In the past 10 years, more than 1000 people have been killed as a result of land conflicts in Brazil. Only 53 of the suspected murderers have been brought to trial.
Brazil has the second worst distribution of land in the world.
At the same time, 4.8 million farmers have no access to land. Since it's creation in the early 1980's, the MST has pressured the government to give land titles to approximately 150,000 families. Today, the movement supports the struggle of over 57,000 families who have occupied uncultivated land in 23 states. These families are living in about 300 camps, hoping the government will give them land titles. The Brazilian Constitution determines that unproductive land can be expropriated for agrarian reform.