ISPN and nearly three thousand other civil society organizations signed a letter repudiating the statements made by the PSL presidential candidate regarding the end of activism in Brazil. Furthermore, other statements by the then-presidential candidate jeopardize a range of issues we believe in and defend – issues intrinsically linked to our institutional work and mission, such as democracy, freedom, environmental licensing, the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional communities, and the guarantee of sustainable development.
Activism and the work of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are essential for guaranteeing well-being and social justice in Brazil. To consider the end of these sectors, as the then-candidate advocated, is to regress years of struggle and achievements in rights. Similarly, respect for human rights, praised in every developed country in the world, needs to continue and be valued, and should be present in legal frameworks and public policies of the State.
A government that denies the importance of human rights, as the presidential candidate does, denies the right to human dignity, leading to increased inequality, violence, and injustice. Finally, in his speeches, the presidential candidate forgets the value that indigenous peoples have for the country. With their rich culture, ancient knowledge, and ways of life that contribute to environmental conservation, indigenous peoples are a crucial part of Brazilian history. By contributing, through policies and projects, to the protection of their territories and the guarantee of their rights, we are strengthening and respecting their forms of organization and their ways of life.
The statements made by the candidate in major national media outlets and on social media, which violate the Federal Constitution guaranteeing the rights and inclusion of everyone in society, also reinforce an exclusionary stance and inhibit organizations and social movements from public debates and political spaces. This is an unacceptable threat to our freedom of action.
Reputable and highly regarded social organizations and movements such as Intervozes, Greenpeace, Articulação no Semiárido Brasileiro (ASA), Slow Food, Viva Rio, Eikos Ecologia do Habitat, Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), Justiça Global, Instituto Chico Mendes, Fundação Avina, Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica, and Instituto Ethos de Empresas e Responsabilidade Social, joined thousands of signatures in support of democracy and activism.
This political moment calls for awareness, dialogue, and common sense in the interest of Brazil, and the progress and rights achieved in the last 34 years of our young democracy. More than ever, we reaffirm our activism and commitment to acting in defense of indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and family farmers. At the same time, we reaffirm our mission to contribute to enabling sustainable development with greater equity, social justice, and environmental balance.
For freedom, for democracy, and for activism!
Institute for Society, Population and Nature – ISPN
Access the full letter and see all the organizations that signed the document by clicking here.