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.

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.