The Criminalisation of Poverty in Brazil Alternative report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Today, there is nodoubt that torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatmentor punishment and other forms of violence – including violence againstwomen and children – are related in many ways to disrespect for economic, socialand cultural rights. If, therefore, these phenomena are to be effectivelyeliminated, then their economic, social and cultural root causes must, first,be understood and, secondly, effectively addressed. The converse equallyapplies: acting to reduce levels of violence in a given society is afundamental step towards ensuring the widespread enjoyment of economic, social andcultural rights. As Louise Arbour, the former UN High Commissioner forHuman Rights observed in her preface to the OMCT study on this theme,the question of “how to prevent or reduce violence, including torture, byacting on its root causes, often found in violations of economic, social andcultural rights”, is one that, “goes to the very heart of human rightsprotection”.
- How the denial ofeconomic, social and cultural rights is related to torture and otherforms of violence
- The poor, excludedand other vulnerable groups are often the first and mostnumerous victims of violence, including torture and cruel, inhumanand degrading treatment.
- Levels of violence ina given community or society can be such that individuals orgroups are unable to enjoy their economic, social and culturalrights.
- Violence is inflictedon persons because they demand respect for economic, socialor cultural rights – their own or those of others.
- Policies andprogrammes by governments, private actors or development and financialinstitutions can exacerbate poverty and inequalities andlead to increased levels of official, criminal and domesticviolence.
This report, preparedby Justiça Global, the National Movement of Street Boys andGirls (Movimento Nacional de Meninos e Meninas de Rua – MNMMR) and theWorld Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) is not intended tooffer an exhaustive appraisal of the denial of economic, social and culturalrights in Brazil. Rather, it addresses some of the key areas where there is aclear and direct link between violations of economic, social and cultural rightsand violence, or the threat of violence in this country. An important elementof this report is the recommendations it contains for the Government ofBrazil to address the economic, social and cultural root causes of torture andother forms of violence.