World: South America

Have you lived in a country that doesn’t even attempt to fix things? This is the case for Brazil who has been dealing with an ongoing effort by Amnesty International to intercede in Brazil’s effort to curb its own human rights abuses. The main argument is that Brazil is not doing anything to fight the human rights abuses within the country. Examples pointed out by Amnesty International were the murder of an American nun in the Amazon and the massacre of 29 people by police near Rio de Janeiro. Eleven officers were charged for going on a killing spree and slaughtering 29 people in Rio De Janeiro, however, there is no clear evidence that they will be put on trial. In another similar case in 1993, twenty-one people in the same area were killed by police officers. Dorothy Stang was an American nun was shot to death over a dispute with Amazon ranchers over land. Her case could have been held under a 2004 Brazilian law that would put it under federal jurisdiction, however the Brazilian courts declined to hear the case. The five men accused of the crime will instead go on trial in the eastern Amazon which is known for notoriously corrupt courts.The report by Amnesty International said, “governments have failed to invest political/ financial capital in the human rights reform preferring to concentrate on short term political and economic goals.” Amnesty did commend Brazil’s government on their 1997 anti-torture law, pointing out though that it is rarely enforced. Brazil should come up with a plan of action to further protect the rights of Brazil’s people not only to provide safety, but to secure the future of their country. If people keep dying and nothing is being done then who will be left to support the economy? Who would want to live in a society where people can be killed day after day and all the government does is look away?