The murder of three labour inspectors and their driver in Brazil on 28 January is a harsh blow to the fight against slavery in the country.
Even though the inspectors were on a routine inspection and not specifically investigating slave labour, these murders will have a direct impact on future inspections and the way the Government's forced labour task force: the mobile inspection groups operate when investigating
slavery.
This is the first murder of government inspectors, but in 2003, those working against slavery - local judges in Amazonia, prosecutors and members of such non-governmental organisations as the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) - faced increase threats.
Thousands of Brazilians are trafficked into forced labour from impoverished parts of the country to distant estates in Amazonia, lured by promises of good work and pay. Once there, they are told they owe money for their transport, accommodation, food and tools and are forced to work.
Since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's announcement of extensive new measures to fight slavery in March 2003 and efforts to enforce them, death threats against activists and officials increased in areas of Amazonia -- Para and Tocantins - where forced labour is a significant problem.
"It is vital the government provides adequate protection to labour inspectors, particularly members of the mobile inspection unit. The ambush against the Labour Ministry's inspectors signals a worrying move. Routine inspections in rural areas are extremely important to prevent slave labour from occurring in the first place. If these are stopped or become less regular, abuses against rural workers, including slave labour, will increase all over the country", Mary Cunneen Director of Anti-Slavery International, the world's oldest international human rights organisation, said.
For background information on slavery in Brazil see:
http://www.antislavery.org
'Resources' UN Submissions
Beth Herzfeld
Press Officer
Anti-Slavery International
Thomas Clarkson House
The Stableyard
Broomgrove Road
London SW9 9TL
UK
Today's fight for tomorrow's freedom
Visit our campaign website http://www.stophumantraffic.org to help us end human trafficking or visit http://www.antislavery.org to see how else you can help
Even though the inspectors were on a routine inspection and not specifically investigating slave labour, these murders will have a direct impact on future inspections and the way the Government's forced labour task force: the mobile inspection groups operate when investigating
slavery.
This is the first murder of government inspectors, but in 2003, those working against slavery - local judges in Amazonia, prosecutors and members of such non-governmental organisations as the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) - faced increase threats.
Thousands of Brazilians are trafficked into forced labour from impoverished parts of the country to distant estates in Amazonia, lured by promises of good work and pay. Once there, they are told they owe money for their transport, accommodation, food and tools and are forced to work.
Since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's announcement of extensive new measures to fight slavery in March 2003 and efforts to enforce them, death threats against activists and officials increased in areas of Amazonia -- Para and Tocantins - where forced labour is a significant problem.
"It is vital the government provides adequate protection to labour inspectors, particularly members of the mobile inspection unit. The ambush against the Labour Ministry's inspectors signals a worrying move. Routine inspections in rural areas are extremely important to prevent slave labour from occurring in the first place. If these are stopped or become less regular, abuses against rural workers, including slave labour, will increase all over the country", Mary Cunneen Director of Anti-Slavery International, the world's oldest international human rights organisation, said.
For background information on slavery in Brazil see:
http://www.antislavery.org
'Resources' UN Submissions
Beth Herzfeld
Press Officer
Anti-Slavery International
Thomas Clarkson House
The Stableyard
Broomgrove Road
London SW9 9TL
UK
Today's fight for tomorrow's freedom
Visit our campaign website http://www.stophumantraffic.org to help us end human trafficking or visit http://www.antislavery.org to see how else you can help