Human Rights Watch on Monday reported 64 cases of torture and human rights violations by Brazilian police over the past four years. The report was sent by HRW to the office of President Dilma Rousseff, Brazil's Congress and the media. According to the communique, the cases occurred in the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espiritu Santo, Parana and Bahia since the year 2010, and in 40 cases the use of physical torture has been verified, while in the other 24 a reference is made to...

Brazil should speak out in support of human rights in Russia and Russia’s independent activists at the BRICS summit, Human Rights Watch said today. Brazil should also firmly reject any attempt by Russia to persuade Brazil to support weakening the human rights mandate of the UN and other intergovernmental organizations. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) are meeting in Fortaleza, Ceará, for the sixth annual BRICS summit on July 14, 15, and 16, 2014. BRICS is...

(São Paulo) - São Paulo authorities should conduct a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into allegations that police planted evidence of criminal activity on two protesters who were arrested on June 23, 2014, Human Rights Watch said today. “Protesters who engage in vandalism and violence should be held accountable,” said , Brazil director at Human Rights Watch. “But so too should any police who plant evidence and deliberately accuse protesters of...

Officers used tear gas on crowds in Sao Paulo hours before Brazil's team beat Croatia 3-1 in the opening match. Several people were also injured after scuffles broke out in Rio de Janeiro. Protesters are angry at how much the government has spent on preparations for the World Cup and the Olympics, which Rio will host in 2016. Earlier, striking airport workers in Rio de Janeiro blocked a road outside the airport, demanding a wage increase and a World Cup bonus. The strike was to have lasted...

For the first time ever, Reporters Without Borders is publishing a list of profiles of “100 information heroes” for World Press Freedom Day (3 May).Through their courageous work or activism, these “100 heroes” help to promote the freedom enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the freedom to “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” They put their ideals in the service of...

An Argentine special prosecutor's accusation that Iran has established terrorist networks throughout Latin America has renewed debate over how big a threat that poses to the region and the United States. Alberto Nisman, who is investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people, said in a 500-page report released last week that Iran has been building the networks for nearly 30 years. That assessment coincides with a viewpoint held by many Western...

Around 20 journalists have reportedly been physically attacked or injured in the past two weeks of protests in Brazilian cities against bus and subway fare hikes and the poor state of public services. The military police appear to have been responsible for most of these , which in some cases have been accompanied by arrests. But some cases were the result of hostility on the part of demonstrators towards news media covering the protests. As the protest movement has grown, fed by online...

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was selected by the Brazilian Air Force to execute a large-scale air refueling project for several Boeing 767-300 aircraft. IAI's proposal was chosen over many international companies, the Brazilian Air Force reported on their Website over the weekend. Joseph Weiss, president and CEO of IAI, said "we are very pleased to have won the bid to provide the Brazilian Air Force with Multi-Mission-Tanker & Transport aircraft capable of performing...

Reporters Without Borders is today releasing a report entitled “ ” that examines all of the shortcomings of this South American giant’s media landscape It is based on fact-finding visits to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasilia in November 2012. The media topography of the country that is hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics has barely changed in the three decades since the end of the 1964-85 military dictatorship. As well as the ten or so major companies...

Brazilian police on Friday confirmed the arrest of a suspected member of Basque separatist group ETA. Joseba Gotzov Vizan Gonzalez was arrested in the Brazilian capital of Rio de Janeiro as soon as an arrest warrant was issued by the Spanish National Court. Vizan Gonzalez, 53, is wanted for questioning in connection to terrorist organization, taking part in terrorist attacks and murder. He has also been linked to a car bomb in 1988 which left a policemen seriously injured. After leaving...