INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION AND THE PERUVIAN PRESS COUNCIL

This document certifies the institutional cooperation agreement entered into by the Peruvian Press Council, on the one hand, hereinafter the COUNCIL, represented by its president, Enrique Zileri Gibson, identified with D.N.I. 09376142, according to power of attorney registered in electronic entry N°… of the Corporation Registry of Lima with domicile at Calle Punta Negra No 572, Magdalena del Mar, Lima and on the other, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission created by the President of the Republic through Supreme Decree 065-2001-PCM, as amended by Supreme Decree 101-2001-PCM, represented by its President SALOMÓN LERNER FEBRES, identified with DNI 08771655, appointed to such position through Supreme Resolution 330-2001-PCM, and authorized to sign cooperation agreements through Ministerial Resolution 212-2001-PCM, with domicile at Av. Salaverry N° 2802- San Isidro, Lima, hereinafter the COMMISSION, under the following terms and conditions:

FIRST: PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT

The Peruvian Press Council

The Peruvian Press Council is a non-profit civil association founded in 1996 by the main written press media in the country. It was organized to defend press, expression and information freedoms in Peru. It also seeks to promote and raise the ethical level in national journalism. To do so, the Peruvian Press Council created the Ethics Tribunal, sitting well-known Peruvians from outside journalism. It has developed the campaign to Access Information Kept by the State since 2000.

The associated media in the Peruvian Press Council are the following newspapers: El Comercio, Gestión, La República, El Popular, Líbero, Ojo, Correo, Ajá, El Bocón, La Industria de Trujillo, Satélite de Trujillo, La Industria de Chimbote, La Industria de Chiclayo, El Norteño, El Tiempo de Piura y Arequipa al Día. Also the following Magazines Caretas, Debate, Semana Económica, Perú Económico, Ideele, Signos, Espacio, Kanari de Iquitos, and audiovisual media Canal N television and CPN radio.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a high level entity created by the Executive Power through Supreme Decree N° 065-2001-PCM of June 4th, 2001, as complemented by Supreme Decree N° 101-2001-PCM, to clarify the process, tasks and responsibilities related to terrorist violence and violations of human rights from May 1980 to November 2000, by both terrorist organizations and members of the state. It also makes proposals for strengthening peace and creating harmony among Peruvians.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has become the ideal mechanism to process and clarify the serious violations of human rights occurred during the violence period –it needs all the support and cooperation of public and private institutions and of citizens at large. In addition, it must direct its efforts at analyzing the causes of violence, contributing to the making of justice by competent entities and preparing proposals for institutional reform and the comprehensive redressing of victims.

.SECOND: OBJECTIVE OF THE AGREEMENT

This agreement establishes the framework for cooperation between the COUNCIL and the COMMISSION by media dissemination of the COMMISSION’S activities within the framework of promoting democracy and human rights. Particularly, in the perspective of strengthening freedom of expression and press and the right to information.

THIRD: COMMITMENT OF THE PARTIES

a) The COUNCIL will provide consulting at the COMMISSION’s request on issues related to media dissemination of activities, as well as appropriate media treatment of the information it keeps and produces.

b) The COUNCIL will collaborate with the COMMISSION in organizing and disseminating activities, including work meetings and training and workshops for journalists.

c) The COUNCIL will respond to the COMMISSION’S information requests and will gather documents on nationa land international media coverage on the subject comprised in its mandate to deliver timely information.

d) The COMMISSION and the COUNCIL commit themselves to disseminate this agreement as part of their institutional activities.

FOURTH: SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS

Specific agreements can be reached according to the commitments assumed in the former clause. The agreement’s scope and duration, and the obligations of the parties will be established in the agreement. Specific agreements will also be used for the parties (in agreement) to assume additional commitments to those established in the current agreement.

FIFTH: FUNDING

This agreement does not generate any financial liabilities, and neither of the two institutions are obliged to keep specific funds for the needs generated from it.

The parties are free to request financing from third parties for the joint execution of activities deriving from this agreement.

SIXTH: TERM OF THE AGREEMENT

This agreement shall become effective as from its signing and until the COMMISSION completes its mandate in compliance with Supreme Decree N° 065-2001-PCM, unless one of the parties notifies the other party in writing and one month advance its intention of terminating the agreement.

SEVENTH: OPERATION COORDINATORS

The following operation coordinators will help to comply with the objectives of this agreement:

For the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Iris Jave Pinedo, Communication Area Coordinator

For the Peruvian Press Council: Kela León, Projects Director

To achieve the objectives of this agreement, both parties, through their operation coordinators or their designers agree to hold joint coordination and action plan meetings when requested by any of the parties.

EIGHTH: INTERPRETATION AND CONTROVERSIES

This agreement is based upon the parties’ good faith. Any controversies arising its interpretation, execution or breach will be resolved by agreement of the parties.

In conformance with the contents and scope of this agreement, the parties sign it in two equally valid copies in Lima on the 7th day of December, 2002

Enrique Zileri Gibson
President
Peruvian Press Council

Salomón Lerner Febres
President
Truth and Reconciliation Commission