Jamil Chade Contradictory With Bolsonarists, Lula will have final say on proposals at UN 11/18/2022 12:59

The Brazilian government, which came to power in 2023, will have the final say in the recommendations made by more than 100 UN members to the country. This week, Jair Bolsonaro’s diplomacy has sought to trample the transition in the country by taking positions and rejecting commitments at the UN, less than two months before the end of the government.

The gesture was met with unease by activists, locals, and even members of the transition team. Among the measures rejected by the current administration is a proposal from Norway that announced the return of funding to combat deforestation during the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

This Friday, the day after presenting a document containing “preliminary” resolutions, the Brazilian government turned to the United Nations. This time to say that the final response to the proposals will be by February 2023. That is, already under the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

This week, Brazil took part in an all-country exercise at the UN Human Rights Council on leave. Bolsonaro’s government has been the target of more than a hundred government harsh demands for three hours. Cristiane Britto, Minister of Family, Women and Human Rights, attended the meeting, whose official name is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

It offered a total of 306 recommendations on governments, police violence, indigenous peoples, the situation of women, the environment, and dozens of others. But the Bolsonaro government had until February 2023 to respond, and behind the scenes the transition team’s request was that nothing should be taken over by the current government. It was also warned that such a gesture might not be seen as a “republican stance”.

Despite the warning, Itamaraty submitted its response to the UN on Thursday, saying it will actually review the status of more than 270 recommendations.

But it was surprising that the government removed 17 proposed items from the list, including delineating land boundaries and ensuring sexual and reproductive health for women and girls. The proposal to decriminalize abortion was also excluded.

One of the points rejected by the government was Norway’s proposal for the country to “complete pending land demarcation processes, reject the time frame” thesis, and ensure Indigenous Peoples are protected from threats, attacks and forced evictions.

In diplomatic language, Bolsonaro’s government said it had “noted” the proposals, as a way of saying it would not consider international recommendations to ensure the full implementation of the Federal Supreme Court’s judgment criminalizing homophobia and transphobia.

The government also failed to make commitments to “guarantee effective access to sexual and reproductive health rights” proposed by France, Argentina and Denmark, or “safe and decriminalized abortion” proposed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia and Norway.