DURING PANDEMIC, UN RAISES QUESTIONS ON POLICE VIOLENCE AND THE COMBAT OF TORTURE IN BRAZIL

The Committee on Forced Disappearances has listed a series of issues to be clarified by the Brazilian government regarding its commitment to confront institutional violence

Prisoners at the Pedrinhas Complex (Maranhão) show ripped uniforms during an inspection carried out by human rights organisations, in 2018 (Photo: Conectas)

This week the UN Committee on Forced Disappearances published a document sent to Brazil on 19 May, raising questions about the measures adopted by the government in confronting institutional violence in the country.

The list points to a series of concerns regarding police violence and combatting torture in units for the deprivation of liberty, exacerbated during the new coronavirus pandemic.

The Committee is calling for the Brazilian state to provide information on the measures being taken to confront the pandemic inside all units for the deprivation of liberty, as well as how the country is ensuring that the rules on forced disappearances are not being broken in the scenario of the public health emergency caused by Covid-19.

They are also demanding that the country specify measures being adopted by the state to prevent, investigate and punish disappearances caused by paramilitary groups and death squads, known in Brazil as milícias.

Combatting torture

The document mentions concern regarding the MNPCT (National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combat of Torture) and is asking Brazil to state whether the mechanism has been making visits to all units for the deprivation of liberty, with immediate unlimited access, in other words visiting without prior warning.

This concern reflects reports by members of the organ itself to civil society who sent their observations to the Committee before publication of the document.

“It is no coincidence that the UN is questioning Brazil regarding the work of the National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combat of Torture. Numerous reports have been made to the organisation about the dismantling that President Bolsonaro´s government has been promoting within this organisation.” Said Henrique Apolinario, Lawyer on the Conectas programme, Confronting Institutional Violence, who also represents the organisation on the National Committee for the Prevention and Combat of Torture.

“The Brazilian government must respond internationally for its lack of commitment to putting an end to ill treatment in the country. Minister Damares Alves, who is in charge of running the system has contravened existing legal measures and hindered the work of the Mechanism.” He concluded.