Economy of inequality
Report details impacts of economic austerity on human rights violations
The negative impacts of the austerity policies adopted in Brazil since 2014 are the subject of a report released by the DHESCA Platform, a network formed by 40 civil society organizations that work on the defense and promotion of human rights. The report presents six recommendations to the Brazilian State to mitigate the setbacks in guaranteeing human rights in the country on account of the economic policy of austerity adopted since 2014. The suggestions are part of the report “The Impact of the Economic Policy of Austerity on Human Rights”, published on October 4.
In all, the Office of the Special Rapporteur on the Impact of the Economic Policy of Austerity on Human Rights in Brazil conducted five fact-finding missions between April and September 2017. After the diagnosis, the document makes the following recommendations: adoption of countercyclical policies; creation of a National Emergency Committee; hold a referendum in 2018 on Constitutional Amendment 95 (that establishes a cap on public spending); creation of the National Mechanism for Protection from Economic Policies of Austerity; guarantee full and immediate compliance with constitutional requirements for education and health policies; progressive tax reform.
The missions analyzed the dismantling of the national family agriculture policy and the increase in rural violence in the state of Goiás, the violation of human rights of the population affected by the ‘triple epidemic’ (Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika) in the state of Pernambuco, the sharp increase in violence in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, the worsening violations of indigenous rights and the attacks against homeless people and squatters resulting from social cleansing policies in the municipality of São Paulo.
The authors interviewed community and civil society leaders, government representatives and researchers, and also compiled and analyzed official records and documents.
“The report published by the DHESCA Platform presents valuable contributions to help us understand the scale of the impact of economic austerity on the Brazilian population. In line with what has already been stated by international human rights mechanisms, the ‘sacrifices’ imposed by the government fall resoundingly on the poorest segment of the population. Another factor made clear by the study is how austerity measures have a direct impact on the reduction of rights, as can be seen explicitly by Constitutional Amendment 95,” said Caio Borges, coordinator of the Business and Human Rights program at Conectas.
The missions, which had the support of the PFDC (Federal Attorney General’s Office for the Rights of the Citizen), also resulted in immediate actions by the Office of the Special Rapporteur, such as submitting petitions to the São Paulo state and municipal authorities with the intention of stopping the eviction of squatters from the Mauá building and the removal of homeless people living in 14-Bis square in downtown São Paulo.
The DHESCA Platform, of which Conectas is part, is a network formed by 40 civil society organizations that work on the promotion and defense of human rights and on redress for rights violations.
