GENEVA - Following the deadliest police operation in Rio de Janeiro's history, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Wednesday called for comprehensive and effective reform of policing methods in Brazil.
On Tuesday, 28 October, a large-scale police operation took place in the Complexo do Alemão and Complexo da Penha communities, reportedly aimed at enforcing some 100 judicial warrants against individuals linked to organized criminal groups. According to official information, at least 121 people were killed, including four police officers. Some 81 people were detained.
"I fully understand the challenges of having to deal with violent and well-organized criminal groups such as Comando Vermelho; however, the long list of operations resulting in many deaths - which disproportionately affect people of African descent - raises questions about the way such raids are conducted," said Türk.
"For decades, the high lethality associated with policing in Brazil has become normalized, particularly in areas like Rio de Janeiro, where it has recently increased significantly. Brazil must break the cycle of extreme brutality and ensure that law enforcement operations comply with international standards regarding the use of force," he added.
Türk called for prompt, independent, and effective investigations into Tuesday's events and for a comprehensive policing reform.
Independent mechanisms should also be established to support the families and communities affected to help them access justice and reparation.
Türk urged the authorities to adopt a national policing strategy rooted in a human rights-based approach. Any use of potentially lethal force must be aligned with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination. Lethal force may only be used when strictly necessary to protect life or prevent serious injury from an imminent threat.
Addressing systemic racism against people of African descent in Brazil is paramount.
According to the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (EMLER), the killing of people of African descent by law enforcement in Brazil is not only generalized but is also carried out in a systematic way. An estimated 5,000 people of African descent are killed by the police each year. Young men of African descent living in impoverished areas are the main victims.
"It is time to end a system that perpetuates racism, discrimination, and injustice," said the UN Human Rights Chief.
"Reforms are urgently needed to avoid repetition. Violations cannot go unpunished. Proper accountability processes must lead to truth and justice to avoid further impunity and violence."
