Human Rights in Brazil

Human Rights in Brazil

The population in Brazil consists of 144 million people. Brazil is one of the fastest-growing nations in the Western Hemisphere. Its population is increasing at the rate of about 2 % a year. The constitution of Brazil gives the president tremendous powers. For example, the president may intervene in affairs of Brazil's states. The chief executive may even create new states from existing ones.

Brazil has three main ethnic groups-whites, blacks, and people of mixed ancestry. Most of the whites are from Europe. According to the Brazilian government whites make up about 60% of the nation's population, and people of mixed races form about 30%. However, the government of Brazil counts many lightskinned people of mixed ancestry as white.

Brazil's ethnic groups generally get along well with one another. Racial discrimination in Brazil if far less widespread than that in many other countries with people of several races. But Brazilians of European descent have had better educational opportunities. As a result, they hold most of the higher jobs in government and industry. Many of the non-Europeans, particularly blacks, have excelled in the arts, entertainment and sports.

Brazil's prison system system is in crisis. Four years ago, in its 1990 urban violence report Amnesty International described the prisons as being at breaking point, holding double their official capacity in "inhuman" conditions. Four years later the situation has not improved. In some respects, it has deteriorated. Overcrowding, lack of medical and legal assistance, torture and ill-treatment of inmates and harassment of visitors are endemic. A frightening and rising proportion of prisoners carry the HIV virus. In the Women's Prison of Soo Paulom, around 33% of the inmates are infected with the virus, while in the male prison the figure reaches 27% of the prison population. A study published in 1994 shows that the majority of prisoners are yourn, poor, and black.

agroup of inmates in the Desembargador Vidal Pessoa Central Prison of Manaus, Amazonas held a peaceful protest against conditions in es called in military police shock-troops. They reportedly beat the inmates, who had taken refuge in their cells, with batons, as well as hitting and kicking them. Subsequently they locked the inmates in their cells and threw tear gas grenades in after them.

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...cial vulnerability. These constitutional provisions have been further developed in the basic law known as the "Statue for Children and Adolescents." This Statue, enacted in 1990, has been praised by UNICEF as one of the moset comprehensive in the world.

Government programs, including the installation of hundreds of Centers for Comprehensive Child Care, address basic needs such as education, distrubution of nutritious meals, health care and the promotion of children's rights. The "Pact for the Children", co-signed by the President of Brazil and 24 state governors, set up a "Plan of Action" which is intended to fully implement the constitutional and legal provisions that provide for protection of children and adolescents. Several fedrral agencies oversee the execution of government programs for children and adolescents designed to give to Brazilian yourth opportunities for a better life, education, shelter, and love. Moreover, as mandated by law, 21 states and 1,654 municipalities have established special Councils for Children's Rights. Several hot-lines are operating throughout Brazil making it easier for children to seek help and report instances of violence, neglect or abuse.