E/CN.4/2001/66/Add.2
page 4
Introduction
1.
Following a request by the Special Rapporteur in November 1998, the Government of
Brazil invited him in May 2000 to undertake a fact-finding mission to the country within the
framework of his mandate. The objective of the visit, which took place from 20 August to
12 September 2000, was to enable the Special Rapporteur to collect first-hand information from
a wide range of contacts in order to better assess the situation of torture in Brazil, thus enabling
the Special Rapporteur to recommend to the Government a number of measures to be adopted in
order to comply with its commitment to put an end to acts of torture and other forms of
ill-treatment.
2.
During his mission the Special Rapporteur visited the following states: Federal District
of Brasilia, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco and Pará. In Brasilia, he held
meetings with the following authorities: the President of the Federal Republic of Brazil,
H.E. Mr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso; the Minister of Justice, Dr. José Gregori; the Secretary of
State for Human Rights, Ambassador Gilberto Vergne Saboia; the National Secretary for Justice,
Ms. Elisabeth Süssekind; the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (acting
Minister), Ambassador Luis Felipe de Seixas Correa; the President of the Federal Supreme
Court, Minister Carlos Mário da Silva Velloso; the President of the Federal Court of Appeal,
Mr. Paulo Roberto S. da Costa Leite; the General Prosecutor of the Republic,
Dr. Geraldo Brindeiro; the President of the Commission on Human Rights of the Chamber of
Deputies, Mr. Marcos Rolim, as well as some members of the Commission and the Chairman of
the Sub-Commission on the prevention and punishment of torture; Mr. Nilmario Miranda; the
Federal Prosecutor for the Rights of the Citizens, Ms. Maria Eliane Menezes de Farias; and some
public prosecutors from the Centre against torture (Núcleo contra tortura) of the Public
Prosecutor’s Office of the Federal District.
3.
In São Paulo city (State of São Paulo), the Special Rapporteur held meetings with the
following authorities: the Governor, Mr. Mario Covas; the State Secretary for Public Security,
Mr. Marco Vinicio Petrelluzzi; the State Secretary for Penitentiary Administration,
Mr. Nagashi Furukawa; the State Secretary in Charge of Social Development, Mr. Edsom Ortega
Marques, as well as some of his colleagues working for the State Foundation for the Well-Being
of Minors (Fundação Estadual para o Bem Estar do Menor - FEBEM); State Secretary for
Justice, Mr. Edson Vismona; the Special Assistant at the Attorney-General’s Office for Human
Rights, Mr. Carlos Cardoso de Oliveira Júnior; the Head of the Civil Police, Mr. Ruy Estanislau
Silveira Mello; the Police Ombudsman (ouvidor), Mr. Benedito Domingos Mariano; the Head of
the Military Police, Colonel Luiz Carlos de Oliveira Guimarães; the President of the Court of
Appeals, Mr. Marcio Martins Bonilha. In Rio de Janeiro (State of Rio de Janeiro), he held
meetings with the following authorities: the Governor, Mr. Anthony Garotinho; the State
Secretary for Justice, Mr. João Luis Duboc Pinaud; the State Secretary for Public Security,
Colonel Josias Quintal; the Coordinator for the Public Security, Colonel Jorge da Silva; the head
of internal affairs (corregedor) for the civil police, Doctor José Versillo Filho; the corregedor for
the military police, Colonel José Carlos Rodrigues Ferreira; the external ouvidor for the military
and civil police, Dr. Celma Duarte; the General Prosecutor, Dr. José Muños Piñeiro; the
President of the Tribunal of Justice, Mr. Humberto de Mendoça Manes. In Belo Horizonte
(State of Minas Gerais), he held meetings with: the Governor, Mr. Itamar Franco; the State
Secretary for Justice, Dr. Angela Maria Prate Pace; the State Secretary for Public Security,