Peru, and Paola Cristina Rojas, advisor to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, participated to share their knowledge and expertises and led fruitful discussions with the participants.

In this manner, a variety of topics were covered, including international standards on freedom of expression and safety of journalists, its adaptation to peruvian context, support of police to the judicial investigations, ethical principles of journalism, definition of journalists and their roles, crisis communication and public safety situations, and violations of the rights of women journalists.

A follow-up training was conducted over two days, from December 11 to 12, involving 50 police officers at various levels as trainees, divided into two groups. Each morning commenced with a session led by the main instructors, Jaime Jaime Edwin Martínez Ventura and Federico Chunga. Notably, to implement the Train the Trainer (ToT) methodology, six police officers who underwent training in November served as instructors. They designed their sessions based on the

In both trainings, active role-playing was conducted in three scenarios to gain a more comprehensive and complex vision of social conflict. Police officers, taking on the role of journalists or protesters, have discovered that there are many important factors to consider in conflict settings. Police expressed that although there is a tension between maintaining public order and protecting freedom of expression in conflict situations, all countries need freedom of expression for democracy, and the police perform a fundamental function to ensure this right and further promote social development.

Clearly, law enforcement officials can protect this right by applying the law and international human rights standards. The State must properly implement national policies to address this problem." - Solari Chillcce José Luis, National Police of Peru.

In group discussions, participants presented suggestions for improving relationships between police, journalists, and citizens. “Everyone should understand the responsibilities, rights and obligations of police, citizens, and journalists. We want to expand that knowledge to universities and training centers through a curriculum framework.”, said Misme Villegas Luz Marina, a police officer who participated in the training.

The police also had the opportunity to interact directly with young and experienced journalists in various sessions. Journalists have expressed major concerns about the risks they continue to face when accessing and sharing information with citizens. Police have made it clear that they would like to welcome further discussions with journalists to share lessons learned from both sides and prepare proposals when faced with conflict.

Both trainings had a closing ceremony. The first training in November concluded with a ceremony attended by López-Hurtado, official in charge of the representation of UNESCO; Paul Garnier, Swiss ambassador; and Víctor Zanabria Angulo, national director of Order and Security of the PNP. The second training in December was concluded with words of Guiomar Alonso Cano, Representative of UNESCO; Paul Garnier, and Víctor Zanabria Angulo.

"This first training with the PNP will be a starting point towards a relationship of mutual trust, understanding and respect for these two sectors that are so important to society as a whole and to our lives," said Guiomar Alonso. "Journalists play a vital role as guardians of truth, which is essential to an informed society. We should work together to create environment where they can work ethically and diligently without fear," said Paul Gaunier.

The training was conducted with support from the  and the Embassy of Switzerland in Peru. This training is part of UNESCO’s global initiative which has trained over 12,000 law enforcement offices from more than 160 countries on international and regional standards related to freedom of expression, access to information, and the safety of journalists since 2013.

UNESCO Peru will continue working with the security forces of the country to support their role in protecting and ensuring an environment conducive to freedom of expression, access to information and other fundamental freedoms.