AGP Executive Report

Children & Families: Peru and UNICEF advanced plans to support highly vulnerable children. Food & Travel: The “Perú Mucho Gusto” gastronomic fair opened, putting the country’s cuisine in the spotlight. Pope’s Peru Visit: Leo XIV is due in South America Nov. 6–17, including Peru, where he plans to meet abuse survivors. Cusco is preparing Sacsayhuamán for a gathering expected to draw 75,000. Living Heritage: Puno’s 358th-anniversary celebrations featured an identity parade, with a lakeside performance of the Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo legend planned with more than 500 actors. Justice & Memory: Peru closed the forced-sterilization case against 52 officials from the Fujimori era. Ts+uni youth also called for a Truth Commission to address crimes against Amazon communities during the rubber era.

Food & Festivals: The Perú Mucho Gusto gastronomic fair opens, bringing Peru’s regional cuisine into the spotlight. Lima is also preparing to celebrate Día de la Canción Criolla. Pope’s Visit: Pope Leo XIV is due in Cusco, where Sacsayhuamán is preparing to receive up to 75,000 people; he will also meet survivors of abuse during his Latin America trip. Living Traditions: Puno plans a Lake Titicaca performance of the Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo legend, featuring more than 500 actors, while a Hay Festival event honors poet Blanca Varela. Justice & Heritage: Peru’s closure of the forced-sterilization case against 52 officials has drawn criticism as a blow to justice. Authorities are also preparing to protect cultural heritage from potential El Niño emergencies. Andean Craft: Alpaca apparel brand PAKA pledged to move toward 90% natural and plant-derived fibers by 2035, with support for water-stressed communities in Puno.

Education: Public-school teachers staged a 24-hour national strike on Oct. 29, demanding a bigger education budget, labor agreements and pension reforms despite threatened pay deductions. Faith & Tradition: At Lima’s Oct. 28 Lord of Miracles Mass, Bishop Guillermo Elías urged devotees to carry their faith beyond the procession and into daily life. Pope’s Visit: Preparations are underway for Leo XIV’s Nov. 6–17 South American tour. Cusco’s Sacsayhuamán is set to host 75,000 people, while women inmates in Lima are sewing Pope dolls and devotional items for sale through a prison-work rehabilitation program. Culture: Puno has opened its 358th anniversary celebrations with an Identity Parade; more than 500 performers are due to stage the Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo legend on Lake Titicaca. Health: Peru has registered 80,000 dengue cases in its worst epidemic on record. Heritage: Officials are preparing cultural sites to protect them from potential El Niño emergencies.

Heritage on Alert: Peru’s Culture Ministry and UNESCO are training officials to protect cultural sites from possible damage linked to the 2026–27 El Niño. Indigenous Voices: At COP17, Indigenous leaders including Peruvians urged governments to involve local communities in biodiversity decisions—not just consult them. Papal Homecoming: Pope Leo XIV’s November South America visit is set to include Chiclayo, where he served as bishop, and Cusco in the Peruvian Andes. Children’s Health: UN experts called for an independent hearing in the Cerro de Pasco mining-pollution case, citing reports of children with elevated heavy-metal levels. Food and Farming: The International Potato Center in Lima is helping develop resilient potato varieties using traits from wild Andean relatives, with work aimed at supporting farmers in East Africa.

Public Health: Peru has recorded 80,000 dengue cases this year, its worst epidemic on record. El Niño rains and heat could worsen the outbreak, while vaccine supplies remain limited. Pope’s Visit: Pope Leo XIV is set to visit Peru from Nov. 6–17, including Cusco, and plans to meet survivors of clergy abuse during his Latin American tour. Culture & Food: Puno has launched celebrations for its 358th anniversary with a colorful Identity Parade, while Lima is promoting the “Perú, Mucho Gusto” food fair. Women’s Rights: Peru has closed its case against 52 Fujimori-era officials over forced sterilizations. Amazon Wildlife: Rare camera-trap footage of a baby giant armadillo in Loreto offers a hopeful glimpse of the elusive species.

Croatian-Peruvian Heritage: A new agreement will help descendants trace their family roots by preserving historical records of Croatian migration to Peru and making them easier to search. Pope’s Peru Visit: Pope Leo XIV is set to visit Peru from Nov. 6–17 and will meet survivors of clergy abuse during his South American trip. Forced Sterilisation Case: Prosecutors have closed proceedings against 52 former officials over forced sterilisation under Alberto Fujimori, despite acknowledging harm to more than 4,000 victims and procedures carried out without consent. Living Traditions: Lima’s municipality is preparing to celebrate Día de la Canción Criolla, a showcase for Peru’s homegrown music. Ancient Peru: An unusually rare burial of an elite toddler from a pre-Inca culture has been discovered, offering a glimpse into the region’s past.

Forced Sterilisation Case: Prosecutors have closed proceedings against 52 Fujimori-era officials, despite acknowledging crimes against humanity and harm to more than 4,000 women. They cited a 2024 law limiting prosecutions, a decision victims’ advocates are likely to challenge. Pope’s Peru Visit: Pope Leo XIV’s Nov. 6–17 South America trip is going ahead after lung surgery. In Peru, where he once helped feed families during the pandemic, he plans to meet survivors of clergy abuse. Culture & Sport: Lima is set to mark Día de la Canción Criolla, while the “Perú, Mucho Gusto” food fair is also on the calendar. Punta Rocas will host the ISA World Surfing Games from Nov. 6–15, with four Barbadian surfers among the competitors. Archaeology: A rare burial of an elite toddler from a pre-Inca culture has been discovered in Peru, adding a new glimpse into the country’s ancient past.

Pope’s Peru Homecoming: Pope Leo XIV is cleared to visit Peru, Uruguay and Argentina from Nov. 6–17 after lung cancer surgery. Peruvians remember his years of service to poor families, and communities are preparing to welcome him; Lambayeque museums are extending their hours for the visit. Food & Tradition: The “Perú, Mucho Gusto” gastronomic fair is drawing attention with a guide to its schedule, costs and access, while a feature explores bizcochuelo traditions for All Saints’ Day. Archaeology: Researchers have uncovered the rare burial of an elite toddler from a pre-Inca culture, adding a new glimpse into Peru’s ancient past. Amazon: A call for verifiable goals puts sustainable development in the Peruvian Amazon back in focus, as mining and deforestation reshape rivers and threaten communities’ water.

Pope’s Peru Visit: Doctors cleared Pope Leo XIV to make his Nov. 6–17 South America tour after lung cancer surgery. His Peru itinerary includes Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa; Cusco expects about 130,000 faithful, and Lambayeque museums are extending their hours. Ancient Peru: Archaeologists have uncovered a rare burial of an elite child from a pre-Inca culture, adding a striking find to the country’s rich heritage. Food & Culture: The “Perú, Mucho Gusto” gastronomic fair is drawing attention to the country’s food scene, with organizers announcing its schedule and visitor details. Faith and Heritage: Leo also recognized the heroic virtues of Friedrich Kaiser Depel, a missionary bishop who spent much of his ministry in Peru and helped rebuild communities after an earthquake.

Peru’s Heritage: Archaeologists uncovered a 1,500-year-old Moche tomb on the northern coast, with the remains of a toddler and ceramics depicting prisoners and a human-bird deity. Machu Picchu Travel: Peru has scrapped advance reservations for site tickets, changing how visitors plan trips to the country’s best-known attraction. Indigenous Conservation: A Peruvian forest steward was among six Indigenous leaders recognized at a global biodiversity summit for their work protecting primary forests. Public Debate: Around 1,000 people marched in Lima against the Fujimori government, while young protesters have also raised concerns about crime and forest fires. Religious Affairs: Peru adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, a non-binding framework for recognizing and addressing antisemitism.

Public Protest: Around 1,000 people marched in Lima, with rallies elsewhere in Peru, demanding action on extortion, forest fires, rising costs and police reform. Environmental Protection: Peru joined seven Latin American countries in backing UN negotiations on a new protocol targeting cross-border environmental crimes, including illegal mining and wildlife trafficking. Machu Picchu Travel: Peru has scrapped advance reservations for tickets to the iconic site, changing how visitors plan their trips. Amazon Wildlife: Camera footage captured a rare baby giant armadillo in the Peruvian Amazon, offering a glimpse of an elusive species. Cultural Heritage: Peruvian Ayacucho retablos are on display in Helsinki, bringing the country’s distinctive devotional art to an international audience.

Youth Protests: Students, unions and families of protest victims marched in Lima on Saturday, demanding action on extortion, deadly forest fires, rising living costs and alleged police abuses. Fires have affected 16 regions and left 12 people dead, according to emergency officials. Amazon Wildlife: Rare footage of a baby giant armadillo in the Peruvian Amazon offers a glimpse of one of the hardest animals to film in the wild. Living Heritage: Ayacucho retablos, traditional miniature scenes crafted in decorated boxes, are on display in Helsinki, bringing Peruvian folk art to a historic city center. Machu Picchu Travel: Peru has scrapped advance reservations for entry tickets, making visits to the landmark easier to plan. Ancient Peru: Researchers have uncovered 19 hairless dog mummies at Castillo de Huarmey, linked to the Wari Empire and dating back around 1,200 years.

Amazon Wildlife: A camera trap in Loreto captured a rare baby giant armadillo, offering a glimpse of a species that is difficult to spot in the wild. Peruvian Cinema: Director Rudy Dextre’s Nobody Knows the World won the Silver Star in the short-film competition at Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival. Faith & History: Pope Leo XIV recognized the heroic virtues of Friedrich Kaiser Depel, a missionary bishop who served in Peru’s Caravelí region and founded a religious order. Living Heritage: Peruvian handicrafts from Ayacucho, including retablos, were showcased in Helsinki, while native crops such as quinoa and kiwicha were added to the global seed vault. Travel & Identity: Machu Picchu is now easier to visit, and surfer Sofía Mulanovich received a Marca Perú license to promote sports tourism.

Amazon Wildlife: A camera trap in Loreto captured rare footage of a baby giant armadillo, a notoriously elusive animal whose females give birth only about once every three years. Peruvian Cinema: Rudy Dextre’s Nobody Knows the World won the Silver Star in the El Gouna Film Festival’s short-film competition. Ancient Peru: Researchers found 19 hairless dog mummies, around 1,200 years old, at Castillo de Huarmey. Studies of Wari-era dog remains suggest the animals were bred and cared for in organized ways. Nazca Heritage: Why the Nazca people created thousands of desert geoglyphs remains uncertain. Experts say the designs vary too much for one explanation to fit them all, and new lines are still being found with AI.

Machu Picchu: Peru has scrapped advance reservations for tickets, changing how visitors plan trips to the landmark. Ancient Peru: Archaeologists uncovered 19 mummified hairless dogs, about 1,200 years old, at Castillo de Huarmey, linked to the Wari Empire. Living Heritage: Ayacucho retablos are on display in Helsinki, while quinoa, kiwicha and other Peruvian crops have joined the global seed vault. Amazon Watch: A study found natural water shrinking across Amazon river basins, with mining and ranching taking a toll on Indigenous territories. Learning by Phone: Research in Ayacucho suggests weekly phone tutoring helped secondary students improve their maths without costly classroom technology.

Faith & Travel: Pope Leo has canceled his Assisi visit while recovering from lung cancer surgery. The Vatican has not confirmed whether his planned Nov. 6–17 trip to Peru will go ahead. Amazon Wildlife: Trail cameras in Loreto captured rare footage of a juvenile giant armadillo; researchers credit Indigenous knowledge for helping locate it. Machu Picchu: Peru has scrapped advance reservations for tickets, making visits easier to plan. Ancient Heritage: Researchers found 19 mummified hairless dogs, dating back about 1,200 years, at Castillo de Huarmey, linked to the Wari Empire. Peruvian Art: Ayacucho retablos are on display in Helsinki, showcasing the country’s intricate folk-art tradition. Amazon Economy: A new platform maps 232 public policies supporting biodiversity-based businesses across the Pan-Amazon region, including Peru.