"Bolsonaro's measures threaten human rights …

The government of Jair Bolsonaro's far-right president has implemented measures in five months that threaten human rights in Brazil, such as the flexibilisation of the carrying of arms, and has promoted rhetoric endangering indigenous communities and NGOs, said Amnesty International. ).

"Unfortunately, rhetoric contrary to human rights is becoming an official policy," said Jurema Werneck, executive director of Amnesty International Brazil, at a press conference at Brasilia.

The report "Brazil for the World", presented Tuesday, expresses the concern of Amnesty International after the arrival in power of Bolsonaro in January, a former captain of the army who , throughout his career, has expressed controversial positions in defense of the torture of opponents. the military dictatorship (1964-1985).

Specifically, they focused their concerns on eight issues, including the flexibilization of possession and possession of arms, the pending Bolsonaro government anti-crime laws, the drug control policy, the demarcation indigenous territories and quilombolas (communities formed by former fugitive slaves), speeches on human rights and freedom of expression.

According to AI, the flexibilization of possession and wearing of weapons, imposed by presidential orders, "may contribute to the increase in the number of homicides" in a country that registered in 2017 a little less than 64,000 killings, or nearly 31 per 100,000 population.

This rate represents three times the level considered by the UN as an endemic violence.

Amnesty International also denounces that the crime prevention package presented by the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Sérgio Moro, aims to "legitimize a public security policy based on the use of lethal force". said Werneck.

This project allows judges to reduce penalties – or even to absolve them – of police officers who, acting in self-defense, have had an overreaction due to "fear, surprise or violent emotion".

Amnesty also warned of the danger posed by indigenous communities and that it was opposed by a government opposed to the demarcation of new lands, in disagreement with the provisions of the Brazilian Constitution. "We are asking the federal government to fulfill its obligation to protect these vulnerable populations already at risk," Werneck said.

The official said the Amnesty International delegation had requested a hearing with Bolsonaro, but that the president had replied that he would not receive it and advised him to address him. Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Damares Alves, with whom he could meet in the coming days

However, the organization has asked in an open letter to the president to revoke the resolutions that it says are threatening rights, and recommended opening dialogue with civil organizations that defend these rights.