Organizations have reported the Salgueiro massacre to the UN and IACHR
An urgent appeal requests that international bodies question the Brazilian state regarding the violent police operation that took place in Rio de Janeiro
Chacina no Complexo do Salgueiro, em São Gonçalo, deixando ao menos oito mortos. Foto: Reprodução TV/Globo
On Wednesday 24th, over 90 civil society organizations and social movements sent an urgent appeal to the UN (United Nations) and to the IACHR (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights) condemning the massacre carried out by Military Police at the Salgueiro Complex in São Gonçalo (RJ) at the beginning of the week.
In the document, the organizations request that the Brazilian state be questioned on the violent incident which left at least nine people dead. They also request swift, impartial and independent investigations, as well as reparation and access to the investigations for the families of the victims and all those who have suffered violations.
On Monday 22nd, the massacre had international repercussions and was harshly criticised by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights who called for an impartial, effective investigation by the Public Prosecutor´s Office. “This Office requests that the Public Prosecutor´s Office carry out a full, impartial, independent and effective investigation into these deaths, in line with international standards”, the organization stated.
ADPF Favelas is overdue
On the morning of Thursday 25th, the president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Minister Luiz Fux, changed the order of the agendas awaiting ruling in the Court´s plenary session, which now means ADPF 635, also known as the ADPF Favelas case, is unlikely to be considered today as had been scheduled. This change occurred immediately following the violent police operation in the Salgueiro Complex.
The appeal is for clarification of some contradictions in the ruling of the previous judgement regarding a request for a plan for the reduction of lethality. At the time ministers said there was no need for any urgent measures by the STF concerning this request, as there was already a 2017 resolution by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights that obliged the state of Rio de Janeiro to put together a plan. However, as the Rio de Janeiro local government has never presented such a document, the organizations are arguing that the STF should act to reinforce the need for the state to comply with this resolution.
A further request by the organizations is for the use of cameras on all police cars and uniforms, as well as the creation of an Observatory, made up of members of the judiciary and civil society to monitor compliance with the measures imposed by the STF on the Rio government.
