Foreign Policy on Human Rights

Human rights foreign policy advocates a universal and non-politicized approach. In a transparent and constructive way, it promotes human rights in a non-selective way, based on constitutional principles. The Federal Constitution determines the prevalence of human rights as one of the principles that must govern Brazil's international relations, and opens the possibility for rights recognized in international treaties to be added to the fundamental rights and guarantees already enshrined in the constitutional text.

Human rights foreign policy at the multilateral level

From 2019 until 2021, Brazil has been serving a new mandate in the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), having been elected with the expressive number of 153 votes from a total of 193 countries with voting rights, which represented the international community's recognition of Brazil's new foreign policy commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. In this body, Brazil emphasizes non-politicization and non-selectivity; the right to life and liberty; combating all forms of discrimination; and the right to health, as well as the expansion of cooperation among countries in combating transnational violations and in exchanging successful experiences.

Composed of 47 countries, the Human Rights Council (HRC) is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights in the world. It was created by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and carries out, among other initiatives, the Universal Periodic Review, a mechanism that allows the assessment of the human rights situation in all Member States of the United Nations.

Brazil has adhered to almost all international treaties on the promotion and protection of human rights. Moreover, it extends a permanent invitation for the visit of Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts of the HRC dedicated to investigating the human rights situation around the world.

Still at the multilateral level, Brazil also monitors the work of the Committees in charge of monitoring the implementation of human rights treaties, the so-called Treaty Bodies. It is the responsibility of Brazil – of Itamaraty, in coordination with the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights and other federal agencies – to submit periodic reports on the promotion and protection in the country of the rights enshrined in these treaties.

Foreign policy for human rights at the regional level

Brazil actively participates in the work of the Organization of American States, and particularly in the Inter-American Human Rights System. Participation in the system has enabled advances in addressing critical issues in areas such as  public safety, combating racism and slave labor, improving prison conditions and preventing violence against women.

In MERCOSUR, the main forums dedicated to this topic are the Meeting of High Authorities on Human Rights (RAADH) and the Meeting of Authorities on Indigenous Peoples (RAPIM). The RAADH held its 37th meeting in June 2021, with the participation of Foreign Ministries and government bodies responsible for human rights.