DOWNLOAD A PDF OF UA 40/21, UPDATE 1 HERE
On 20 April 2021, the Chamber of Deputies approved the requirement to process Bill nº 6.764/2002 on National Security Issues as an urgent matter and without public consultation, with 385 votes in favour and 57 against. Despite this, the Urgent Action mobilized and brought together very important actors, social movements and organizations that will keep monitoring the next steps on discussion of the law. We will continue to demand a public consultation, analysis and public debate around the impacts deriving from this bill.
No further action is requested. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.
On 24 March, parliamentarians Margarete Coelho (PP-Piauí) and Hugo Motta (Republicanos-Paraíba) submitted an Urgency Requirement to process Bill nº 6.764/2002. On 7 April, the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, respectively Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM-Minas Gerais) and Arthur Lira (PP-Alagoas), stated that the proposed legislation was amongst the priorities of both Houses. Bill nº 6.764/2002 aims to repeal the National Security Law, enacted during the military regime and widely used to persecute opponents; however, it reissues and inserts new penalty types that could be used to reinforce the criminalization of social movements and organizations.
Voting on this legislation on an urgent basis meant, in practice, that civil society and social organizations would not be able to properly analyze the bill and participate in its debate. Amnesty International considers that any decision-making processes around legislation with such potential impact on human rights should be rooted in transparency and the right to information, involving meaningful and effective participation of interested parties. Besides that, Brazil is going through one of the worst public health crisis in its entire history. At a moment like this, Brazilian authorities should prioritize its obligation to guarantee the right to health and life of its population.
Although the Urgency Requirement was approved, the actions taken helped to strengthen a network of organizations and movements that will be crucial in time for its formal discussion before Congress.
