Peru: Renewed judicial harassment of investigative journalist Paola Ugaz condemned by freedom of expression organisations
The undersigned freedom of expression and press freedom organisations urge Peru’s judiciary to dismiss the complaint filed on 17 August by the Asociación Civil San Juan Bautista (ACSJB) against investigative journalist Paola Ugaz.
The complaint, a copy of which is held by the organisations, is the latest in a series of legal proceedings related to her reporting on the Sodalitium of Christian Life, a Peruvian-based religious group that was dissolved by the Pope in January 2025, and individuals and entities associated with it. The signatory organisations call on the authorities to ensure that criminal law and judicial proceedings are not used to intimidate journalists, compel them to amend legitimate reporting on matters of public interest, or undermine the protection of journalistic sources.
On 17 August 2026, the ACSJB filed a private criminal complaint against Paola Ugaz alleging aggravated defamation in connection with a series of articles and interviews concerning the Sodalitium of Christian Life, its financial activities, its cemeteries and allegations relating to land. The complaint characterises the alleged offence as continuing aggravated defamation and refers to reporting and public statements made over several years.
In its complaint, the ACSJB asks the court to impose a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 120 day-fine units on Ugaz. It also requests that sentencing be deferred on condition that Ugaz rectify the information the complainant considers false or insufficiently substantiated, and that she be ordered to publish, at her own expense, the relevant portions of the final judgment. The civil damages sought amount to one Peruvian sol.
These demands raise serious concerns regarding freedom of expression in Peru. The use of criminal defamation proceedings to challenge investigative journalism on matters of significant public interest, particularly when combined with the possibility of imprisonment, criminal fines and court-ordered corrections, can have a profound chilling effect on both the journalist concerned and other reporters investigating powerful institutions.
Background
From 2018 to 2026, Paola Ugaz has faced a campaign of harassment, threats and at least five defamation lawsuits, as well as allegations of other criminal offences, in retaliation for her investigations into corruption and physical, psychological and sexual abuse within the Peruvian religious organisation Sodalitium of Christian Life. She has conducted these investigations alongside Pedro Salinas since 2010. Ugaz began facing complaints and lawsuits when she started investigating the organisation’s financial management and publishing her findings in the newspaper La República, while also announcing a forthcoming book on the subject.
In January 2025, Pope Francis dissolved the Sodalitium of Christian Life after an investigation uncovered sexual abuse committed by its founder, financial mismanagement by its leaders and spiritual abuse perpetrated by senior members of the organisation. In May 2025, Pope Leo XIV confirmed the dissolution of the Sodalicium of Christian Life and ordered that a channel for listening to and providing redress to survivors be established.
SIGNATURES
PEN International
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Asociación Nacional de Periodistas del Perú
Diario La República (Perú)
Diario ABC (España)
El Búho (Perú)
Epicentro TV (Perú)
Federación Internacional de Periodistas (FIP)
FLIP
Fundamedios
IDL-Reporteros (Perú)
IFEX-ALC
Infopais (Perú)
IPYS Venezuela
OjoPúblico
PEN America
PEN Argentina
PEN Bolivia
PEN Canada
PEN Chile
PEN Cuba en el Exilio
PEN Ecuador
PEN España
PEN Guatemala
PEN Paraguay
PEN Québec
PEN Quechua
PEN San Miguel
PEN Venezuela
Reporteros Sin Fronteras España
Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa
Territorio tomado (Perú)
Voces del Sur
Note to Editors
For more information, please contact Alicia Quiñones, Head of the Americas Region, PEN International: [email protected]
For media queries, please contact Sabrina Tucci, Head of Communications and Campaigns, PEN International: [email protected]