Brazilian organizations visit European Union to denounce Bolsonaro’s attacks on electoral system

The organizations ABGLT, Abong, Article 19, CEERT, Arns Commission, MTST, Washington Brazil Office, Conectas, CAF, Cipó Platform and Ação Educativa will ask countries to recognize the result of the elections in Brazil

Integrantes da missão brasileira na Europa (Foto: Divulgação)

Representatives of Brazilian civil society organizations will travel to Europe to denounce the increase in political violence in Brazil during the election period, as well as President Jair Bolsonaro’s attacks on the integrity of the electoral system. In meetings with members of the European Commission and at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Brazilians will also ask the international community to recognize the outcome of the elections.

With the presence of several organizations representing Brazilian civil society, the delegation in Europe aims to increase the network of international support for the results of the October election and the reliability of the election process. The group will also expose the risks posed to the Democratic State under the Rule of Law by Bolsonaro and some of his supporters, as well as the increasing curtailment of civil and democratic liberties. Moreover, they will stress that there can be no democracy with racism in a country where 56% of the population is black. Organized through the international engagement of the organizations, which has intensified ahead of the Brazilian elections, the meetings with the European Union and the UN will take place between September 5 and 23. The Brazilian participants will denounce, on stages with widespread international repercussions, the cases of political violence and attacks by Jair Bolsonaro against the electoral system.

Agenda of the mission

The activities in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union, include a meeting on September 8 with José Manuel Fernandes, head of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Brazil.

Another highlight of the visit to Europe will be the participation of the Brazilians on September 13 in the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva. At this session, they will denounce political violence, institutional racism, attacks on the electoral system and human rights violations in the context of the Brazilian elections, with the participation of diplomatic missions from different countries and UN special rapporteurs.

The following organizations will be present in the activities in Europe:

Abong – Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations 

ABGLT – Brazilian Association of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transexuals and Intersex People

Ação Educativa (Educational Action)

ANTRA – National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals

Article 19

CEERT – Center for Studies on Labor Relations and Inequalities

CAF – Common Action Forum

Arns Commission

Conectas Human Rights

MTST – Homeless Workers Movement

Cipó Platform

WBO – Washington Brazil Office