América do Sul e Central

Truculent Olympics

Published in Tuesday December 21st, 2010

Within the past week, the Olymipic plan for the city of Rio de Janeiro has revealed a strong ambiguity in the quality of large urban development projects. Investments in public infrastructure, transport and sporting facilities arrive at the same pace as regrettable episodes of basic human rights violations and disrespect for the human condition.
The following video is an excerpt from a recording made one of these mornings in which the machines advanced over homes in the community of Restinga.

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Forced Evictions in Rio de Janeiro, Interview with Favela Resident

Published in Monday December 13th, 2010

The mudslides of April 5, 2010 changed the lives of many residents in Rio de Janeiro. In the aftermath the mayor of Rio requested the immediate removal of hundreds of families from their homes, without giving any explanation or a proper assessment of the area. This video is narrated by a resident of Laboriaux in the favela of Rocinha as he talks about the experience of the forced evictions.

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South Africa’s football lesson

Published in Thursday November 4th, 2010 In News

By Simon Kuper Hosts need to understand what a World Cup is: a party – it is fun, but costs money On Sunday Dilma Rousseff will probably be voted president of Brazil. Soon afterwards she should get on her plane and visit the poor South African town of Nelspruit. There she will see the football stadium […]

Brazil: Mega Events and Forced Evictions

Published in Wednesday October 20th, 2010 In News

  By Priscila Néri | November 23rd, 2010
 
  Posted from Brazil, where WITNESS attended the Seminar

“Megaevents: Urban Impacts and Human Rights Violations” as a part of our global campaign on Forced Evictions in the name of Development.

 For the past 20 years, the roughly 1000 families that live in Vila Autódromo, a low-income community in western Rio de Janeiro, have been fighting off eviction.

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Brazil: Megaevents and Forced Evictions

Published in Wednesday October 20th, 2010

Vila Autódromo, a low-income community in western Rio de Janeiro, havebeen fighting off eviction.

World Assembly of Urban Inhabitants

Published in Thursday July 29th, 2010

The World Assembly of Urban Inhabitants was an important fora for debate organized by housing movements in the turn of the 21st century. It took place in Mexico City, from October 2 to 6, 2000.

Draft Bill – Social Interest Housing in El Salvador

Published in Friday July 23rd, 2010

The law’s objective is to detail the principles and rules under which public initiatives concerning the right to housing will be developed.

The City Statute

Published in Thursday July 22nd, 2010

The City Statute (Law No. 10.257/2001) was adopted in 2001 to regulate articles 182 and 183 of the Brazilian Constitution, which state that municipalities shall set up urban development policies for the realization of the ‘social function of cities’, aiming at the wellbeing of their inhabitants.

Brazil: Social Interest Housing System

Published in Thursday July 22nd, 2010

The Social Interest Housing System was established in Brazil by the Federal Law Nº 11.124, in June 16th, 2005. The law’s objective is to detail the principles and rules under which public initiatives concerning the right to housing will be developed.

PRESS RELEASE – Brazil: regression in Quilombo communities’ rights could breach international laws, says UN expert

Published in Wednesday May 26th, 2010 In News

GENEVA – The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik, said Wednesday that a decline in the rights afforded to communities founded by former slaves to control and benefit from their traditional lands may infringe Brazil’s international human rights obligations.

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