Amnesty International launches campaign against killing of young Brazilians

International Amnesty Brazil launched on Sunday (Nov 9) a countrywide campaign entitled Jovem Negro Vivo (Portuguese for “Black Youngster Alive”), which aims to raise awareness about the country's alarming number of young victims of homicide, especially among the black population.

“Brazil is the country with the world's highest homicide rate, surpassing even countries at war. In 2012, 56 thousand youngsters aged 15 to 29 were killed, 77% of whom were black. Most murders are perpetrated with the use of a firearm, and less than 8% of the cases are brought to trial,” says the document handed out during the launch ceremony. The report will also be sent to government authorities at federal and state levels.

Átila Roque, executive director at Amnesty International Brazil, claims that “the only thing that's worse than this scenario is the indifference found in Brazilian society.” He argues it is time to implement government actions in an attempt to change this reality, as was the case with hunger in the 90's. “Today, the country is no longer found in the World Hunger Map. We have to do the same with the homicide rate we're facing today—and erase the country from this map also.”

Maria de Fátima dos Santos Silva, 55, had her son Hugo Leonardo dos Santos, 33, killed in April in 2012 during a police operation in Rocinha, one of the biggest slums in Rio de Janeiro. “They took his life for no reason. My son was relentlessly persecuted, and I have no idea why. They said it was a gunfight, but none of it was true. They killed him just because he's poor, black, unemployed, and lived in a favela. There has to be an end to this.”

The campaign, due to run until June next year, attempts to shed light on the negligence facing those young victims, portrayed by sculptures which show a range of everyday situations interrupted by violence.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreia

Relacionadas

Brazil sees new highest murder rate