IACHR acknowledges progress on implementation of Joint Working Group on precautionary measures for UNIVAJA, Bruno Pereira, and Dom Phillips in Brazil

April 2, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has evaluated progress on the implementation of the Joint Working Group on precautionary measures MC-449-22 granted on December 11, 2023, in favor of Bruno Araújo Pereira, Don Phillips, and 11 members of the Union of Indigenous Peoples of the Javari Valley (UNIVAJA) and passed through Extension and Follow-Up Resolution 59/22. The recent assessment acknowledges progress and challenges that have arisen in response to the report published by the parties in February 2025.

On February 25, 2025, the IACHR received the Joint Working Group's report for the second half of 2024, which was drafted by the parties, the State, and representatives and confirms that security measures have been implemented in favor of the members of UNIVAJA. The report describes progress and challenges in connection with these measures, emphasizing that they were established in consultation with the beneficiaries and seek to respect their autonomy and culture.

The report highlighted several additional protection measures implemented by the State, including a cooperation initiative with UNIVAJA regarding collective action to protect indigenous communities in the Javari Valley and consultations with the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI). It also stressed that the members of UNIVAJA are now included in the Protection Program for Defenders of Human Rights, Journalists, and Environmentalists. The program has a federal technical team operating in the Amazon, which has enabled the implementation of enhanced security measures using solar panels and satellite and internet connections.

Additionally, Brazilian authorities reported on the progress of the National Plan for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, which is currently being discussed with both State and civil society stakeholders. However, the beneficiaries' representatives expressed concern that the proposed plan does not explicitly cover media workers and environmentalists. They argued that this limits the recognition of the broad range of risks faced by defenders, citing the case of journalist Dom Phillips as an example.

On December 4, 2024, Brazil announced the draft bill establishing the National Policy for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. The IACHR will continue to monitor this legislation and the plan until both are approved and follow up on their implementation to ensure defenders in Brazil receive the protection they need.

The report describes the implementation of the Protection Plan for Indigenous Lands in the Javari Valley, including the scaling up of on-the-ground monitoring initiatives between May and August 2024 and measures planned for late 2024. As part of this process, the State met with representatives of UNIVAJA and established communication channels with the organization. However, the representatives stressed that the plan does not include concrete measures to protect media workers.

The IACHR was also updated on the investigation into the murder of Bruno Araújo Pereira and Dom Phillips and the progress of criminal proceedings against the perpetrators. It was informed that the individual allegedly responsible for masterminding this crime had been charged, as had third parties involved in concealing the victims' bodies.

The National Council of Justice, the National Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security proposed monitoring these investigations and judicial proceedings relating to the precautionary measures for the Javari Valley in dialogue with the beneficiaries' representatives. The latter underscored the need for active accountability measures regarding the investigations underway and suggested that protocols be established to ensure all information is accessible and updated regularly, provided this does not compromise the investigation.

The IACHR commended the State for the action it has taken in dialogue with the representatives, drawing particular attention to the protection measures implemented in favor of the UNIVAJA beneficiaries, the implementation of the Protection Plan for Indigenous Lands in the Javari Valley, and the progress on the criminal proceedings regarding the murders of Bruno Araújo and Dom Phillips.

The IACHR also praised the coordination efforts to consult beneficiaries on security measures and the dialogue implemented as part of the Protection Plan and the investigations described above. This approach fosters efficiency and cultural appropriateness in the implementation of precautionary measures.

The IACHR acknowledges the representatives' analysis of the failure to explicitly include media workers and environmentalists in the National Plan for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the lack of a specific focus on media workers in the Protection Plan for Indigenous Lands in the Javari Valley. The IACHR also underscores the importance of journalists in defending human rights, drawing attention to their specific needs for protection and encouraging the parties to the Joint Working Group to continue establishing fruitful exchanges to address these issues.

The IACHR calls on the parties to continue implementing precautionary measures MC-449-22 and the Joint Working Group's Action Plan, urging them to make progress on the aspects of the plan that relate to memory. Likewise, the IACHR encourages the State to ensure that investigations comply with the accountability requirements established by inter-American standards, to continue the investigation into the threats targeting UNIVAJA members with due diligence, and to make progress on initiatives to support and raise the public profile of journalism in the Amazon.

The IACHR expresses its ongoing willingness to conduct a Working Visit to the Javari Valley. It also emphasizes that it will continue its monitoring work within the scope of its mandate and remains ready to provide the parties involved with technical support, including as part of the National Plan for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. Lastly, it reminded the State of the commitments set out in its plan to scale up actions to ratify the Escazú Agreement.

Background on the Joint Working Group and Action Plan

The objective of the Joint Working Group is to contribute to achieving full compliance with precautionary measures, working in partnership with the beneficiaries and their representatives, and fostering alignment and complementarity between national authorities and the IACHR.

The Action Plan includes three components containing measures directly related to the beneficiaries of the precautionary measures, structural measures to prevent the recurrence of the events that led to the granting of these precautionary measures, and cooperation and technical assistance (Follow-Up Resolution 76/23). Since establishing the Joint Working Group, the IACHR has been monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan by providing technical support at national coordination meetings, undertaking country visits, and holding a public hearing at its 191st Period of Sessions.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 068/25

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