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João Alberto Silveira Freitas was beaten to death by two private security guards in front of a Carrefour supermarket in the southern city of Porto Alegre last Thursday, the eve of Black Awareness Day in Brazil.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for OHCHR in Geneva, described the attack as a “deplorable act” that everyone should condemn.
Structural racism and discrimination
He said the incident was “an extreme, but sadly too common, example of the violence suffered by blacks in Brazil” and “provides a clear example of the persistent structural discrimination and racism” faced by Afro-descendant citizens.
“The structural racism, discrimination and violence faced by Afro-descendants in Brazil is documented by official data, which indicates that the number of Afro-Brazilian homicide victims is disproportionately higher than other groups,” he added.
“The data also shows that Afro-Brazilians, including women, are over-represented in the country’s prison population.”
Protests and investigation
Protests have broken out across Brazil in the wake of the murder and an investigation is currently underway.
The UN human rights office stressed that the investigation must be rapid, exhaustive, independent, impartial and transparent. If racial prejudice is a factor that must also be examined, which in turn should be a consideration in efforts to ensure justice, truth, and reparation.
“We also call on the authorities to investigate allegations of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against people peacefully protesting after Silveira Freitas’ death and to hold those responsible to account,” said Ms. Shamdasani.
“This case and the widespread outrage it has provoked underscore the urgent need for the Brazilian authorities to address racism and racial discrimination in close coordination with all groups in society, especially those most affected.”
Legacy of slavery
Like many countries in the Americas, Brazil was part of the transatlantic slave trade, which lasted more than 400 years.
The UN’s Remember Slavery program called it “one of the darkest chapters in human history,” with more than 15 million people forcibly transferred from Africa between 1501 and 1830.
The legacy of the past is still present in Brazilian society as in other countries, Shamdasani told reporters.
“Black Brazilians suffer from structural and institutional racism, exclusion, marginalization and violence, in many cases – lethal consequences. Afro-Brazilians are excluded and are almost invisible from decision-making structures and institutions,” he said.
Legal reform, business action
The UN human rights office stressed that Brazilian government officials have a particular responsibility to acknowledge persistent racism in the country, calling it the “essential first step” in solving the problem.
OHCHR has recommended urgent reforms of laws, institutions and policies, including affirmative action, while deep-seated racial stereotypes must be addressed, including among police officers and the judiciary.
Furthermore, Brazilian authorities should also intensify human rights education to promote a better understanding of the root causes of racism, advises the UN human rights office. They should also take more steps to foster respect for diversity and multiculturalism, which in turn will promote a deeper understanding of Afro-Brazilian culture, history, and contributions to society.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian business community has a responsibility to respect human rights throughout the economic system.
OHCHR noted that Carrefour is a member of the United Nations Global Compact, a network of companies committed to supporting the goals of the UN and has reportedly terminated its agreement with the private security company.
“Carrefour should explain whether and how it had assessed the human rights risks associated with hiring the company and what steps it had taken to mitigate such risks with a view to preventing a tragedy like this,” said Ms Shamdasani.
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