Justiça Global’s report elaborates on the state of human rights after the tailing dam collapse in Brazil

ESCR-net member Justiça Global published a report Inside the Vale of Mud elaborating on an inspection report on the tailing dam collapse in Minas Gerais, Brazil and goes into detail regarding human rights violations in the cities affected by the disaster as well as illuminating how mining overall has been the cause of severe social and environmental damages throughout the Mariana region.  

This report on the tailings dam collapse in Brazil advocates for safeguarding the human dignity of 3.2 million people, which is the estimated number of population that lives along the Rio Dolce and as such, most affected by the social and environmental disaster. 

This document aims at exposing the violations to the human rights of the people affected by the disaster in the Mariana region, although the overall impact of the collapse is extended to the state of Espírito Santo, reaching even the sea. The report is a result of two missions carried out to the region in November and December 2015 and was held in the context of a country visit undertaken by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.  This international mechanism included in their agenda meetings with the population affected by the disaster, including residents of Minas Gerals and Espirito Santo, as well as local movements and civil society organizations.

Inside the Vale of Mud details that since the breakup of the tailing dam, the situation of human rights violations in Mariana region, in the state of Minas Gerais, has worsened. Among the human rights violated as a result of the disaster and effective response from the state and the companies involved are: the right to life, water, housing, work, health and the right to live in a healthy environment (life and physical integrity, adequate housing, information and effective legal recourse).  In addition, this report describes situations of hostility and criminalization of human rights defenders and social movements. 

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To access this report in English, click here.

To access this report in Portuguese, click here.