Human Rights Watch slams Brazil police for abuse and torture

Sao Paulo, Jan 27 (EFE).- Non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced Wednesday "abuses committed by the police," in Brazil and "inhumane conditions in overcrowded prisons," where torture is allegedly practiced.

In its global report, presented today simultaneously in Sao Paulo and Istanbul, HRW attacked the atmosphere of impunity which allows police officers to commit crimes which, in some cases, amount to "butchery".

In 2014, Brazil recorded more than 3,000 murders carried out by the police, representing an increase of 40% over the previous year, while the number of officers killed dropped nearly 2% with 400 deaths.

"Although some deaths result from legitimate use of force by the police, some do not," the document stated, specifying that Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo states have the highest rate of such killings.

In Brazil there is "chronic violations of human rights" and the country needs "to ensure that those responsible for extrajudicial executions are held accountable."

The Brazilian chapter of the report also criticizes the "torture and ill-treatment" of detainees in prisons, many of whom "face problems of serious overcrowding and violence."

The UN claims that Brazilian prisons detain more than 600,000 people, 61% above their official capacities.

This fact, together with the lack of personnel, "makes it impossible for authorities to maintain control in many of the facilities, leaving them vulnerable to violence and the criminal factions of prisoners," said HRW.

Overcrowded prisons also threaten the health of prisoners, who face greater risks than the rest of the population for infections such as HIV or tuberculosis.

However, the organization welcomed the faster speed with which prisoners are taken before a judge in many jurisdictions.

The report calls on Congress to reject the proposed constitutional amendment envisaging the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16 years for serious offenses.

This measure was approved last August by the House of Representatives and is currently being debated by a committee in the Senate.

The document also referred to the law on combating terrorism adopted by the legislature which, according to HRW, contains "overly vague language that could be used in the wrong way to process and sentence protesters and members of social movements if they were suspected terrorists."

Finally, the organization criticized the "inconsistent" performance of Brazil on the United Nations Human Rights Council by abstaining to vote on a resolution on human rights violations in Syria.