OAS commission warns about human rights in Brazil

In a preliminary report published today (Nov. 12) in Rio de Janeiro, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) said the institutional strengthening of human rights in Brazil has been “frozen.” The document also warns about structural problems still facing the country. 

“Despite the advances, we found a country that had no success in the approach of its main historic debts with its citizens: the structural problem of deep inequality and discrimination, chief among them racial and social discrimination,” the text reads.

OAS Commission on Human Rights during its visit to Brazil  - José Cruz/Agência Brasil

The document includes preliminary reviews on the delegation’s recent visit to the country, and expresses “concern over the human rights situation in Brazil and its future.” According to the report, “considerable setbacks in the implementation of programs, public policies, and the guarantee of prerogatives in key areas” were detected.

A role model, urgent needs

The text mentions policies in Brazil which serve as by-word in human rights, like the creation of a specific secretariat for the related topics, the consolidation of public defender’s offices, and the increase in the participation of society in public administration, in addition to affirmative action, like the law on quotas. Recent measures were also praised, like so-called custody hearings, the new Immigration Law, and the introduction of house arrest for pregnant women and mothers of small children and disabled persons.

The OAS commission described the respect due to indigenous peoples, quilombola communities (formed by descendants of slaves), field workers, and homeless people as urgent. The report also lists matters linked to the rights of inmates, the LGBT community, human rights advocates, immigrants, and freedom of expression for the press, the Academia, and social organizations.

The text also discusses corruption, saying it is also a form of human rights violation. The environment is mentioned as a priority, alongside the defense of the Statute of the Child and Adolescent. The commission opposed the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility, and warns about the violence against both urban and rural leaders. The death of Rio city councilor Marielle Franco and her driver in March this year was remembered as a crime still unsolved.