• Text size  | | |
• Email this document
• Printable version

Brazil: State protection available to people targeted by the mafia

Limited information on state protection available to people targeted by the Mafia, in addition to that described in Country Reports 2002 could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate within time constraints.

However, an article on the Website for Brazzil, an English-language publication on Brazilian politics, society and culture targeting readers primarily outside of Brazil, explains that Brazil's police force is "impotent" against organized crime and often has members who are participants in the crime structure (Oct. 1999). The article also mentions an "Anti-Mafia Law" which is meant to give the judicial system the proper tools to fight organized crime (ibid.). No information on the status or success of that law could be found among sources consulted. For further information on crime in Brazil, please find attached the above-mentioned article from Brazzil.

According to the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute, the government of Brazil has had a national program for the protection of witnesses and victims since August 1999 (Dec. 2001). Witnesses and victims can receive a transfer in residence, monthly financial aid, a supply of food and clothing, police protection when travelling, help finding a job, social, psychological and medical assistance, and a change of identity (ibid.).

An article in Brazzil mentions witness protection programs:

The government, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations, has set up a witness protection scheme, PROVITA. Amnesty International has welcomed this scheme as an important tool for ensuring the protection of witnesses in human rights trials. However, the scheme only functions in a few states and suffers from past underfunding. It also does not cover the majority of torture victims because it excludes all people with criminal records or those in preventive detention awaiting trial. (36)

Amnesty International was informed by the federal government that another scheme exists with the specific aim of protecting those who do have criminal records. This scheme, [o Programa Federal de Assistência a Vítimas e a Testemunhas Ameaçadas,] the Federal Program for Assistance to Victims and Witnesses under Threat, has the specific aim of offering protection to criminal suspects who testify in criminal prosecutions brought by the state (Nov. 2001).

No further information on the application of these programs could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Brazzil [Los Angeles]. November 2001. "Beating as Usual." <http://www.brazzil.com> [Accessed 25 June 2002]

_____. October 1999. Francesco Neves. "It's War." <http://www.brazzil.com/cvroct99.htm> [Accessed 17 June 2002]

United Nations Asia and Far East Institute. December 2001. Resource Material Series No.58. pp.244-245. <http://www.unafei.or.jp/pdf/58-20.pdf> [Accessed 17 June 2002]

Attachment

Brazzil [Los Angeles]. October 1999. Francesco Neves. "It's War." <http://www.brazzil.com/cvroct99.htm> [Accessed 17 June 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Latin American Regional Reports: Brazil Report [London]

Latinamerica Press

NEXIS

One oral source did not provide information within time constraints

Internet sites including:

BBC News

Brazzil

The Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS)

CNN.com

Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ)

Folha [Sao Paulo]

Human Rights Watch

Impunidad.com

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Janes.com

Jornal do Brasil

Latin American Crime and Justice Research Institute

The Nando Times

O Estado de Sao Paulo

O Globo [Rio de Janeiro]

Political Resources on the Net

Transparency.org

United Nations - Crime and Justice Information Network

United Nations - Economic and Social Council

United Nations - Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention

U.S. Department of State

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet search engines:

Google

Metacrawler