Brazil must ensure justice for rights defender Marielle Franco killed a year ago, say UN and IACHR experts

​Portuguese

GENEVA / WASHINGTON DC (14 March 2019) – Brazil must ensure that the killers of human rights defender and city councillor Marielle Franco are brought to justice, say a group of human rights experts* on the anniversary of her death. 

Marielle Franco, and her driver Anderson Gomes, were shot dead in their car on 14 March 2018 while returning from a public event. Two former policemen suspected of participating in the murder were arrested on 12 March 2019. 

“The killing of Marielle Franco is an attack on the heart of a democratic society and an emblematic case of the threats faced by human rights defenders in Brazil,” said the experts from the UN and the Inter-American Commission on human rights. 

“If the State fails to deliver justice in this case, it would send an alarming message to human rights defenders, in particular those facing threats and attacks.” 

“Marielle was a source of hope and inspiration in Rio de Janeiro and beyond. She worked tirelessly to promote women’s rights, racial equality, and the rights of LGBTI people.” 

Ms Franco also campaigned on behalf of people of African descent and young people in urban areas. She decried the excessive use of force by the military and the actions of militias operating in Rio de Janeiro. 

“We acknowledge the work carried out by police investigators and prosecutors, and the concrete progress made in recent days, but more must be done to establish the motives for the attack and uncover those behind it. Brazil must not take the path of impunity,” the experts said. 

“The State has an obligation to ensure a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into these killings. We urge Brazil to conclude the investigation as soon as possible by bringing the intellectual and material perpetrators to justice and providing reparation and compensation for the families.” 

ENDS 

Note: Additional information has been submitted by the Government in relation to the ongoing investigation, including charges brought against two alleged perpetrators and plans to provide financial compensation to the families.

(*) United Nations experts: Mr. Michal Balcerzak (Poland), Chair of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; Ms Agnes Callamard (France), Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Mr. David Kaye (USA), Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Mr. Clément Nyaletsossi Voule (Togo),Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Mr. Michel Forst(France), Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Mr. Philip Alston (Australia), Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights; Ms E. Tendayi Achiume (Zambia), Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Ms Dubravka Šimonović (Croatia), Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; Ms Ivana Radačić (Croatia), Chair of the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice; Mr. Victor Madrigal-Borloz (Costa Rica), Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; MsLeilani Farha (Canada), Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context; Experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Ms Esmeralda Arosemena de Troitiño, President of the IACHR: Ms Antonia Urrejola, Second Vice-President of the IACHR and country rapporteur for Brazil;Mr. Francisco Eguiguren, Rapporteur on the rights of Human Rights Defenders. 

The UN Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Proceduresof the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. 

UN Human Rights, Country Page — Brazil

For inquiries and media requests, please contact: Orlagh McCann (+41 22 917 9902/ omccann@ohchr.org) 

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Mr. Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org) 

Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts. 

Concerned about the world we live in? Then STAND UP for someone’s rights today.  #Standup4humanrights and visit the web page at http://www.standup4humanrights.org