It is crucial to find those who ordered Marielle's murder, says UN representative.

247 - The representative for South America of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Birgit Gerstenberg, said that despite the arrest of suspects involved in the executions of councilwoman Marielle Franco (PSOL) and driver Anderson Gomes, "it is fundamental" that the investigations identify those intellectually responsible for the crime, which marks one year this Thursday (14).

In an interview with the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, Birgit emphasized that violence against human rights defenders is growing worldwide and that "in Brazil, we are especially alarmed by cases of intimidation, attacks, and even assassinations of human rights defenders, including environmentalists, trade unionists and peasants, indigenous peoples, quilombola communities and other traditional groups, as well as against LGBTI activists, journalists and communication professionals, among others." "Examining the situation and proposing measures is an important challenge for Brazilian authorities," she added.

"In this regard, the assassination of Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes is certainly emblematic. A year ago, our office condemned this crime and called for a swift and thorough investigation. We celebrate the recent developments and the arrest of two suspects for this crime. However, it is essential that the investigations continue to identify those intellectually responsible for the attack, to bring them to justice and uncover the real motives behind the crime," he stated.

For her, Marielle was a role model "since her social and political activism as a Black, lesbian woman who raised her voice against the violence that especially affects young Afro-descendants," and her assassination is also interpreted as an attempt to intimidate all those who defend human rights. Therefore, it is so important that these cases do not go unpunished, so that, with facts, the State demonstrates that it understands the value of the role these people play in society and that it does not tolerate attacks against them."

Read full from the interview.