Brazil: UN housing expert urges authorities to suspend Pinheirinho evictions and find durable solutions with residents

27 January 2012

GENEVA – The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, on Friday called on Brazilian authorities to find a peaceful and appropriate solution, including housing alternatives, for those evicted this week from the Pinheirinho settlement in São Jose dos Campos city, São Paulo.

About 6000 residents have been affected by the eviction order dictated by a judge in late December last year.

“I’m appalled by the excessive use of force reportedly used during the evictions on 22 January,” the Special Rapporteur said. She cited information she has received suggesting that the military police of São Paulo used tear gas and rubber bullets against the residents, including children and the elderly. Twenty residents were reportedly injured, one severely, and 30 arrested.

“I’m told Pinheirinho is still under siege and that nobody is allowed to enter the area,” Rolnik said. “The current situation of the evictees is extremely worrying; with no housing alternatives they are vulnerable to other human rights violations.”

The Special Rapporteur appealed to the authorities of the State of São Paulo to suspend the eviction order and the police action in Pinheirinho.

“Suspending the eviction order would allow the authorities to resume negotiations with residents in order to find a peaceful and definitive solution to the case, in full compliance with international human rights standards”, Rolnik stressed.

ENDS

Raquel Rolnik was appointed as 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 by the UN Human Rights Council, in May 2008. As Special Rapporteur, she is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. An architect and urban planner, Ms. Rolnik has extensive experience in the area of housing and urban policies. To learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/HousingIndex.aspx

OHCHR Country Page –Brazil: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/LACRegion/Pages/BRIndex.aspx

For inquiries and media requests, please contact Beatrice Quadranti (Tel: +41 22 917 9615 / email: bquadranti@ohchr.org) or write to srhousing@ohchr.org

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