“UN denounces violations committed by companies in Brazil-Report presented in Geneva highlights cases of Belo Monte and Mariana”, 21 June 2016

...UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights denounced in Geneva...[on]...June 16...cases of human rights violations related to the energy sector, the extractive industry, agribusiness and civil construction in Brazil. In a report presented to the Human Rights Council, the Working Group made a total of 28 recommendations to the Brazilian government and to...companies...The group criticized proposed legislation pending in Congress that relaxes the requirements and simplifies the approval process for infrastructure projects…[T]he influence of corporations on the formulation of these laws and regulations is alarming…[T]he report mentions the lack of consultation with the populations impacted by the construction of the Belo Monte hydropower plant…and the lack of participation by the victims of the burst dam in Mariana…in the drafting of the settlement agreement between companies and the State for the recovery of the area affected by the disaster. The Brazilian ambassador in Geneva, Maria Regina Dunlop, refuted the criticisms of the Working Group, denying the lack of participation by the affected communities and stating that “human rights are part of the rules and obligations for the licensing of large projects”…The arguments…were contested by Conectas and the Chilean NGO Corporación Humanas during the meeting in the Human Rights Council…