The United Nations Working Group on business and human rights visited Brazil from 7-16 December 2015. At the end of the visit, the group - who met with victims, human rights defenders, civil society, companies and government - issued a press release and preliminary impressions of the visit and recommendations. The group spoke to people affected by the recent dam burst in Minas Gerais, considered one of the worst social and environmental disaster. It also met with affected people and business representatives from large-scale development and construction projects. “Brazil needs to find a better balance between economic interest and the protection of human rights in its pursuit of economic growth,” said Pavel Sulyandziga, one of the members of the Working Group’s delegation who travelled to Brazil.

To read this story in Portuguese, click here.

Please click here to read the letter civil society sent to the Working Group before the visit.