STF Chief Justice Luís Roberto Barroso acknowledged the importance of the session and affirmed that there is a collective understanding that a solution must be developed jointly, without dissenting votes, for an issue he described as “particularly difficult” because it involves many interests.

“We want to send a very clear message to Rio de Janeiro and the entire country about the importance we are giving to the issue of public safety, which is at the top of Brazil’s priorities in terms of concern to the population and, consequently, also to our court,” Barroso stated. He highlighted the court’s concern for public safety, police lethality, the need to recover territories occupied by criminal organizations, and the investigation of interstate crimes, among other points. However, he noted that due to the seriousness of the situation, it is necessary to adjust the different perspectives presented by the 11 members of the Supreme Court.

The trial began in February and was suspended after the vote of the rapporteur who proposed the partial approval of the plan presented by the state government to challenge violations of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Brazilian Socialist Party, human rights organizations, and social movements are calling on the Supreme Court of Justice (STF) to recognize the situation of serious human rights violations committed by security forces in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

Last year, 699 persons died at the hands of police in Rio, according to data from the National Public Security Information System of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Two victims per day were recorded due to police intervention in the state.

In Brazil there were 6,121 victims due to law enforcement in 2024, that is, 17 deaths per day, a four percent decrease compared to the previous year.

jrr/llp/rc/ocs