Government mission to the Javari Valley reinforces protection for indigenous people and human rights defenders.
Focusing on the precautionary measures of the IACHR, a mission coordinated by the MDHC is engaging in actions with leaders, communicators, and environmentalists in the region.
247 - An inter-institutional mission promoted by the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC) is being carried out between August 4th and 7th in the Vale do Javari Indigenous Territory, in Amazonas. The main objective of the action is to strengthen public policies aimed at protecting human rights defenders, indigenous leaders, communicators, and environmentalists in the region.
The initiative focuses on implementing the precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in the case of indigenous rights activist Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips (MC 449/22), who were murdered in June 2022. The mission is coordinated by the Deliberative Council of the Program for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Communicators and Environmentalists (Condel/PPDDH) and involves broad coordination among representatives of the federal government, the justice system, civil society, and the victims' families.
The National Secretary for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights of the MDHC, Élida Lauris, highlighted the importance of the agenda: “This mission reaffirms the commitment of the Brazilian State to the collective protection of human rights defenders, through direct dialogue with the territories and coordinated action between public institutions, civil society and international organizations.”
Institutional presence and engagement with indigenous peoples - The mission is based in the cities of Manaus and Atalaia do Norte — where the headquarters of the Union of Indigenous Peoples of the Javari Valley (Univaja) is located. In Manaus, preparatory meetings were held with the Federal Police. The main agenda item, the Joint Working Group (MC 449/22), is scheduled for August 6th and will take place in Atalaia do Norte.
This dialogue forum was created as a space for inter-institutional agreement based on the recommendations of the IACHR, with the purpose of evaluating actions already underway, coordinating new measures, and strengthening the protection of indigenous peoples and the defenders who work in the region.
The delegation includes representatives from various ministries — Foreign Affairs (MRE), Indigenous Peoples (MPI), Justice and Public Security (MJSP), and the General Secretariat of the Presidency (SG/PR) — as well as entities such as the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai), the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF), and the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency (Secom/PR). Civil society organizations such as the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Article 19, Abraji, OPI, and Univaja itself are also participating. The widows of Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips are also part of the delegation.
Active listening, collective protection, and memory. Between August 5th and 7th, the mission will hold meetings with local advocates accompanied by the PPDDH (Program for the Defense of Human Rights) and with communicators from the region, prioritizing active listening and the joint development of risk mitigation strategies. A visit to the monument in honor of Bruno and Dom is also planned.
The action is part of a broader MDHC strategy to consolidate a model of collective protection in threatened territories. According to Igo Martini, general coordinator of the PPDDH, the work in the Javari Valley is an important step in this process. “More than an institutional visit, this mission represents a concrete response from the Protection Program and a fundamental step towards consolidating the collective protection model, with active listening, direct support to communities, and permanent inter-institutional coordination,” he stated.
Today, the program supports approximately 1.450 human rights defenders in the country, with about 800 of them involved in socio-environmental causes.
Cooperation between the State, civil society and international organizations. The mission reflects broad federal coordination, involving the Union, civil society, and international organizations. The participation of the petitioning organizations in Precautionary Measure 449/22, as well as the widows of Bruno and Dom, lends legitimacy to the process and reinforces the importance of international cooperation to ensure effective protection measures.
The effort also has operational support from the Secretariat of Indigenous Health (SESAI), through the Special Indigenous Health Districts (DSEIs) of Manaus, Tabatinga, and Atalaia do Norte. Also participating are the National Secretariat of Public Security (Senasp/MJSP), with the National Public Security Force, the Federal Police, Funai, and the Port Authority of the Triple Frontier.
This action is aligned with the National Plan for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, seeking to institutionalize permanent coordination mechanisms between the federal government, states, and civil society in highly vulnerable territories.
