full version - World Organisation Against Torture

Brazil1. Preliminary ObservationsThe submission of alternative country information on violence againstwomen to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rightsforms part of the World Organisation Against Torture’s (OMCT) programmeon Violence against Women. One of the aims of the programmeis to integrate a gender perspective into the work of the five “mainstream”human rights treaty monitoring bodies. OMCT’s reports on violenceagainst women examine the effects of gender on the form that humanrights violations take, the circumstances in which these abuses occur, theconsequences of these violations and the availability and accessibility ofremedies.OMCT appreciates the fact that the report submitted by Brazil to the U.N.Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1 underlines certaingaps in Brazilian policies and lists the legislative measures taken to remedythese problems. OMCT recognizes the efforts, mentioned in the report,that have been made during the past decade to bring the country up tointernational standards regarding the human rights of women and violenceagainst women, and the frankness with which Brazil recognizes that a lotmore needs to be done. OMCT appreciates the close partnerships establishedbetween institutional and civil society organizations to deal withcertain issues, and encourages the government to pursue these participativegovernance activities. More actions, especially in terms of informationand education of the population, are necessary for a change ofmentalities to take place regarding women’s place in society.OMCT is concerned that many measures taken at a federal level trickledown rather slowly before reaching a state level, and many measures arelost before indeed reaching their destination. Coordination between statesis needed in order to implement effective legislation. Contrasts in such awide country are to be expected, but not to their current extent, which isappalling in many cases. More homogeneity throughout the regions and agreater effort to implement laws directly into the rural areas are two mainobjectives that the government should strongly pursue.In line with the overall objectives of OMCT’s programme on Violenceagainst Women, this alternative report will focus on Brazil’s obligations inrelation to the prevention and eradication of violence against women.67