At the UN, Conectas demands concrete measures from Brazil against enforced disappearance
NGO cited the lack of investigation into cases that occurred in the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
Débora Maria da Silva, co-fundadora do Mães de Maio. Foto: Conectas
The practice of enforced disappearance has been ongoing in Brazil and primarily affects black people. In view of this, the Brazilian State must adopt concrete measures to address the issue. This was the statement made by Conectas this Tuesday at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The organization stated that “the complacency of the highest level of the police contributes to the State’s lack of accountability” and referred to the episodes that have become known as the “Crimes of May”, in São Paulo in 2006 – when more than 500 people were killed and others forcibly disappeared without an effective investigation. It also mentioned the situation in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The complaint revealed that over the course of 18 years, more than one million people have disappeared in the state. However, there is no official information on which of these cases are being investigated as enforced disappearances, according to information compiled by the IDMJR Bulletin II.2021.
“Although the Brazilian State ratified the UN International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, there is still no criminal classification of this practice nor concrete policies to support and assist the families of the victims,” says the complaint.
