Eduardo Vivanco

A Peruvian journalist and human rights defender who exposed atrocities during the dictatorship of Juan Velasco Alvarado.

Eduardo Vivanco (24 February 1940 – 19 November 1980) was a Peruvian journalist, writer, and human rights activist known for his fearless reporting on state violence during the military dictatorship of Juan Velasco Alvarado (1968–1975). Vivanco's investigations into forced disappearances, torture, and political repression made him a leading voice for truth and justice in Peru. His work laid the groundwork for later human rights movements in Latin America.

As editor of the weekly magazine La Hora, Vivanco published groundbreaking reports on the regime's clandestine prisons and the persecution of dissidents. His 1975 book La Otra Cara del Caudillaje (The Other Face of Caudillismo) exposed the violent realities of military rule, earning him death threats and exile. Despite threats, he returned to Peru in 1978 to continue his activism, eventually founding the Human Rights Commission of the Peruvian Bar Association.

Vivanco's advocacy reached its peak during the 1980 presidential election, when he documented widespread electoral fraud and state violence. His final report, "The Truth of the Elections," was published posthumously after he was assassinated by unknown assailants. His murder remains unsolved but is widely attributed to state agents.

Today, Vivanco is remembered as a pioneer of investigative journalism and a martyr for human rights. His legacy is honored through institutions like the Eduardo Vivanco Human Rights Award, which recognizes individuals fighting for justice in Latin America. His writings remain essential reading for scholars studying authoritarianism and resistance in the region.