A COMMUNION OF CHURCHES – EINE KIRCHENGEMEINSCHAFT – UNA COMUNIÓN DE IGLESIAS – UNE COMMUNION D’ÉGLISES
L U T H E R I S C H E R W E LT B U N D – F E D E R A C I Ó N L U T E R A N A M U N D I A L – F É D É R AT I O N L U T H É R I E N N E M O N D I A L E
The Committee is deeply concerned about the culture of violence and impunity prevalent in
the State party.
In this regard, the Committee is concerned about reports that human rights defenders, are
threatened, harassed and subjected to violence, frequently by private militias commissioned by
private and public actors.
The Committee is also deeply concerned about the reports of the failure of the Brazilian
authorities to ensure the safety of human rights defenders and to prosecute those responsible
for committing such acts.
The Committee is concerned at the slow progress in the land reform process
The Committee recalls the recommendation made in its last concluding observations in
this regard and recommends that the State party expeditiously complete the process of
demarcation and allocation of indigenous land in accordance with the Constitution and
existing laws.
The Committee notes with concern that there remains a significant discrepancy between the
respective life expectancies of the black and white populations.
Furthermore, the Committee remains concerned at the significant difference in the poverty
levels of black and white population groups.
The Committee recommends that the State party addresses the problem through a
sharper focus on health and poverty eradication programmes for the former.
Illiteracy Rates
The Committee notes that illiteracy rates remain a problem in the State party and that
inequalities persist in literacy levels between the white and black populations. The Committee
is further concerned that the average illiteracy rate is significantly higher in rural areas in the
north of the State party.
The Committee urges the State party to strengthen remedial action to address the
problem of illiteracy, particularly in rural areas and in the Afro Brazilian community.
Situation of Women
The Committee is concerned that negative gender roles persist, including the representation of
women as sex objects and the traditional stereotypes of women in the family and in society,
and that these may render women more vulnerable to domestic and other forms of violence.
Moreover, although women in general have a higher educational level than men, they are still
under-represented in elected office, in administrative and managerial posts, are concentrated in
less remunerative and/or part-time employment and receive lower average pay and limited
social protection.
The Committee urges the State party to enforce its legislation on gender equality, and to
take all effective measures, including through the use of media and education, to
overcome the traditional stereotypes regarding the status of women in the public and
private spheres and to ensure, in practice, equality between men and women in all fields
of life.
The Committee notes with concern the large numbers of Brazilians employed under inhuman
and degrading conditions similar to slavery or subjected to forced labour and other
exploitative labour conditions, particularly in forest clearing, logging, and the harvesting of
sugarcane, and is concerned that the phenomenon of forced labour disproportionately affects
young men from low income families.
ensure that violations concerning prohibited labour practices, such as forced labour, are
stringently prosecuted;
provide, in its next periodic report, information on the steps taken to address exploitative
labour conditions, as well as the impact of such measures.
The Committee is concerned at reports of the murders of union leaders. In addition, the
Committee notes with concern that trade union leaders are frequently subjected to other
forms of harassment.
The Committee is also concerned at reports that membership of trade unions frequently results
in the blacklisting of trade union members and leaders.
The Committee recommends that the State party take adequate measures to ensure:
I. the protection of trade union members and leaders from all forms of harassment
and intimidation and thoroughly investigate reports alleging any form of
violence;
II. that employees participating in trade unions are not subjected to blacklisting.
The Committee is concerned at the high proportion of the population excluded from any form
of social security, especially the high number of people employed in the informal economy. In
particular, the Committee is concerned that the majority of domestic workers are not eligible
for any social security benefits and that the provision for persons who have not been able to
contribute to the social security system is inadequate.
I. strengthen its measures to provide social security coverage for the economically
disadvantaged populations, and that it be made available to persons who are unable
to contribute towards the system; and
II. to intensify its efforts to regularise the situation of workers in the informal economy
to enable them to benefit from a basic social protection package that may include
an old age pension, a maternity benefit and access to healthcare.
take all necessary measures to extend the Family Grant Programme to cover the large
number of families that do not receive the benefit;
increase the rent benefit under the programme in order to enable recipients to enjoy
their basic rights to food and housing;
Child Labour
The Committee is concerned that child labour continues to be widespread in the State party,
The Committee notes with concern that more than 6 million people in the State party live
in precarious urban settlements, that significant migration inflows into urban areas have
exacerbated the housing shortage and that there is a large number of homeless people,
among them many street children, who are remain vulnerable to abuse, including sexual
abuse, and to other forms of exploitation.
The Committee is further concerned about the absence of adequate measures to provide
social housing for low-income families and disadvantaged and marginalised individuals
and groups.
II. improve the water and sanitation facilities of existing housing units;
take effective measures to address the root causes of the phenomenon of street children;
take effective and appropriate measures to ensure that street children have access to
education, shelter and healthcare;
address the sexual abuse and other exploitation of street children through the
prosecution of perpetrators of abuse and the reintegration of victims into society.
Deforestation
The Committee is deeply concerned that continued deforestation in the State party, albeit at a
slower pace, impacts negatively the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights under
the Covenant.
The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary measures to combat
continued deforestation in order to ensure the effective enjoyment of economic, social
and cultural rights, especially by indigenous and vulnerable groups of people.
HIV/AIDS
The Committee is concerned that the growing number of HIV/AIDS cases registered
during the last decade constitutes a serious health problem.
The Committee notes with concern that although treatment with anti-retroviral drug
therapy is available for free in the State party, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is still high.
In this regard, the Committee notes the higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS among
economically disadvantaged communities.
The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen measures to address the
special vulnerability of marginalised sections of society to HIV/AIDS.
Clandestine Abortions
The Committee notes with concern that clandestine abortions remain a major cause of
death among women.
The Committee requests the State party to undertake legislative and other measures,
including a review of its present legislation, to protect women from the effects of
clandestine and unsafe abortion and to ensure that women do not resort to such harmful
procedures.
Education
The Committee is concerned that 43% of children between 7 and 14 years of age do not
complete the eighth grade of basic education at the proper age.
The Committee is also concerned that there remain significant disparities in access to higher
education based on region, ethnic origin and gender
I. conduct a study to establish the full range of factors which contribute to children
failing to complete primary school at the proper age;
II. draw up policies and implement strategies to improve the ratio of children
completing basic education at the proper age and of access to higher education by
disadvantaged groups.
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The full text of the Committee’s concluding observations available from the LWF Office
of International Affairs & Human Rights on request, or online at:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/docs/AdvanceVersions/E-C12-BRA-CO-2.doc
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