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Brazil: Franco and Gomes murder convictions a milestone but fight for full justice not over, say UN experts
06 November 2024
GENEVA – Two convictions for the murders of Rio de Janeiro city councillor Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes are a milestone but not the end of the fight for justice in the 2018 case, UN experts* said today, stressing that justice and remedy are crucial for all victims of pervasive systemic racism, structural discrimination and violence in Brazil.
“The recent convictions are an important turning point but the fight for justice is not over. Other perpetrators involved in the planning and cover-up of the murders must also be held accountable,” the experts said. “To this end, investigations must continue in line with international standards, including the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of a Potentially Unlawful Death (2016). Remedies must also be provided to the families.”
Human rights defender Franco was reportedly targeted because of her work defending those facing intersectional and structural discrimination in Brazil, such as women, people of African descent and LGBTIQ+ persons. “Marielle had spoken up against systemic racism, structural discrimination and police brutality. She herself had been subjected to the harsh intersection between misogyny, racism, classism, and prejudice based on sexual orientation,” the experts said.
They said the Franco and Gomes case is emblematic of many of the most serious human rights issues in Brazil. “The convictions of two perpetrators are an important step in the long fight for accountability and justice by the families. They are also a milestone in the broader fight against widespread impunity for violence in Brazil,” the experts said.
“The verdict can give all victims of structural discrimination and violence, and their families, hope that justice and effective remedies are within their reach in Brazil and not distant, untenable concepts,” the experts said. “To honour such hope, Brazil must address systemic racism and discrimination in the justice system and do more to ensure fast, impartial and independent access to justice for all victims of violence in Brazil.”
The experts have been in contact with the Brazilian authorities with regard to these concerns.
*The experts: Ashwini K.P., Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance; Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Barbara G. Reynolds (Chair), Bina D’Costa, Catherine Namakula, Isabelle Mamadou, and Miriam Ekiudoko, Working Group of Experts of People of African Descent; Akua Kuenyehia (Chair), Tracie L. Keesee, and Víctor Manuel Rodríguez Rescia, International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement; Graeme Reid, Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of 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
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