Are Brazil authorities violating fundamental human rights in evictions associated with confiscation of land for World Cup and Olympics related projects. Raquel Rolnik, an independent United Nations human rights expert expressed concern about alleged displacement and evictions in various cities across Brazil as the country prepares to host the 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games: “I am particularly worried about what seems to be a pattern of lack of transparency, consultation, dialogue, fair negotiation, and participation of the affected communities in processes concerning evictions undertaken or planned in connection with the World Cup and Olympics,” Raquel Rolnik, the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing in the last couple of days had also expressed concern about housing shortages, evictions and “criminalization” of squatters in neighboring Argentina. (See our Report: “Argentina’s Housing Shortage & “Violent Evictions” Grabs Attention of UN Human Rights Experts” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/argentinas-housing-shortage-violent-evictions-grabs-attention-of-un-human-rights-experts-by-ambassador-mo/27446 ) Allegations Over Range of Cities The allegations concern different cities including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Recife, Natal and Fortaleza. “I am particularly worried about what seems to be a pattern of lack of transparency, consultation, dialogue, fair negotiation, and participation of the affected communities in processes concerning evictions undertaken or planned in connection with the World Cup and Olympics,” said the Special Rapporteur. (From News Release – April 26, 2011) “I am also concerned about the very limited compensation offered to the communities affected, which is even more striking given the increased value of real estate in locations where building is taking place for these events. Insufficient compensation can result in homelessness and the formation of new informal settlements,” Ms. Rolnik added Ms. Rolnik said numerous evictions have already been executed without the families concerned being given sufficient time to propose and discuss alternatives, and without adequate plans for relocation. “Insufficient attention is being given to access to infrastructure, services and means of subsistence in relocation sites,” she said. Illustrative cases include Belo Horizonte, where some 2,600 families are threatened with eviction; Rio de Janeiro, where many communities are under threat from projects linked to both the World Cup and the Olympics, and where many families were already evicted in December 2010; and Sao Paulo, where even more communities are threatened with eviction under city beautification and development projects. For example, thousands of families have already been evicted in relation to a project known as “Água Espraiada”, with a further ten thousand families facing a similar fate. “I call on federal, state and municipal authorities involved in World Cup and Olympics projects to engage in a transparent dialogue with Brazilian society, particularly with the sectors of the population directly affected,” the Special Rapporteur said. “With the current lack of dialogue, negotiation and genuine participation in the design and implementation of World Cup and Olympics projects, the authorities at all levels should put a stop to planned evictions until dialogue and negotiation can be ensured,” she added. An Evolving Mandate Ms. Rolnik reports to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council in an independent and unpaid capacity. Issues perhaps not previously addressed by the Council have come to be increasingly reviewed. The right to food and food prices is another critical consideration increasingly scrutinized by the Council, with a Special Rapporteur appointed previously to review developments and report to the UNHRC. It is also not clear what form of remedial measures the UN Human Rights Council may propose. Beyond formal measures that could be presumably proposed as “sanctions,” the greatest effect may be the power of persuasion and the platform to address the media and public opinion. By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Face Book at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter - DiplomaticallyX