Curitiba, Brazil. October 20th 2018 – Owing the recent escalation of hatred against LGBTI+ people in Brazil as a result of electoral violence and hate speech, Brazilian ONG Aliança Nacional LGBTI has launched a National Platform for reporting violence against LGBTI+.
Of the 41 reports of electoral violence registered thus far by Aliança Nacional LGBTI+ between late September and October 18th, 26 (63%) relate to LGBTIphobic situations. The data has been checked by Aliança’s legal team. The second round of the Brazilian presidential election campaign will decide on October 28th who will be Brazil’s next president.
In response to this scenario, Aliança Nacional LGBTI+ has asked for United Nations and Organization of American States observers to be present during the electoral period, specifically to monitor the situation of social tension and violence, including with regard to measures being taken (or not) by public security bodies and other competent authorities to contain the situation of violations of the rights of LGBTI+ people. Also on the international level, the reported cases have been sent to the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. In Brazil, the request for measures to be taken has been sent the Federal Public Prosecutors’ Office, the Human Rights Ministry, the National Human Rights Council and the Federal Council of the Brazilian Law Society. The letters sent by Aliança can be found at the end of this release.
The most serious cases include a woman who was attacked in Porto Alegre by three men who inscribed a swastika on the skin of her stomach, a gay man has been murdered in Curitiba, a Black man has been murdered in Salvador and a trans woman was stabbed in Aracaju and died of her wounds. Her assailant was arrested and later released by the police.
Aliança Nacional LGBTI+ is appealing to universities, the State and Federal Public Prosecution services and the Brazilian Law Society at all levels to set up observatories and platforms with the aim of registering these events and demanding that the competent authorities investigate and punish those who encourage and commit electoral violence and hate speech in Brazil
Despite having been created to meet a one-off need during the election period, the Platform will be permanent. The confidentiality of the personal details and identification of people posting reports on the Platform will be ensured and the reports will be systematized periodically and sent to national authorities and international bodies and mechanisms.
CONTACTS
Toni Reis | President – Aliança Nacional LGBTI+ | tonireisctba@gmail.com | +55 41 99602-8906
The Plataform can be accessed here:
About the Brazilian National LGBTI+ Alliance – The National LGBTI+ Alliance is a cross-party, non-profit civil society organization with branches in all 27 Brazilian Federative Units. It works to promote and defend the human rights and citizenship of the LGBTI+ community in the Brazilian states and municipalities through partnerships with individuals and legal entities. It dialogues and builds joint actions with researchers, activists, political party leaders, government managers, networks, governmental organizations, communicators, entrepreneurs and other people committed to promoting LGBTI+ rights and citizenship. Further information at: www.aliancalgbti.org.br