United Nations
General Assembly
A/HRC/31/57/Add.4
Distr.: General
29 January 2016
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-first session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
on his mission to Brazil*
Note by the Secretariat
The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of
the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment on his mission to Brazil from 3 to 14 August 2015.
The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the Government for the
invitation, and for granting him unfettered access to all places of detention and to
confidential interviews with inmates of his choosing.
With regard to legislation, safeguards and prevention, and institutional reform,
Brazil has made significant progress on paper; however, implementation is lagging far
behind.
Torture and ill-treatment, sometimes killings, by police and prison staff continue to
be a frighteningly regular occurrences, most notably affecting persons belonging to racial,
sexual, gender and other minority groups.
Conditions of detention amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Severe
overcrowding leads to chaotic conditions inside the facilities, and greatly impacts the living
conditions of inmates and their access to food, water, legal defence, health care,
psychosocial support, and work and educational opportunities, as well as sun, fresh air and
recreation.
Impunity remains the rule rather than the exception, partly owing to highly deficient
procedures and practices with regard to monitoring and documentation.
* The present report was submitted late in order to reflect recent developments.
GE.16-01204(E)
*1601204*