THE WAVE OF PROTESTS that swept Brazil in 2013 completed one year on June 13, 2014. The violent police repression arising out of these protests was roundly condemned by human rights defenders in Brazil. Conectas, in its role as a human rights organization, defended the protection of these rights during the protests and continues to conduct advocacy and engage in dialogue with partners to guarantee these rights, namely:
Debate on journalism at demonstrations.
Conectas and partners gathered journalists for a debate on the topic ‘Reporting on the Demonstrations in São Paulo’ that featured a panel on security, reporting techniques, use of multimedia and ethics, among other issues. Read more here. At the second edition of the event, a meeting was held between journalists and the Military Police Colonel Erich Meier Júnior, who has served as a member of the UN police in Bosnia. The meeting discussed important issues for press coverage of the protests that have gripped the country. Read more here and here.
Manifesto for freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
Conectas and partner organizations organized a press conference to discuss the violations of freedom of the press and freedom of expression that have occurred at the demonstrations. Read more.
Complaints against the police and government of São Paulo.
Conectas requested from the public authorities, namely the São Paulo State Public Security Department and the State Prosecutor’s Office, information and investigations to identify those responsible for ordering the repressive police action at the protests. Read more here, here, here and here.
Reports of demonstrators.
Conectas released the testimonies of 10 young people who were wounded and arrested during the demonstrations. The accounts describe the attempt by the police to encircle and attack the young demonstrators. Read more.
Against the bill that restricts the right to protest.
Conectas and partners presented a technical opinion recommending the rejection of Senate Bill 508/2013 that restricts the freedoms of expression, association and demonstration. Read more here and here.
ON THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, Conectas also used regional and international human rights mechanisms to expose and denounce the police violence at the protests:
Urgent Appeal to the UN.
Conectas submitted an Urgent Appeal to independent United Nations rapporteurs requesting an investigation of the disproportionate use of force by the police, the violations of the freedoms of association, expression and movement, and the arbitrary detention, torture and violence against journalists at a protest in São Paulo on June 13, 2013. Read more here and here.
Public hearing in the OAS.
Conectas participated in a hearing in the Organization of American States (OAS) on the repression of protests, based on more than 200 cases of abuse committed by the police during the repression of the protests that occurred in São Paulo since June 2013. Conectas and partner organizations presented videos and specific cases of aggression, illegal detentions, beatings, mutilations and other rights violations at the protests. The hearing was held at the request of Conectas and partner organization. Read more.
In 2014, Conectas will continue monitoring the advocacy actions and accompany the investigation to hold accountable the perpetrators of the police violence and repression that occurred during the demonstrations, and also guarantee that human rights, as well as the freedoms of expression and the press, are upheld.
