Oral Statement by Conectas Human Rights about the lack of funds for the “Special Group on Mobile Enforcement”, leading to the suspension of inspection and enforcement activities
Human Rights Council 34th Session
Interactive Dialogue - Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
12 September 2017
Delivered by Mr. Paulo de Tarso Lugon Arantes
Ms. Special Rapporteur,
In pursuit of its international commitment to eradicate slavery, Brazil developed innovative policies. In particular, the “dirty list” and the “Special Group on Mobile Enforcement” have been internationally recognized for their effectiveness. Nevertheless, in the past year, the government has resisted to publish the dirty list, a move denounced by Conectas and condemned by the international community. Now, the “Special Group on Mobile Enforcement” is under risk.
The Special Group is formed by public prosecutors, the Ministry of Labor, and the federal police force. Since 1995, it has freed over 50,000 laborers from modern forms of slavery.
On August 21st, the chief of the “Division for the Eradication of Slave Labor” of the Ministry of Labor declared that the government failed to deliver promised funding to the Special Group, and that pre-existing funds have run out. Therefore, inspection and enforcement activities have been completely halted. Currently, the Special Group is unable even to respond to direct complaints.
The decision not to direct funds to the Special Group is part of a broader context of weakened institutional capacity to fight against slavery in Brazil. In March, Conectas reported that the deficit of labor specialists working on this topic exceeded 1,000 auditors. This context aggravates the challenges to eradicate slavery in situations like the coffee farms in the state of Minas Gerais, where there are repeated cases of human trafficking, retention of personal documents, degrading working conditions, debt bondage, and violence against workers.
We urge the Brazilian government to direct funds to the “Special Group on Mobile Enforcement” and refrain from further weakening this fundamental mechanism.
I thank you.