{"id":23069,"date":"2020-09-16T14:29:15","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T14:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conectas.org\/?post_type=noticia&p=23069"},"modified":"2021-04-01T14:16:44","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T14:16:44","slug":"un-report-cites-brazil-as-example-of-cutbacks-in-slave-labor-inspections","status":"publish","type":"noticia","link":"https:\/\/conectas.org\/en\/noticias\/un-report-cites-brazil-as-example-of-cutbacks-in-slave-labor-inspections\/","title":"UN report cites Brazil as example of cutbacks in slave labor inspections","content":"

In a report presented at the 45th session of the Human Rights Council, which is being held between September 14 and October 2, Brazil was cited as an example of the reduced capacity to monitor and detect violations of <\/span>labor rights and contemporary slavery<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the document entitled \u201cImpact of the coronavirus disease pandemic on contemporary forms of slavery and slavery-like practices\u201d, Brazil\u2019s Special Mobile Inspection Group, a body that reports to the Economy Ministry tasked with investigating allegations of forced labor, <\/span>\u201csignificantly reduced its operations, while vulnerability to labor exploitation and abuse has been increasing\u201d<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The report also highlights the vulnerability of <\/span>migrant workers employed on coffee farms<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAround half of the cases detected by that agency in 2019 involved Venezuelan refugees and migrant workers, who are among those severely affected by the health and economic crisis, not only in their home country but also in Brazil,\u201d reads the report.<\/span><\/p>\n

Session with the rapporteur<\/b><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, September 16, in a hearing with the UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata, during the 45th session of the Human Rights Council, Conectas pointed out the reduction in the number of <\/span>investigations into forced labor<\/b> during the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a video-recorded statement, the lawyer Paula Nunes, an advisor for the organization\u2019s Development and Socioenvironmental Rights program, pointed out that, between January and June this year, <\/span>only 110 workers were rescued<\/b> in 31 locations inspected by the Special Mobile Inspection Group.<\/span><\/p>\n

The expert also highlighted \u201cdeep budget cuts\u201d in public policies aimed at eradicating slave labor in Brazil since 2016 and that have been cut further since the <\/span>dissolution of the Ministry of Labor<\/b> in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to note that, between 2016 and 2018, 82% of the workers rescued from slave labor conditions in Brazil were black. Most are males between 15 and 29 years old, born in the Northeast region of the country,\u201d said Nunes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In its statement, Conectas asks that the rapporteur closely monitor the labor and human rights situation in Brazil and that the Brazilian authorities make progress on drafting <\/span>legislation<\/b> on transparency in the production chain<\/b>, in compliance with the \u201cUN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

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