Survey shows 66 human rights advocates killed in 2016

A survey conducted by the Brazilian Committee of Human Rights Advocates found that 66 people who worked in the promotion and protection of basic individual and collective rights were murdered in 2016. Another 64 human rights advocates were threatened or targeted by actions aiming to criminalize their efforts.

The report is entitled Vidas em luta: criminalização e violência contra defensoras e defensores de direitos humanos no Brasil (“Lives under struggle: criminalization and violence against advocates of human rights in Brazil,” in a literal English translation) and was released Tuesday (Jul 4) in Marabá, in the northern Brazilian state of Pará. This is the first yearly study carried out by the committee. The document was sent to the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS).

Even though no data have been gathered on 2015, the organization argues that violence has increased as made clear by figures from the Pastoral Land Commision (CPT) watchdog, a member of the committee since 1985 that publishes data on violence in the country on a yearly basis. CPT registered 50 killings stemming from land conflicts in 2015, in addition to 59 murder attempt and 144 people threatened due to the exercise of their job.

Across the country

In 2016, the states reported as the most violent against human rights advocates were Rondônia, in the Amazon region, with 19 murders; Maranhão, with 15; Pará, with six cases.

Regarding Rondônia, the committee declared that “an alarming rise in  violence and criminalization of human rights advocates is in progress.” In 2015, the state headed the list of states with deaths arising from field-related clashes (20 cases), according to CPT data.

An in-depth analysis

In the report, the committee condemns what it calls “cases of excessive use of police force” as well as “state abuse against vulnerable citizens” and “attempts to criminalize social movements.” The document also mentions that some companies as well as private and public agents have worked to “hinder the enforcement of human rights and the fight of those who defend them.”

The researchers believe that the political crisis of the last few years “brings about am instability scenario, contributes to the sharpening of hate speech and the assaults on human rights.”

Darci Frigo, chair of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), said he agrees that the risk experienced by militants and advocates has been on the rise. “There cannot be human rights without the work of militants and advocates. When these people, who stand on the front line in the fight for rights, start falling victims to violence and threats, that means major setbacks have arisen,” Frigo said.

In a report released in March by the Ministry of Human Rights, the government pointed out that virtually all international recommendations aimed at protecting human rights in Brazil have been implemented or have their implementation underway. Among the improvements, the document mentions the creation of the National Human Rights Council. However, the text acknowledges that “challenges for the protections of human rights advocates in Brazil still exist, especially when it comes to communication workers, field leaders, indigenous people, quilombola communities and environmentalists.”

The committee, formed by representatives from a number of social movements, defines human rights advocates as every one who, either individually or collectively, fight for the rights of people and groups of people to life; land; cultural expression; freedom of speech and information; gender, sex, and reproductive liberties; housing; biodiversity; among other basic rights.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira