Statement by the Delegation of Representatives of Brazilian Civil SocietyOrganizations on a Visit to Washington on July 2022 - 08/02/22
“We, from the delegation representing 19 Brazilian civil society organizations, who were in Washington between July 24 and 29, 2022 to discuss the attacks on democracy in Brazil, consider that the trip achieved the objective of informing some of the most prominent and influential actors in American politics about the delicate moment that Brazilian democracy is facing.
In over 20 meetings held over these five days, we were received with deference and listened to with genuine attention from all the relevant actors we sought to meet. We could see that today in the United States – as we are certain is the case in other parts of the world as well – special attention is being paid to the political moment that Brazil is going through.
We were able to understand that the fate of a country of continental dimensions, with a population of more than 212 million inhabitants, an environmental and cultural heritage of global importance, and with a prominent place in the world economy, is a matter that has implications that go beyond our borders. The Brazilian elections are undoubtedly, above all, a Brazilian matter, and this message was reinforced by the delegation and corroborated by the American interlocutors themselves in Washington. However, the strength of Brazilian democracy and the respect for human rights, individual freedoms, the rule of law, the environment, indigenous people, and the black population are matters that concern all of humanity and, as such, attract legitimate attention and concern in a world of interconnected and interdependent relationships. Informing key players in the United States about the Brazilian reality was, therefore, one of the delegation’s priorities.
From the Capitol to the Department of State, from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to Washington television studios and the headquarters of local social and union organizations, the delegation always found a warm welcome and strong interest in the current situation in Brazil. In all these meetings, the delegation repeated two messages: inform yourself about the ongoing attacks against the Brazilian electoral system and quickly recognize the election result in October, whoever the winner is, so as to reinforce the voice of the international community and, as a result, make it impossible to implement the coup threats that have been publicly made over the last few years.
At all times, we find an attentive and concerned listeners. Several times, we immediately received public support of Brazilian democracy, as in the cases of the statements of Senator Bernie Sanders and Congressman Jamie Raskin, whose words had significant repercussions in Brazil.
We returned to Brazil with the certainty that our efforts helped to better inform the international community, in this specific case the United States, whose government, through several of its bodies, has already publicly positioned itself in defense of democracy in Brazil. We believe that this diverse and united Brazilian delegation played a fundamental role in the challenge of preserving, protecting and improving Brazilian democracy.”
Organizations that make up the delegation, in alphabetical order:
ABGLT (Associação Brasileira de Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais, Travestis, Transexuais e Intersexos/Brazilian Association of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Tranvestites, Transexuals, and Intersex people)
Site: https://www.abglt.org/
Twitter: @ABGLT
APIB (Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil/Articulation of Indigenous Peoples)
Site: https://ifnotusthenwho.me/pt-br/
Twitter: @ApibOficial
Artigo 19 (Article 19)
Site: https://artigo19.org/
Twitter: @artigo19
Comissão Arns (Arns Commission)
Site: https://comissaoarns.org/pt-br/
Twitter: @comissaoarns
CONAQ (Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas/National Coordination of the Articulation of Rural Black Quilombo Communities)
Site: http://conaq.org.br/
Twitter: @conaquilombos
Conectas Direitos Humanos (Human Rights Connections)
Site: https://conectas.org/
Twitter: @conectas
Geledés – Instituto da Mulher Negra (Geledés – Institute of the Black Woman)
Site: https://www.geledes.org.br/
Twitter: @geledes
Greenpeace Brasil
Site: https://www.greenpeace.org/brasil/
Twitter: @GreenpeaceBR
Grupo Prerrogativas (Prerogatives Group)
Site: https://www.prerro.com.br/
Twitter: @GrupoPrerro
Instituto Clima e Sociedade (Climate and Society Institute)
Site: https://climaesociedade.org/
Twitter: @climaesociedade
Instituto Marielle Franco (Marielle Franco Institute)
Site: https://www.institutomariellefranco.org/
Twitter: @inst_marielle
Instituto de Referência Negra Peregum
Site: https://peregum.org.br/
Twitter: @inst_peregum
Instituto Vladimir Herzog (Vladimir Herzog Institute)
Site: https://vladimirherzog.org/
Twitter: @vladimirherzog
Pacto pela Democracia (Democratic Pact)
Site: https://www.pactopelademocracia.org.br/
Twitter: @PactoDemocracia
Transparência Internacional Brasil (International Transparency Brazil)
Site: https://transparenciainternacional.org.br/
Twitter: @TI_InterBr
Uneafro (Afro Unity)
Site: https://uneafrobrasil.org/
Twitter: @UNEafroBrasil
Voz das Comunidades (Voices of the Communities)
Site: https://www.vozdascomunidades.com.br/
Twitter: @vozdacomunidade
342 Artes/342 Amazonia
Twitter: @342Artes @342Amazonia
NAVE
Twitter: @NAVEBrasileiro
Washington Brazil Office
Site: https://www.braziloffice.org/pt/home/
Twitter: @Brazil_Office
