Amnesty International Fears Increase in Police Violence During Olympic Games
Last Thursday (2), Amnesty International published a report drawing attention to the potential risk of an increase in police violence and human rights violations during the 2016 Olympics.
According to Amnesty International's Executive Director, Atila Roque, the main concern is an increase in violence in the slums and protest crackdowns.
"During the World Cup, there was a 39.4 percent increase in homicides resulting from police intervention compared to the previous year; since then, we've made several recommendations, but very little has changed", he told Folha.
"By being chosen to host the Games, Brazil committed to leaving a legacy of security, but this should not manifest itself as a legacy of militarization and the suspension of rights in the slums."
Rio expects to employ 85,000 security officers during the Games, more than double what was needed during the London Olympic Games, in 2012.
The report, "Violence is not part of the game! The risk of human rights violations during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games" recounts how the military occupied the Maré slum complex in April of 2014, in preparation for the Cup, but remained there until June of 2015. During that period, several violations were reported.
"The Security team's priority during the Games should be to ensure peace, and not just send the military to Maré or other slums and turn them into areas exempt from rights", said Roque.
Two months from the start of the Olympics, he says there is still time to implement measures to prevent violations. He mentions strengthening the police program in Rio that monitors weapon use among officers.
The financial crisis currently affecting the state of Rio is another point of concern. "If working conditions deteriorate or there is a delay in the payment of [officer] wages, tensions will rise", he says.
Data released in May from the Institute for Public Safety (ISP), shows that, from January to April, there was a 15.4 percent increase in the number of premeditated homicides compared to the same period in 2015. If you compare April's numbers alone, that percentage rises to 38.9 percent.
Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ