Country Demographics:

• Population:  27.5 million                                      
• Religions:   Roman Catholic 90%, Other 10%
• Income Per Capita:  $1,837.71 year/ $5.10 day
• Government Type:  Constitutional republic
  Chief of State:  President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since July 2001)
  Note: The president is both the chief of state and head of government

Legal Profession:

• Estimated number of lawyers in Peru is 70,000
• Estimated number of believers involved in the legal profession is 1,000
• The name of the local Christian group is Christian Legal Society of Peru (CLSP), organized in 2001. Currently CLSP is under and leadership of Mr. Carlos Carrasco, Mr. Alfonso Wieland, and Mrs. Nina Balmaceda.  The organization has a network of 85 directly and indirectly involved lawyers and students.

Major Activities of Christian Lawyers:

CLSP’s lawyers are involved in the following activities:

• Developing peacemaking ministry to serve the Christian Church of Peru
• Defending religious equality and human rights
• Promoting conflict resolution
• Helping with drafting proposals for a constitutional article (to be presented by the Evangelical Council of Churches of Peru)
• Distributing a weekly email prayer calendar and organizing seminars

Convocation Goals:

• The Global convocation organized by Advocates International is important to the Christian lawyers of Peru because it will provide them with the opportunity of learning from the experiences of other Christian lawyer groups while sharing personal testimonies.

Prayer Items:

• God’s help in raising new leaders to join CLSP’s ministry and help Peru
• Ability to reach out to more Christian lawyers and in all parts of the country

Contact Information:

• Nina Balmaceda Vargas vbalmaceda@advocatesinternational.org