Peru Ombudsman Josué Gutiérrez faces scrutiny over travel reports

Peru's Ombudsman, Josué Gutiérrez, is facing scrutiny following investigations into his international travel documentation. Reports indicate that several official mission reports appear to contain verbatim text copied from external sources, including publications by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and previous materials released by the Ombudsman's office itself.

An investigation into 11 foreign trips revealed that in three instances, no travel reports were found in institutional archives. Furthermore, some reports failed to clearly define the concrete results or institutional utility of the missions, which included destinations such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Dubai, and The Hague.

Additional concerns have been raised regarding financial documentation. In one instance involving a trip to Switzerland and the Netherlands in May 2024, Gutiérrez received US$5,640. It was reported that he used simple sworn statements rather than commercial invoices or receipts to justify food expenses. While Gutiérrez claimed he writes the reports himself and they are reviewed by a cabinet, he has yet to provide a formal interview to address the allegations of plagiarism and documentation deficiencies.