The Special Rapporteur concludes its official visit to Brazil and proceeds to evaluate the information received from the different actors

28 de fevereiro de 2025

Washington D.C. - The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) concluded its official visit to Brazil between February 9 and 14. The purpose of the mission, carried out in response to an official invitation from the Brazilian state, was to gather information on the situation of freedom of expression and its impact on human rights in the country. The delegation was led by the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Pedro Vaca Villarreal, who, together with members of the SRFOE and the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR, visited the cities of Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, where he was able to hear a wide range of voices.

During the visit, the team met with authorities from different levels and powers of state, including: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Justice and Public Security; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; the Ministry of Women; from the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship; the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic; the Attorney General's Office of the Union; the Federal Supreme Court; from the Superior Electoral Court; the National Council of Justice; the National Congress; the Federal Prosecutor's Office for Citizen's Rights of the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office and other members of the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office; the National Council of Public Prosecutors Office; the Public Defender's Office of the State of São Paulo; the Federal Police; the National Telecommunications Agency; National Human Rights Council; and the Council for Sustainable Economic and Social Development; and the Internet Steering Committee.

It also held listening and dialogue sessions with organizations dedicated to the defence and promotion of human rights, entities that monitor the situation of freedom of expression on the Internet, journalists, media outlets, think tanks, people who consider that their right to freedom of expression has been affected and their families, representatives of digital platforms, and academics and experts on freedom of expression and human rights. In addition, the delegation met with parliamentarians and political leaders from various ideological backgrounds, ensuring a plural and inclusive perspective.

By February 21, the SRFOE had received a large, detailed and diverse amount of information on the situation of freedom of expression and its impact on human rights, which will be evaluated in its entirety, along with all the documentation presented during the working meetings.

The Rapporteur thanks the Brazilian state for the guarantees and support provided for the development of the mission. It also expresses its gratitude to all the people who took part in the working sessions and who presented reports and testimonies to the delegation, sharing their perspectives and experiences on the situation of the right to freedom of expression in Brazil. The SRFOE also highlights the valuable support of civil society organizations in coordinating activities and meetings.

Finally, the Special Rapporteur recognizes Brazil's openness to international observation in the area of freedom of expression, which is a sign of its commitment to democratic institutions and human rights.

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression was created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to promote the hemispheric defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression, considering its fundamental role in the consolidation and development of a democratic system.

No. R046/25

2:48 PM