At the UN, organizations advocate for stronger legislation on human rights and business practices in Brazil
Organizations called on the UN to put pressure on the Brazilian government to approve the National Framework for Human Rights and Business and to create other measures against slave labour
A worker hoists a United Nations flag with other national flags of participating countries at the venue of the COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai on November 30, 2023. The UN climate conference opens in Dubai on November 30 with nations under pressure to increase the urgency of action on global warming and wean off fossil fuels, amid intense scrutiny of oil-rich hosts UAE. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)
On Thursday, September 12th, four prominent Brazilian human rights organizations — Conectas, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, Oxfam Brazil, and ADERE/MG (Minas Gerais Rural Workers’ Articulation)—took the stage at a United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Switzerland. They called for international pressure on Brazil to take definitive action against labor practices that closely resemble modern-day slavery, urging the passage of Bill No. 572/2022, which proposes the establishment of a National Framework on Human Rights and Businesses.
The organizations’ plea to the UN is driven by an alarming increase in cases of slave labor in Brazil. In their address, they underscored the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks and accountability mechanisms to hold companies responsible for exploitative practices. The current lack of proper corporate accountability has contributed to a worsening situation, with a 61% increase in reported slave labor cases in Brazil last year, amounting to over 3,000 instances.
The organizations also drew attention to the troubling profile of those most affected by these practices. More than 80% of the rescued victims of slave labor are Black individuals, a demographic that continues to bear the brunt of Brazil’s long-standing issues of social exclusion and the unfinished business of the country’s historical abolition of slavery. This stark reality underscores the intersection of labor exploitation, structural racism, and regional inequalities, necessitating a more robust and comprehensive approach to human rights protections in the country.
The coalition emphasized the critical responsibility of companies to ensure respect for and promotion of human rights within their operations and supply chains. They called on the UN Human Rights Council to advocate for the Brazilian government and relevant authorities to implement effective measures to combat slave labor, dismantle structural racism, and address regional and social inequalities.
This move by the organizations highlights the growing demand for international intervention and the importance of global cooperation in addressing human rights violations. The passage of the National Framework on Human Rights and Businesses would mark a significant step forward in Brazil’s efforts to eradicate labor exploitation and ensure that companies operating within its borders are held to the highest standards of ethical and humane practices.
