UN: Front Line, the Irish-based human rights defenders' body, yesterday presented a report on "legalised death squads in Brazil" to Mrs Mary Robinson, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The report analysed 56 incidents of violence and harassment of human rights defenders in Brazil. Ms Mary Lawlor, Front Line's director, said the aim of the report launched in Geneva was "to identify the human rights defenders at risk and the patterns of threats, intimidation and murder they have faced and continue to face".
The report, compiled in conjunction with the Global Justice Centre in Rio de Janeiro, was also presented to Ms Hina Jilani, the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders.
Ms Lawlor highlighted the case of Ms Raquel Pântano De Gaspari, a 25-year-old educator who told the story of two people who were trying to break their link with the main criminal organisation in the Limeira region of São Paulo State. When she announced that the organisation's membership included legislators, businessmen, a prosecutor and a judge, "the death threats started". They took the form of phone calls based on surveillance of her. One said: "You have already lived too long."
Front Line was set up in last year to focus on human rights defenders. Ms Lawlor is former director of Amnesty Ireland.