In a letter to Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franco, 124 Brazilian and international institutions and non-governmental organizations are asking the government of Jair Bolsonaro to invite a UN mission to consider the race issue in the country.

The International Mechanism of Independent Experts to Advance Towards Justice and Racial Equality was recently established with the mandate to promote racial justice and equality in law enforcement and to contribute to accountability in cases of abuse and compensation to victims.

“Brazil can play an important role in cooperating with the mechanism’s efforts to examine the impact of structural racism on law enforcement across the country,” defending parties.

The group that signed the letter sent this Monday has organizations like ActionAid, Amnesty International Brazil, Articulation of Black Brazilian Women’s Organizations, Article 19, Brazilian Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites, Transsexuals and Intersex, Black Rights Coalition, Coletiva. Periferia Segui Sangrando, Arns Commission, OAB/RJ, Conectas, Human Rights Watch, Institute for Development and Human Rights, Instituto Igarapé, Instituto Marielle Franco, Instituto Vladimir Herzog, Justiça Global, Oxfam Brasil, Pastoral Carcerária Nacional and others.

“Police violence is a chronic human rights issue in Brazil, and it disproportionately affects the black population, who is killed by police almost three times more than the white population,” they say.

“The police killed more than 6,400 people in Brazil in 2020, according to the latest data. This is the highest number ever recorded by the Brazilian Forum of Public Safety, a nonprofit that collects data from official government sources,” they warn.

According to them, although blacks represent about 56% of the Brazilian population, they account for almost 80% of the people killed by the police.

“They are more than 97% of victims in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, according to the Network of Safety Observatories, an initiative of academic institutions and civil society,” they emphasize.

In the group’s assessment, the UN Mechanism can offer relevant recommendations to address this chronic problem.

“These recommendations can spur reforms in the police forces that increase transparency, accountability and effectiveness in their duty to protect all Brazilians, without discrimination,” they say.

The parties told the chancellor, “Inviting the mechanism will be a positive step that will show the government’s willingness to work with UN bodies in the fight against racism and racial discrimination, especially in law enforcement.”

“An official visit will give mechanism members the opportunity to gather information and meet with representatives of the government and justice system, law enforcement, non-governmental organizations and directly affected communities. Their independent assessments and advice can assist federal officials and states in developing and implementing essential reforms. defending rights and promoting justice and equality”, they conclude.