CADHu & ARNS Commission, Incitement to Genocide and Widespread Systematic Attacks Against Indigenous Peoples by President Jair Messias Bolsonaro in Brazil (Nov. 2019)
This “informative note” argues that President Jair Messias Bolsonaro, since taking office in January 2019, has established a climate of incitement to commit crimes against humanity and genocide against Brazil’s indigenous peoples and traditional communities. The note demonstrates that the Bolsonaro Administration is dismantling public policies that protect social and environmental rights as well as environmental oversight structures in Brazil, including indigenous land demarcation procedures. Repeated statements by Bolsonaro denigrate indigenous communities, encourage violence, and legitimize the removal or reduction of their control over traditional lands. The note claims that Bolsonaro’s government had a preconceived plan to undermine Indigenous rights, resulting in land invasions, pollution, record deforestation and the murder of Indigenous leaders protecting the Amazon. This Communication requests the OTP to consider initiating a preliminary examination into whether the acts and omissions of President Jair Bolsonaro constitute incitement to genocide and crimes against humanity against Indigenous peoples.
