Brazil

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in January 2023 after a campaign marred with political violence. Shortly after, a crowd of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Presidential Palace, calling for a coup. Rapid deforestation and fires are pushing the Amazon rainforest to a tipping point from which it may not recover. Forest defenders face threats and violence. Police killings continue at very high levels, disproportionately impacting Black Brazilians. Many prisons are severely overcrowded, leaving detainees vulnerable to violence and recruitment by gangs. Gender-based violence remains a chronic problem.

Disability Rights

Leonardo Barcellos, a 32-year-old disability rights advocate, died of asphyxiation on February 26 after a power outage at his home in Rio de Janeiro prevented the machine he used to breathe, from working, his mother told me. He had progressive muscular dystrophy, a condition that weakens muscles.

April 15, 2025
Commentary
A Life Cut Short by Systemic Failure in Brazil

Carlos Ríos Espinosa

Associate Director, Disability Rights Division

Published in: UOL
LGBT Rights

March 12, 2025
Commentary
Human Rights and Sexuality Education Protects Schools

Cristian González Cabrera

Senior Researcher, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program

Denise Carreira

External Contributor

Published in: NEXO
Corporate Accountability

January 30, 2025
Commentary
The Major Problems with Mining Industry's New Certification Standard

Juliane Kippenberg

Associate Director, Children's Rights Division

Joseph Wilde-Ramsing

Advocacy Director, SOMO

External Contributor

Published in: EUobserver

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November 18, 2024 Report

Brazil: Pesticide Bill Threatens Health, Livelihoods

Smaller Buffer Zones Would Further Reduce Protection from Exposure
November 7, 2023 Report

“They Promised to Kill 30”

Police Killings in Baixada Santista, São Paulo state, Brazil
April 3, 2023 Report

Brazil: Online Learning Tools Harvest Children’s Data

One State Government Removes Ad Tracking, But Others Continue
January 13, 2023 Feature

Rainforest Ashes

News

March 11, 2025 Statement

Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights

Access to Justice and Effective Remedies in the Context of Toxics
January 16, 2025 News Release

Brazil: Lead COP30 by Example

Phaseout of Fossil Fuels, Robust Forest Protection Needed
December 20, 2024 Dispatches

Brazil Bans X from Using Children to Power Its AI

All Governments Should Protect Children’s Privacy by Regulating Artificial Intelligence
December 3, 2024 Dispatches

Brazil Fails to Launch Long-Awaited Pesticide Reduction Plan

Policymakers Should Press for Robust and Timely Implementation
November 21, 2024 Letter

Letter to Brazil Attorney-General Paulo Gonet
November 18, 2024 Report

Brazil: Pesticide Bill Threatens Health, Livelihoods

Smaller Buffer Zones Would Further Reduce Protection from Exposure
November 17, 2024 Commentary

After Trump Win, Brazil Needs to Step Up Rights Diplomacy
October 10, 2024 Impact

UN Experts Spotlight Devastating Police Brutality in Brazil

Black Brazilians are Three Times more Likely to Be Killed by Police than White Brazilians
October 9, 2024 Commentary

The Right Lessons from the Flap Over X in Brazil
September 26, 2024 Dispatches

Brazil’s Turn to Ratify Landmark Environmental Treaty

Colombia is Latest Country to Adopt the Escazú Agreement