Human rights activists in Brazil were attacked 1,171 times 2019-22

In four years, 169 were killed—three every month, survey found

Published on 06/18/2023 - 08:50 By Léo Rodrigues - Rio de Janeiro

A report compiled by NGOs Terra de Direitos and Justiça Global found 1,171 cases of violence against human rights advocates in Brazil from 2019 to 2022. Released Wednesday (Jun. 14), the document casts light on incidents including threats, physical aggression, murder, assault , sexual harassment, slander, injury, defamation, racist and homophobic attacks, institutional and judicial violence, and suicide in the context of rights violations.

Entitled On the Front Line: Violations Against Human Rights Defenders (“On the Front Line: Violations Against Human Rights Defenders”), the survey is now in its fourth edition. The first three mapped the periods of 1997–2001, 2002–2005, and 2006–2012. This time, the range encompasses the years of former President Jair Bolsonaro's administration.

The study indicates that Bolsonaro's government was an active driver behind attacks on human rights, instigating violence in addresses as well as political measures, including moves facilitating access to guns. It also shows that the deterioration and undermining of government structures aimed at the protection of rights made hostility against historically marginalized groups all the more severe.

“Those were four years of attacks and hostilities targeting human rights defenders. […] Since 2012, data have been collected by international organizations, […] but we understand the need to carry out such an assessment from inside Brazil,” said Alane Silva, legal adviser with Terra de Direitos and one of the research coordinators. Taking underreporting into account, she argued, the number of incidents in the period is probably much higher.

Most of the victimized activists work in support of the homeless, riverside communities, indigenous people, quilombos (communities founded by black people fleeing slavery), children, women targeted by domestic violence, and immigrants, as well as people subjected to racial- and gender -based discrimination, degrading working conditions, armed violence, and violations perpetrated by state security forces.

More:
https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/direitos-humanos/noticia/2023-06/human-rights-activists-brazil-were-attacked-1171-times-2019-22