Describe the main features of the measure/initiative:
Independent Publishers of Peru (EIP) is a non-profit association with the mission of integrating and representing the interests of Peruvian independent publishers before State and private, national and international institutions, seeking to develop both the commercial aspects of training and professionalization among its members, with the purpose of helping in the growth of the entire reading and book ecosystem, assuming ourselves as its coordinating agents, under the guidelines of respect and strengthening of bibliodiversity.
EIP was founded in 2014 and, since then, different publishing initiatives and companies have joined it, finding strength in their union. Given the shortcomings of the sector, we proposed working with two focal points within the policy to promote associativity and coordination for advocacy: (i) Exposure to the work of independent publishers as a key point in the book and reading ecosystem; and (ii) Participation in policy proposals that channel the problems of independent publishers, promoting bibliodiversity and the strengthening of alternative markets.
With respect to point 1, we foster the decentralization and empowerment of each region, either from the generation of subgroups in the regions with the highest concentration of publishers so they can lead local initiatives (as it occurs in the southern area of the country), as well as the task of being the focus of their region in the event that they are the only publisher of the association (such as Junín or Lambayeque). On the other hand, "La Independiente" Peruvian Publishers Fair, organized by the Ministry of Culture with the support of EIP, is the ultimate space where this growth occurs. This fair not only generates a meeting space between publisher and reader, but also fosters the union among publishers themselves, the beneficial conversation about our business models and the challenges they pose from different parts of the country. Additionally, participation in national and international fairs is promoted, both as a collective (such as, for instance, the 2019 Guadalajara International Book Fair, where the participation of the associated independent publishers in the Peruvian stand will be allowed for the first time, thus allowing a truly national display of publications), among the members or individually. We believe that, in addition to contributing to the exposure of the work of publishers through the organization of and the participation in fairs, the management of new spaces and other actions to attract readers, a space is being built within the association for dialogue and reflection on the challenges of independent publishing that encourages solidary practices among its associated publishers.
Regarding point 2, the participation with legislative proposals and public policies that channel the initiatives of independent publishers, that is, the political purpose of the association, has been a key factor that allows us to think not only about the present of our activities, but also about creating and rethinking our actions with regard to books and reading. We participate in working groups or meetings with entities such as the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Council of Ministers' President's Office, Promperú, the Regional Center for the Promotion of Books in Latin America and Caribbean (CERLALC), the National Library of Peru, the Peruvian Book Chamber, among others. Through this second point, our participation in the preparation of a consensual proposal for the Book Law had an impact on the drafting of the Emergency Decree. We wish to continue this work in the preparation of the Decree's regulations, as well as in the management of the law and a national policy that the book and reading sector in Peru needs and deserves.
This measure/initiative responds to objective 1 of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which seeks to guarantee, adopt and apply measures/initiatives aimed at protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions, based on informed, transparent and participatory processes and systems of governance. The policy to promote associativity and coordination for advocacy is a measure/initiative that seeks to strengthen the competencies and capacities of civil society
Website of the measure/initiative, if available:
What are the results achieved so far through the implementation of the measure/initiative?:
The scenario we face today is different than the one existing when we started our work in 2014. Today we assume our role as agents of development from the potential we have to coordinate the book and reading ecosystem. At EIP, we believe in the growth of the entire book and reading ecosystem, and we think that our growth as an association is a positive symptom of the progress made. This growth has occurred, despite unequal circumstances, due to a positive economic period; however, we could start talking about a greater growth in indicators, both in production and access, and about a future as a country of people who create, research and read.
This is why there is an interest in generating favorable conditions for independent publishing to consolidate and diversify by addressing other issues, which require larger investments, such as the production of picture books or books of research/essays. A clear indicator of this is the number of members and the representation in the regions. In 2014, we started with 15 publishers from two regions. As of 2019, we are more than 40 publishers from 10 regions. On the other hand, our participation with respect to legislative proposals and public policies has consisted in channeling the initiatives of independent publishers, which, in the first instance, seeks access to the tax benefits already established in the law, among other aspects that promote good practices, strengthening of publishing agents and local production. We are confident that working together with other institutions will achieve laws that allow each of the agents in this ecosystem to compete on equal terms.