The dissemination of lies and distortion of facts regarding the presence of authorities in regions of the city where public policies are ineffective is a recurring fact. Therefore, we see in the questioning of the visit by the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, to one of the favelas in Maré, Parque Maré, an opportunity to clarify what actually happened.
The daily struggle for better living conditions in the favelas and urban peripheries of Rio de Janeiro is constant. Thousands of people and civil society organizations are involved in an extensive network that builds possibilities for advancing rights for the 1.7 million residents of the favelas in the metropolitan region of Rio, who, despite their numbers, have historically been considered less active participants in the city.
This struggle involves, among many strategic actions, a central one: that the State becomes involved and fulfills its duties in these regions as well. It is not demanding more than what is rightfully theirs: security, lighting, basic sanitation, education, health. It is the constitutional duty of the State – at both the federal and state levels – to ensure these basic rights for all.
Therefore, for decades, there has been a demand for the proper State presence in Rio de Janeiro's favelas, understanding that there is unequal treatment in the city in terms of access to public policies. The detachment of public power and territorial segregation do not interest those who fight against discrimination and racism and seek social transformations in the favelas and urban peripheries.But it is evident that some want to maintain the status quo.
It is no surprise, given the intensity of media coverage on the topic of violence, that the most conspicuous way the State is present in the favelas is heavily militarized, in the name of an inefficient fight against crime that drains public resources without transparency and effectiveness.
However, it may surprise many that the State is also present in the favelas in other ways, such as through public schools, healthcare facilities, garbage collection, and so on. This is an important and daily presence, even though it is still precarious and inconsistent. Therefore, it is the subject of many demands for improvements and expansion of public services by civil society.
Without a doubt, the State is present in the favelas of Maré, even though it has relinquished much of its sovereignty in many of its duties. When we look at the right to public security, we see that residents of favelas have never experienced it within a framework of guaranteed rights, and we need to think about why that is. Shouldn't favela residents have the same rights as any other citizen in the city?
Criminalizing the presence of a public authority in Parque Maré, one of the 16 favelas in Maré, which was welcomed by civil society organizations and collectives from five favelas in Rio de Janeiro that work on data production and advocacy processes, is unacceptable! For decades, we have promoted dialogues with the State to develop alternative ways for public policies to operate in these territories.
The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, participated in the presentation event of the 7th edition of the, "Right to Public Security in Maré Bulletin,"which compiles data from 2022 on the violence suffered by residents in the 16 favelas of Maré, stemming from the systematic confrontations that occur between the police and armed groups and between the groups themselves. This is the seventh year that Redes da Maré has published this information as part of the "Eyes on Maré!" project, carried out by the Right to Public Safety and Access to Justice axis. He also met with seven collectives and organizations from other communities in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the challenges in the field of security in these spaces.
Minister of Justice - Bulletin Presentation
As a community civil society institution, we know the importance of gathering data and evidence to show society that the violations of rights that occur daily, affecting 140,000 residents in this region alone, are unacceptable. The normalization and cruelty of certain groups that encourage, invent, lie, and distort facts that do not correspond to the truth is heartbreaking.
What fear is this that is revealed when signs (still symbolic) of a change in attitude toward the favelas are noticed? What is this fear of the State being present in a different way in the favelas? Those who are frightened and resort to accusations and misinformation to halt the winds of change need to explain themselves to Brazilian society.
Therefore, we publicly express our outrage, as ‘weavers’ of Redes da Maré, at the attempt by certain groups to criminalize Minister Flávio Dino for his presence and listening to our struggles. This deeply affects us, because, in reality, this is exactly what we endure every day, simply because we fight for justice.
Rio de Janeiro, March 16, 2023
