{"id":27666,"date":"2016-03-23T18:46:43","date_gmt":"2016-03-23T21:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=27666"},"modified":"2023-08-23T12:20:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T15:20:56","slug":"letter-from-vila-autodromos-heloisa-helena-to-the-un-human-rights-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=27666","title":{"rendered":"Letter from Vila Aut\u00f3dromo’s Heloisa Helena to the UN Human Rights Commission"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

This is a letter from Heloisa Helena Costa Berto\/Luizinha de Nan\u00e3<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Vila Aut\u00f3dromo<\/a> to Mr. Ulrik Halsteen, member of the Business and Human Rights working group of\u00a0the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

It is with regret that I write again to this Human Rights Commission.<\/p>\n

I am a resident who was removed from Vila Aut\u00f3dromo<\/a>, the locale where the Olympic Park is being built. In my last report I implored the UN<\/a> to intervene in the cases of abuse<\/a>, threats and violence<\/a> that are taking place in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo.<\/p>\n

I am writing again as a citizen who has suffered death threats<\/a> and who has had my Afro-Brazilian religious house, of which I was a guardian,\u00a0demolished<\/a> less than a month ago. As well as this I had my morale\u00a0destroyed by slander<\/a> and I was publicly humiliated by municipal employees during the demolition<\/a> when my belongings were called trash.<\/p>\n

\"Municipal<\/a><\/p>\n

Today I live from charity with my possessions scattered between my friends\u2019 homes. I am being forced to give away my animals<\/a>. The Rio de Janeiro city government has left me on the street.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian courts say they have no idea when I will receive compensation and an agreement hasn’t even been negotiated. What I had requested was to be resettled and to receive a small amount of compensation that was stipulated for the improvements, having been evaluated by the City\u2019s specialists so I could rebuild my home.<\/p>\n

I have physical problems. As well as these problems, today I face profound depression and panic attacks.<\/p>\n

This is the third time I am writing the UN. I have already sent two reports. As fate would have it, I am in the United States, in Washington, DC. I would like to be heard\u00a0by the UN so I can state my case with videos and photos that prove my statements.<\/p>\n

I appeal to the UN since\u00a0my country has international agreements that should ensure my protection, and that of many others who unfortunately go through the same situation in Vila Aut\u00f3dromo. Over the years, the Brazilian state has signed international treaties and agreements and made commitments to other nations that consider various human rights issues. In addition, Brazilian citizens are subject to international law that procedurally requires the promotion and enforcement of human rights along with international protection bodies.<\/p>\n

Brazil is a signatory to the following international treaties and conventions on human rights that establish rules concerning the right to religion, land, housing and property:<\/p>\n