

Currently released so far... 12648 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AORC
AF
AU
ASEC
AMGT
AS
APER
AR
AG
ARF
AJ
AA
AINF
APECO
AODE
ABLD
AMG
ATPDEA
AE
AEMR
AMED
AGAO
AFIN
AL
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AID
ASCH
AM
AORL
ASEAN
APEC
ADM
AFSI
AFSN
ADCO
ABUD
AN
AY
AIT
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AMCHAMS
AGMT
AADP
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
ACS
APCS
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AFU
BR
BTIO
BY
BO
BA
BU
BL
BN
BM
BF
BEXP
BK
BG
BB
BTIU
BBSR
BRUSSELS
BD
BIDEN
BE
BH
BILAT
BC
BX
BT
BP
BMGT
BWC
CS
CA
CH
CD
CO
CE
CU
CVIS
CASC
CJAN
CI
CPAS
CMGT
CDG
CIC
CAC
CBW
CWC
COUNTER
CW
CT
CY
CNARC
CACM
CG
CB
CM
CV
CIDA
CLINTON
CHR
COE
CR
CIS
CDC
CONS
CF
CODEL
COPUOS
CIA
CFED
CARSON
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CACS
CN
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CARICOM
CSW
CITT
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
EAID
ECON
EFIS
ETRD
EC
ENRG
EINV
EFIN
EAGR
ETTC
ECPS
EINT
ES
EIND
EAIR
EU
EUN
EG
EPET
ELAB
EWWT
EMIN
ECIN
ESA
ER
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EAIG
ET
ETRO
ELTN
EI
EN
EUR
EK
EUMEM
EPA
ENGR
EXTERNAL
EUREM
ELN
EUC
ENERG
ENIV
EZ
ERD
EFTA
ETRC
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ENNP
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
EFINECONCS
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXIM
ERNG
ECA
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
IC
IV
IAEA
IR
IO
IT
IN
IS
IZ
IMO
IPR
IWC
ICAO
ILO
ID
ICTY
ICJ
INMARSAT
INDO
IL
IMF
IRS
IQ
IA
ICRC
IDA
IAHRC
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
IDP
ICTR
IEFIN
IRC
ITRA
ITALY
INRB
INTELSAT
IBET
IRAQI
ISRAELI
IIP
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
KBTR
KPAO
KOMC
KCRM
KDEM
KHIV
KBIO
KTIA
KMDR
KNNP
KSCA
KTIP
KWMN
KIPR
KCOR
KRVC
KFRD
KPAL
KWBG
KE
KTDB
KUNR
KSPR
KJUS
KGHG
KAWC
KCFE
KGCC
KOLY
KSUM
KACT
KISL
KTFN
KFLU
KSTH
KMPI
KHDP
KS
KHLS
KMRS
KID
KN
KU
KAWK
KSAC
KCOM
KAID
KIRC
KWMNCS
KMCA
KNEI
KCRS
KPKO
KICC
KPOA
KV
KDRG
KIRF
KSEO
KVPR
KSEP
KTER
KBCT
KFIN
KGIC
KCIP
KZ
KG
KWAC
KRAD
KPRP
KTEX
KNAR
KPLS
KPAK
KSTC
KFLO
KSCI
KIDE
KOMS
KHSA
KSAF
KPWR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KRIM
KVRP
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KWMM
KMFO
KMOC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KREC
KX
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KMIG
KRGY
KIFR
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MX
MNUC
MCAP
MO
MR
MEPP
MTCRE
MAPP
MEPN
MZ
MT
ML
MA
MY
MIL
MD
MASSMNUC
MU
MK
MTCR
MUCN
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MC
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTRE
MASC
MG
MARAD
MRCRE
MW
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
NATO
NZ
NL
NO
NK
NU
NPT
NI
NG
NEW
NSF
NA
NPG
NSG
NE
NSSP
NS
NDP
NSC
NAFTA
NH
NV
NP
NPA
NSFO
NT
NW
NASA
NORAD
NATIONAL
NGO
NR
NIPP
NZUS
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
OEXC
OTRA
OPRC
OVIP
OAS
OIIP
OSCE
OREP
OPIC
OFDP
OMIG
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OIC
OECD
OIE
OPDC
ON
OCII
OPAD
OBSP
OFFICIALS
OPCW
OHUM
OES
OCS
OTR
OSAC
OFDA
PGOV
PREL
PM
PHUM
PTER
PINR
PINS
PREF
PARM
PL
PK
PU
PBTS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PO
PROP
PA
PNAT
POL
PLN
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PCUL
PAK
PGGV
PAO
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PAS
PGIV
PHUMPREL
PCI
PG
POGOV
PHUMPGOV
PEL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PP
PREO
PAHO
PBT
PMIL
POV
PRL
PDOV
PTBS
PRAM
PREFA
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PINF
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PGOC
PY
PHUH
PF
PHUS
RU
RS
RO
RW
RP
RFE
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
ROOD
RCMP
RM
RSO
ROBERT
RICE
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SL
SW
SMIG
SP
SY
SA
SHUM
SZ
SYRIA
SF
SR
SO
SARS
SN
SC
SIPRS
SI
SYR
SEVN
SG
SPCE
SK
STEINBERG
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SEN
SANC
SWE
SHI
TW
TU
TBIO
TSPL
TPHY
TRGY
TC
TT
TSPA
TINT
TERRORISM
TX
TR
TS
TN
TD
TH
TIP
TNGD
TI
TZ
THPY
TP
TBID
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
UN
UK
UNSC
UNGA
US
UNESCO
UP
UNHRC
UNAUS
USTR
UNDP
UNEP
UY
UNCHR
UG
UZ
UNPUOS
USEU
UNMIK
UNDC
UNICEF
UV
UNHCR
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
USUN
USNC
UNIDROIT
UNO
UNCND
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09SAOPAULO602, SAO PAULO EXPERTS DETAIL CONTINUING HUMAN RIGHTS
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09SAOPAULO602.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09SAOPAULO602 | 2009-10-13 18:24 | 2011-02-16 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Sao Paulo |
VZCZCXRO8883
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHSO #0602/01 2861824
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131824Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9682
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0814
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 4439
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 9280
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 3665
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 0050
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 2977
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0048
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 4157
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SAO PAULO 000602
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, DRL, INR/IAA, INR/R/AA
USAID FOR LAC/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI SCUL PREL BR
SUBJECT: SAO PAULO EXPERTS DETAIL CONTINUING HUMAN RIGHTS
CHALLENGES
REF:
(A) 09 SAO PAULO 309
(B) 09 SAO PAULO 182
(C) 08 SAO PAULO 119
¶1. (U) Summary: Forced labor, lack of land titles, Trafficking in Persons (TIP), the pace of justice and poor prison conditions emerged as recurring themes in an extensive round of recent meetings with Sao Paulo (SP) human rights experts. While contacts cited improvements --a rise in the number of anti-discrimination lawsuits, efforts to promote sustainable mining, and SP state-level judges' response to anti-TIP training -- they also underscored continuing challenges in Brazil's human rights situation. In particular, they cited the confluence of environmental damage and forced labor in the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal and discrimination against Afro-Brazilians. End summary.
¶2. (U) Brasilia Laboff and Sao Paulo Poloff met with the following NGO representatives from the Sao Paulo human rights community from September 30 to October 2: Leonardo Sakamoto, Reporter Brazil (RB, anti-forced labor); Damiani Mistier, ETHOS (corporate social responsibility); Amarillo Bolito, Social Observatory (OS, forced labor); Daniela Perutti, Pro-Indigenous Commission (CPI); Heidi Ann Cerneka, National Prison Ministry (NPC); Analia Ribeiro, Sao Paulo State anti-TIP Office; Marco Antonio Zito Alvarenga, Brazilian Bar Association's Afro-Brazilian and Anti-Discriminatory Issues Commission (CONAD); Priscilla Siqueira, Service for Marginalized Women (SMM, anti-TIP), and Marcos Fuchs of Conectas (a general human rights NGO that focuses on access to justice and prison conditions). The meetings provided some encouraging news as well as an overview of serious ongoing concerns in the human rights community.
RURAL HOTSPOTS: DEFORESTATION/FORCED LABOR GO HAND IN HAND
¶3. (U) Clashes between indigenous communities, locals and agribusiness continue in Brazil's interior, particularly in the Amazon (in the states of Amazonas and Para), Cerrado(Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Piaui) and the Pantanal(Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul), according to Pro-Indigenous and Reporter Brazil reps (Ref A). Baixo Xingu in Para state, for example, ranks first in Labor Ministry releases of workers from "slave-like conditions" in agriculture, according to Reporter Brazil's Leonardo Sakamoto.
A MULTI-STAGE PROCESS
¶4. (U) Both Reporter Brazil and Pro-Indigenous representatives described how deforestation and forced labor go hand-in-hand, laying the conditions for exploitation of unsettled rural regions. First, big agriculturalists bring in forced labor to cut down the forest and plant soy and rice. This "softens up" the land for later use as pasture for cattle ranching. In response to this challenge, Pro-Indigenous has launched educational campaigns in indigenous and Afro-Brazilian (quilombo) communities to teach them to not only how to cope with environmental changes, such as erratic rainfall, but also how steps they can take to prevent further damage from deforestation.
RUMBLINGS IN THE AUTO SECTOR AND BAD NEWS IN BAUXITE
¶5. (U) Contacts told Laboff and Poloff that forced labor remains a problem in two other areas: the auto manufacturing supply chain and aluminum mining. Child labor is frequently used in the production of charcoal, used to make pig iron, according to RB's Sakamoto and Social Observatory's Amarildo Dudu Bolito. NGO leaders complain that the auto industry is "in denial" about this issue. Sakamoto said he had raised this question with U.S. auto manufacturers (Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler) during a recent visit to the United States. They referred him to Brazilian authorities, who did not respond. Only Mercedes Benz has shown a willingness to address the issue, according to Bolito. Forced labor also occurs in bauxite mining in Para and Maranhao states, according to OS. Some companies are reexamining their practices. Bolito said that the Alcoa-owned Juruti mine in Para, for example, has led in promoting sustainable mining that minimizes environmental damage.
DOUBLE WHAMMY: LAND TITLES/TIP AND AFRO-BRAZILIANS
¶6. (U) According to CPI's Daniela Perutti, Brazil hosts roughly two thousand quilombo (Afro-descendants of escaped slaves known in the U.S. as maroon) communities who find their greatest challenge in the lack of documentation for their lands. Clear property titles are often these communities' first step in receiving public services
SAO PAULO 00000602 002 OF 003
(electricity, education, health centers). Brazilian law recognizes the quilomobolos' (as inhabitants are known) rights to obtain legal title to their land holdings by working through the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA). Despite this, many communities still have not gotten either federal or state land titles. At the same time, agricultural interests, like the Landowners Movement (Movimento com Terra) backed by Senator Valdir Collato from Santa Catarina, have vigorously challenged the quilombos' land claims.
¶7. (U) Due to their poverty, CPI told Laboff and Poloff, that quilombo communities are also targets for human traffickers. Maroon women and girls are trafficked and prostituted inside Brazil. Both NGOs and the government have been attempting to reduce the amount of child prostitution on the highways between Sao Paulo and Curitiba where forty thousand vehicles pass daily.
¶8. (U) Despite unequal access to employment, education, legal and health services, several NGOs cited the increased number of anti-discrimination lawsuits brought against businesses in labor courts as a key area of progress on race issues. According to Mistieri of ETHOS and Marco Antonio Zito Alvarenga of CONAD, there were only nine such lawsuits between 1951 and 1996, but now 356 such cases are pending, including cases of religious discrimination.
TIP: LEGAL TRAINING/ EDUCATION
¶9. (U) Brazil still needs specific anti-TIP legislation, according to Analia Ribeiro of SP State's anti-TIP office. Nonetheless, recent changes to the penal code (which raise fines for forced labor violators, define victims more broadly and recognize trafficking within Brazil as a crime) make the offense easier to prosecute. Anti-TIP activists are pushing a draft TIP law they hope to present to Congress. In the meantime, Sao Paulo State's TIP office has focused on training judges. Ribeiro noted that the state judges are more willing to prosecute TIP cases under existing law than their federal counterparts, who believe that the law is currently too vague to have a successful prosecution.
¶9. (U) Meanwhile, the NGO community is using public education to fight TIP. SMM works with academia, state/federal government and other NGOs to design strategies for TIP-prevention campaigns. According to SMM's Siqueira, 83 percent of trafficking victims from Brazil are female (the majority of African descent) and 80 percent are trafficked for sexual exploitation. Brazil is also a destination country for trafficked women and girls from Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay and Korea. Many foreign female workers who find employment in the garment industry of Sao Paulo are also often sexually exploited.
JUSTICE DELAYS, HORRIFIC PRISON CONDITIONS
¶10. (U) Contacts underscored that the right to a speedy trial does not exist for many Brazilians. In cases of "minor crimes" like low-level drug trafficking, petty theft and robbery, the accused are held an average of three months before going before a judge, according to Conectas' Marcus Fuchs. For homicides, they can be held up to three years. Heidi Ann Cerneka of the National Prison Ministry (NPC) stated that the problem is exacerbated by the fact that many impoverished Brazilians cannot get legal assistance. Conectas runs a program to link accused persons with lawyers. In addition, the group is working to foster a pro-bono culture among Brazilian lawyers, who generally do not embrace the concept of offering free services. Finally, both Fuchs and Cerneka complained that almost all of Brazil's prisons and jails are overcrowded and substandard, with inadequate provisions for hygiene, medical attention or rehabilitation. Both experts cited Espirito Santo, Rio Grande do Sul and Rondonia as states with the worst facilities.
COMMENT: SOME PROGRESS BUT SIGNIFICANT HURDLES REMAIN
¶11. (U) Many Brazilians still suffer from a variety of human rights-related problems. The Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal, where deforestation and forced labor dovetail as part of a tug-of-war between local populations and agribusiness, are a particular concern. In addition, Afro-Brazilians face multiple challenges. The experts cited them as victims in every kind of exploitation discussed (forced labor, lack of land titles, TIP, poor access to legal assistance, etc.), a fact that only underscores the importance
SAO PAULO 00000602 003 OF 003
of the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan for the Elimination of Racism (JAPER). Contacts overwhelmingly agreed it will take a combination of targeted government action, civil society engagement, and shifts in cultural attitudes to address Brazil's most serious lapses in human rights.
¶12. (U) This cable was coordinated/cleared by Embassy Brasilia.
WHITE