A culture of brutality, frequently linked to corruption, permeates the police force and prison security, says the report presented in Geneva by Nigel Rodley, special reporter on torture for the UN Commission on Human Rights. This systematic practice tends to expand because it is fomented by society, as the public demands ever-greater repression against acts of violence, he pointed out. The communications media contribute to the dynamic, according to Rodley, with their sensationalist news reports that fuel the population's often-exaggerated perception of crime levels.
Politicians also exploit the issue to win the support of voters at election time.
One of the cases involves Alexandre Madado Pascoal, who was the victim of sexual violence in a Rio de Janeiro prison and was beaten so hard that he fainted four times during interrogation. The UN mission was able to verify Madado Pascoal's physical wounds during an Aug 28 visit. However, this first monitoring mission by the UN has greater force and repercussions on the international level, obligating the Brazilian government to implement measures, commented Marcos Rolim, president of the Human Rights Commission in the Chamber of Deputies. The forceful language used in the UN report about the seriousness of Brazil's situation and in its recommendations to combat police violence will also help to spur action by the government, added Mendon a. Justice Minister Jos Gregori reacted to the report by stating that President Fernando Henrique Cardoso's administration does not have direct responsibility over the incidents outlined, which occurred within the jurisdiction of the state police. He maintained that the Cardoso government has always taken action when cases of torture have been reported and has sought to eliminate the practice in this country.