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Country Background

Peru is located Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador. The capital of Peru is Lima. The official languages are Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 30.7 million. Peru is a predominantly Christian country, with about 81% of the population Roman Catholic.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Peru is referred to as a presidential republic. The current Constitution of Peru was adopted in 1993 following a referendum, in which it passed by a narrow margin of 52% to 48%. It is a civil law system. There are three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Peru.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Peru.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Peru has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  • Diario Oficial [Official Gazette]; full text of laws are also available on the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights' website
  • Congreso de la República
  • El Archivo Digital de la Legislación del Perú (Digital Archive of Laws since 1904)
• Executive
  • Presidencia
  • Ministerio de Justicia

• Judicial
• Poder Judicial

 Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Peru (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Peru (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Peru (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Peru (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English and Arabic translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].