The UN experts on September 22, 2022, recommended the authorities, candidates and the political parties in brazil make sure that the upcoming 2022 Brazilian general election is peaceful and there will be no election-related violence.
2022 Brazilian general election
Political violence including death threats against candidates is constantly rising online and offline, especially against women, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and LGBTI persons. The threats are generally made on the basis of intersecting identities. The sole purpose of creating this chaos is to generate terror among the population and to restrain potential candidates from running for office. The inordinate impact of political violence on women, indigenous persons, Afro-descendants, and LGBTI persons can amplify this chilling effect amongst such groups, which leads to limiting their opportunities for their representation in decisions affecting them, thereby preserving the destructive cycle of exclusion.
About the ongoing slanderous campaign and continued threats against democratic institutions, the judiciary, and the electoral system in brazil including the electrical electoral system, the experts expressed their concerns by saying;
“We call on authorities to protect and duly respect the work of the electoral institutions. We further express our concerns over the impact such attacks could have on the upcoming presidential elections, and stress the importance of protecting and guaranteeing judicial independence,”
“We are concerned that this hostile environment represents a threat to political participation and democracy and urge the state to protect candidates from any threats, acts of intimidation or attacks online and offline,” the experts further added.
“All those involved in the electoral process must commit themselves to peaceful conduct prior, during, and after elections. Candidates and political parties must refrain from using offensive language which may lead to violence and human rights abuses.” They said.
The experts warned that any kind of hate speech, gendered misrepresentation, and provocation by the candidates and their supporters during the election campaign period could lead to violence.
“The state must ensure that all electoral processes are non-discriminatory, free of disinformation, hate speech, and incitement to violence. All fundamental freedoms, including the rights to freedom of assembly and association, as well as to freedom of expression must be upheld,” they said.
The experts have urged Brazilian authorities to take extra measures, especially for those who are at high risk and are targeted, including women, Afro-Brazilians, indigenous peoples, and LGBTI persons, to make sure that every single person can participate freely in the elections, free from discrimination, harassment or fear of sexual and gender-based violence.
“We are deeply concerned at reports of harassment and attacks against journalists, in particular women, journalists, in particular women. Journalists play a crucial role during elections by contributing to a free and inclusive electoral process and the credibility of results,” the experts said.
In the Brazilian elections, 2022 will be seeing many familiar faces on the ballot. The current president Jair Bolsonare as well as the former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is also in the race. Former Governor and Minister Ciro Gomez and senator Simone Tebet will also join them in the electoral processes.
The first round of elections will take place on October 2. Along with votes for 27 out of 81 senators, all 513 members of the Chamber of Deputies, and all 27 governors and state legislatures.
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