Gen Z Rallies Against Boluarte in Peru

Beginning around September 20, 2025, tens of thousands of young Peruvians marched through Lima and other cities in protest of recent pension reforms and long-standing grievances with the Boluarte government. These demonstrations are widely characterized as Generation Z protests. 
The spark was a law that required every Peruvian above 18 to enroll in a pension fund (AFP), even as many work in informal or precarious jobs. 

But that reform is just the surface. Protesters cite multiple grievances:

• Widespread corruption and lack of accountability for past protest deaths, especially from the regime change in late 2022. 

• Insecurity, extortion, and contract killings increasingly affecting daily life. 

• Distrust of Congress and political institutions whose approval ratings are near collapse (Congress ~3%, President ~2.5%). 

In Lima, youthful marchers carried banners, chanted slogans, and employed symbolic imagery, including the skull-in-straw hat motif from the anime One Piece, a cultural symbol increasingly used in youth protests globally. 
The route of the march intentionally passed by the Congress building, highlighting the public’s rejection of legislative authority.

Background & Deeper Roots

To understand why these protests resonate so deeply, we need context:

The Change of Power & Legacy Issues

President Dina Boluarte assumed power in late 2022 after the removal of then-President Pedro Castillo. That transition was accompanied by widespread protests, dozens of deaths, and claims of institutional overreach. 
Regions like Puno have seen especially intense clashes and historic tragedies, such as the Juliaca massacre (2023), where police killed dozens of protesters. 
These events have left a deep scar in the national consciousness: many young Peruvians see Boluarte’s government as lacking legitimacy and accountability.

Economic Strain & Informality

Large segments of the population, especially youth, work in informal sectors without stable contracts or benefits. Asking them to commit to pension contributions they may never see feels unfair. 
Add to that rising living costs, insecurity, and pervasive corruption: the sense among Gen Z is that the system is rigged, and they have less to lose by protesting than to gain by silence.

Global Youth Protest Wave

These protests are not unique to Peru. Across multiple countries, young people are mobilizing around demands for transparency, economic justice, and institutional accountability—often using social media, pop culture, and decentralized organizing.

Banner from December 23, 2022 in Lima, Peru reads "No more deaths, Dina resign, the people demand it!". Photo: Zoe Alexandra

Peru’s youth protests are part of a broader Gen Z protest movement, drawing inspiration from global symbols and tactics.

What We’ve Seen So Far

Clashes & Injuries

According to Peru’s National Human Rights Coordinator (CNDDHH), at least 18 people were injured in clashes in Lima between protesters and police, including one journalist. 

The confrontations involved stone-throwing from protesters and tear gas, rubber bullets, and forceful dispersal tactics by police.

At the same time, protest activity has disrupted sectors such as mining: Hudbay Minerals temporarily shut down a mill due to unrest. 

Political Ramifications

Boluarte’s approval rating has plunged to around 2.5%, while Congress’s rating lingers near 3%, signaling near-universal public distrust in Peru’s political leadership. 

In response to mounting pressure, general elections have been scheduled for April 2026, where Peruvians will elect a new president, 130 deputies, and 60 senators. 

But Boluarte has declared she will not resign, framing the protests as attempts to destabilize democracy. 

Partial Policy Retreats & Symbolic Wins

Under protest pressure, Congress withdrew the most controversial pension reform clause that would have obligated young people to join the AFP system.

However, this concession came after mass mobilization and does not satisfy broader demands about accountability, security reforms, and institutional change.

What to Expect Next—and What Must Not Happen

Potential Trajectories

1. Escalation or Repression

If the government responds overly forcefully—deploying more militarized police, curfews, or emergency legislation—the protests could escalate into larger confrontations, risking deaths or further oppression.

2. Fragmented Coalitions

To sustain impact, youth movements may need to partner with unions, Indigenous communities, and civil society groups. Without those alliances, the protests risk burning out or being dismissed.

3. Concessions vs. Systemic Reform

Temporary policy rollbacks may placate some demands, but without structural reforms—transparency, electoral integrity, criminal justice reform—the same grievances will reemerge.

4. Dialogue & Mediation

A credible peace path would involve mediated dialogue, perhaps with oversight by neutral bodies (e.g. UN, OAS), to negotiate reforms, guarantee protest rights, and protect investigative justice.

Key Risks to Avoid

• Criminalizing protests via labeling protesters as enemies or terrorists

• Use of lethal or disproportionate force in crowd control

• Censorship or shutdowns of media coverage of protests

• Fragmenting opposition through co-optation, arrests, or intimidation

How We Can Support Peaceful, Democratic Change

• Amplify awareness: Share accurate reports, especially from youth voices and local journalists.

• Vote for people-driven solutions: Participate in Pledge4Peace campaigns to channel civic pressure into diplomatic and policy alternatives.

• Push for accountability: Demand independent human rights investigations, proportional use-of-force norms, and legal protection for protesters.

• Promote negotiations: Encourage neutral mediation efforts, inclusive civic forums, and confidence-building measures between youth and institutions.

• Sustain engagement: If youth energy wanes, institutions must carry forward commitments. Public vigilance ensures promises aren’t forgotten.

Peru’s 2025 Gen Z protests are more than a flash of youthful discontent, they’re a symptom of deeper democratic crisis. The pension reform was just the match; years of corruption, inequality, insecurity, and institutional failure are the fuel. What we are seeing is the rise of a generation determined to reclaim their future.

But whether that future is peaceful or violent depends on choices: by youth, by government, by international and civic actors. The next steps matter. Peru (and the world) will watch.

Your voice matters beyond Peru. Vote now in Pledge4Peace campaigns at pledge4peace.org/campaigns. Share this article. Engage in dialogue. Together, we can show the world that youth demands progress—not chaos; justice—not vengeance; peace—not polarization.

Hero image: A demonstrator holds a sign which reads, "For our lives, we march today", as people attend a protest against crime and insecurity, in Lima, Peru March 21, 2025. © 2025 REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda