• World Report 2012: Brazil

    Brazil is among the most influential democracies in regional and global affairs, yet it continues to confront very serious human rights challenges at home. Faced with high levels of violent crime, some Brazilian police units engage in abusive practices with impunity, instead of pursuing sound policing practices. Justice officials who seek to hold police officers accountable for unlawful practices face threats of violence. In August 2011 Judge Patricia Acioli was gunned down outside her home in the state of Rio de Janeiro, apparently in retaliation for ordering the detention of police officers suspected of murder.  

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Reports

  • Lethal Force
    Police Violence and Public Security in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo
  • In the Dark
    Hidden Abuses Against Detained Youths in Rio de Janeiro
  • “Real Dungeons”
    Juvenile Detention in the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

  • Universal Periodic Review of Brazil
    Jan 5, 2012
    Brazil’s congress adopted a law on October 25, 2011expanding public access to government information, implementing a recommendation accepted by Brazil during the previous UPR cycle. However, other serious concerns addressed by the UPR recommendations –all of them being accepted by Brazil in 2008 – require further measures by the Dilma Rousseff administration. Faced with high levels of violent crime, some Brazilian police units throughout the country engage in abusive practices with impunity, instead of pursuing sound policing practices. Many Brazilian prisons and jails are severely overcrowded and experience high levels of violence. Torture is a chronic problem at certain detention centers and police stations in various states. There has also been little progress in prosecuting those responsible for atrocities committed by state agents during the military dictatorship period from 1964 to 1985.
  • Brazil and the Syrian People
    Dec 18, 2011

    With two weeks left in its two-year tenure on the UN Security Council, Brazil has a tremendous opportunity to make its vote count for the Syrian people. With Brazil’s support, the Security Council could overcome eight months of inaction and join the Arab League, Turkey, and dozens of other countries in applying real pressure on the Syrian government to end the bloodbath. 

  • Equatorial Guinea: Reforms Ring Hollow Ahead of Summit
    Nov 22, 2011

    Latin American and African dignitaries gathering in Equatorial Guinea for a cross-regional meeting should press their host, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasago, on his human rights record. Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota of Brazil, among other officials, is scheduled to attend the Africa-South America Summit taking place from November 22 to 25, 2011.

  • IBSA: Push Syria to End Bloodshed
    Oct 15, 2011
    India, Brazil, and South Africa are not leveraging their rising global influence to help stop the bloodshed in Syria.
  • Landmines in Libya: Technical Briefing Note
    Jul 19, 2011
    This briefing note looks at the threat posed to civilians, including deminers, from landmines used in the current conflict between forces of Muammar Gaddafi and opposition rebels.
  • Libya: Government Lays More Mines in Western Mountains
    Jul 8, 2011
    Libyan government forces have placed at least three minefields containing antipersonnel and antivehicle landmines outside the village of al-Qawalish in the western Nafusa Mountains.
  • Libya: Government Using Landmines in Nafusa Mountains
    Jun 21, 2011
    Libyan government forces placed more than 150 antipersonnel landmines in at least one location in the Nafusa Mountains.
  • UN Security Council: Demand End to Syria Crackdown
    Jun 10, 2011
    United Nations Security Council members should support a resolution demanding an immediate end to the Syrian government's brutal crackdown against largely peaceful demonstrators, Human Rights Watch said today.
  • Mark Hiznay Delivers Statement on Universalization of CCW Amended Protocol II on Mines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices
    Apr 4, 2011
    Mark Hiznay, Senior Researcher in the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch, delivered a statement on universalization of CCW Amended Protocol II on Landmines at a meeting for the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Davos: Global Governance in a Changing World
    Jan 27, 2011
    For the next year, Brazil, India and South Africa will all sit on the 15-member United Nations Security Council, and all three aspire to become permanent members. How will they conduct themselves? Of particular interest to me, will they join efforts to defend human rights? There is reason for both hope and apprehension.
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