Government informs judges of Inter-American Court of Human Rights of Brazil’s progress on environmental and indigenous issues

On Thursday, May 23, a delegation from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) took part in a double working agenda with members of the Federal Government. In the morning, they were received by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Planalto Palace in Brasilia. The conversation focused on the connection between human rights and the climate emergency. Later, they had a working meeting with members of the Chief of Staff’s Office to assess how the Federal Government has been dealing with the issue of the Yanomami people in Roraima. This week, the court will hold its 167th Period of Sessions in Brazil, including seminars and meetings with authorities in Brasília and Manaus.

During the delegation's presidential meeting, Lula reaffirmed Brazil's international commitment to end illegal deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. The president highlighted the Federal Government’s unprecedented partnership with municipalities in the Amazon region to promote sustainable development and environmental preservation.

In April, the Federal Government launched the program Union with Municipalities for Reducing Deforestation and Forest Fires in the Amazon (União com Municípios pela Redução do Desmatamento e Incêndios Florestais na Amazônia). Through the program, a total of BRL 730 million has been earmarked for investments to promote sustainable development and combat deforestation and forest fires. The investments will be allocated to the 70 priority municipalities responsible for 78% of deforestation in the Amazon in 2022.

Out of that amount, BRL 600 million originates from the Amazon Fund and BRL 130 million from Floresta+. The initiative is part of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Amazon (Plano de Ação para Prevenção e Controle do Desmatamento na Amazônia), which was relaunched in June 2023 after being suspended by the previous administration. From now on, the Federal Government and the municipalities in the Amazon will work together on investments and actions to protect that region.

Lula said his administration works to include the interests of Amazon communities in the climate debate. The topic will be on the agenda of the COP30, the United Nations climate conference, to be held in Belém, in the state of Pará, in 2025. Judge Nancy Hernández López, president of the Court, highlighted the scope of the challenges posed by climate change. She pointed out that this is the most far-reaching of the Court's processes, with more than 600 participating organizations, including States, public agencies and civil society.

YANOMAMI – The delegation later received a report on the Federal Government’s progress in meeting the demands of the Yanomami people in Roraima. The situation evolved from an initial state of total neglect to the recognition of the seriousness of the situation and the taking of measures to restore the dignity and health of the local population, as well as the land itself. The Deputy Special Secretary for Articulation and Monitoring of the Chief of Staff’s Office, Júlia Rodrigues, underscored to court officials President Lula's determination to treat the indigenous agenda as a government priority. She affirmed the decision that all the ministries and agencies involved must ensure the permanent government on indigenous lands and enact policies that guarantee the continuation of the Yanomami way of life.

CASA DE GOVERNO - Among the innovations for 2024 is the inauguration of the Casa de Governo in Boa Vista, Roraima. That center will serve as a headquarters for the 31 federal agencies operating in Brazil's most extensive indigenous land. In another important decision, an emergency credit line was opened, earmarking BRL 1 billion to fund the Federal Government’s structural plan for the Yanomami Indigenous Land, elaborated in consultation with the local leaders.

"The work carried out by the Brazilian government teams is improving with the guidance of the indigenous communities. Actions are defined based on dialogue and what they point out as their priorities and needs," explained Julia. Since President Lula visited the indigenous land, groups of ministers have traveled to Boa Vista to take new actions and expand the dialogue with the Yanomami.

IACHR President Hernández López acknowledged the efforts and emphasized that the issue "required real integration with constant monitoring, participation and consultation with the indigenous communities". She required specific information regarding efforts against organized crime in the region, including air traffic control. Additionally, she expressed concern over the mercury contamination of indigenous communities and stressed the need for ongoing surveillance in the region.

The Federal Government presented the advances made on various areas:

LAW ENFORCEMENT – Law enforcement activities, including removal of intruders, combating organized crime, territorial protection and repression of environmental crime provide basic security for other government actions to take place. The Brazilian government official presented the initial results of the ongoing mega-operation: so far, 49,000 liters of diesel, 135 campsites, 389 engines, 31 rafts and 8 aircraft have been destroyed. In addition, 17 weapons, 20 antennas and 8,000 kg of illegal gold have been seized. This multi-agency taskforce has is comprised of 474 agents.

HEALTH - The federal team highlighted the nutritional recovery of 581 children with moderate to severe malnutrition as an important victory. Three Nutritional Recovery Centers (CASAI, Surucucu, and Auaris) were implemented to carry out various health surveillance and care activities. The infrastructure was reinforced by the reopening of all the health centers deactivated during previous administrations; the number of health professionals in the Yanomami Special Indigenous District (DSEI) increased by 82%, from 690 in 2022 to 1,256 in 2024 and is expected to reach 1,600 by the end of May. The number of doctors increased from 8 to 40.

FOOD SAFETY - As an emergency measure, over 78,000 basic food baskets were distributed, in addition to 3,000 kits with agricultural and fishing implements and 184 mills for manioc flour (a staple for the local population) were also distributed. The Federal Government is committed to expanding technical assistance for the communities; training indigenous agroforestry agents to support the planting and maintenance of crops; fostering fish farming; and distributing seedlings and traditional seeds.

ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY – A range of environmental actions have been carried out, including the construction or reactivation of 66 potable water supply systems; the establishment of the Mercury Monitoring Network Project in the Yanomami and Alto-Amazonas Indigenous Lands, and the monitoring of mining activities and of water quality.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT - A Human Rights Reference Center for Indigenous People will be established in Boa Vista, Roraima. It will provide training for indigenous individuals, prioritizing the Yanomami, as human rights promoters. These individuals will be trained to prevent and confront violence and to support the Yanomami Leadership Forum in 2024.

The delegation included court president Nancy Hernández, vice-president and Brazilian representative, Rodrigo Mudrovitsch; judges Humberto Antonio Sierra Porto (Colombia), Eduardo Ferrer Mac-Gregor Poisot (Mexico) and Verónica Gómez (Argentina) and IA secretary, Pablo Saavedra Alessandri. Court members also held meetings with Minister Silvio Almeida (Human Rights), the Federal Attorney General, Jorge Messias and the executive secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Manoel Carlos de Almeida.

THE COURT – The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IAHRC) is one of the three regional courts for the protection of human rights, along with the European Court of Human Rights and the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights. It is an autonomous judicial institution whose mandate is to apply and interpret the American Convention. Also known as the Pact of San José, the American Convention is an international treaty that outlines rights and freedoms that must be respected by the Member States. The Convention has currently been ratified by Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Uruguay.