20.11.2022.- The Justice in Mining Network, which brings together Jesuit social centres and NGOs working for socio-environmental justice in contexts affected by mining, would like to express our concern and solidarity for the threats recently received by Don Vicente Ferreira, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte and secretary of the Special Commission for Integral Ecology and Mining of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB). Although it was not the first time that Don Vicente had been publicly highlighted for his commitment to the defence of communities affected by mining, last November 12th he received death threats by armed people during a Eucharistic celebration held in the parish of Sao Caetano, in the city of Moneda, in the interior of the State of Minas Gerais.
We consider this type of action unjustifiable and have therefore joined the call for solidarity signed by more than fifty international organisations. You can read the full statement below:
International Solidarity with Dom Vicente
Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
We are international organizations and social movements fighting for human rights, social justice and working for transformational change in society, to eliminate poverty, social inequalities and the destruction of nature. We are coming together to denounce the threats to the life of Dom Vicent Ferreira, auxiliary Bishop of Belo Horizonte (Brazi).
The rupture of the dam in Brumadinho in 2019, operated by multinational company Vale, killed 272 people and changed the lives of thousands of people in Brumadinho and in the Paraopeba basin forever. Since then, we have witnessed the work carried out by the team of the Episcopal Region Nossa Senhora do Rosário, of the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, under the coordination of Bishop Vicente de Paula Ferreira. Bishop Vicent worked tirelessly to support the families of victims in their ongoing fight for full reparation and justice. We learned that on November 12th, due to his positions in defense of human rights and nature, unknown armed men recently intimidated Dom Vicente after the celebration of a mass.
In this same context, we are witnessing the dismantling of public policies, the flexibilization of protective legislation for the environment and for human rights defenders at the state and federal levels.
The cases of persecution and threats against human rights defenders in Brazil have increased significantly in recent years. We must not normalize this criminal practice that seeks to silence the voice of those who fight for the defense of life. Dom Vicente is one of many Bishops and church representatives facing an increasing number of threats for their social-environmental engagement. The current incident intimidating Dom Vicente shows the importance of protection for Human Rights defenders and international solidarity.
We express our solidarity and affirm our full support to the human rights activities carried out by Episcopal Region of Nossa Senhora do Rosário. We will remain united in the struggle for justice and integral reparation. We demand the Brazilian state to effectively protect human rights and environmental defenders and call on the competent authorities to investigate the perpetrators of the vile attack to Dom Vicente and to bring those behind the attack to justice as quickly as possible. We stand in solidarity with Dom Vicent and with all those putting their lives on the line to protect human rights and the planet.
Organizations signing the International Solidarity Note
to Bishop Vicente de Paula Ferreira:
- CIDSE, International
- Red Iglesias y Minería
- Focsiv, Federazione organismi cristiani di servizio internazionale volontario, Italy
- CCFD-Terre Solidaire, France
- Amis de la Terre, France
- London Mining Network, UK
- Fundación Proclade
- Water Watchers – from Ontario, Canada
- Alboan Foundation, Spain
- Karit. Solidarios por la paz. (ONG Carmelita. España)
- Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (PODER), Mexico
- European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), Germany
- Aktionsgemeinschaft Solidarische Welt (ASW), Germany
- Friends of the Earth Europe
- Manos Unidas, Spain
- Centro de Reflexión y Acción Social Padre Juan Montalvo
- Fastenaktion, Switzerland
- European Coalition for Corporate Justice
- Christians for Future, Germany
- Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), UK
- HORIZONT3000, Austria
- Jesuit Social Services Australia
- Sei So Frei, Katholische Männerbewegung, Austria
- Lateinamerika-Hilfswerk Adveniat, Germany
- KoBra – Kooperation Brasilien e.V., Germany
- Stichting Bisschoppelijke Vastenactie, the Netherlands
- MISEREOR – the German Catholic Bishops’ Organisation for Development Cooperation, Germany
- Agir ensemble pour les droits humains, France
- Red de Entidades para el Desarrollo Solidario-REDES
- FEC – Fundação Fé e Cooperação, Portugal
- KOO, Austria
- Cordaid, the Netherlands
- DKA, Austria
- Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), Brazil
- Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB), Brazil
- Movimento pela Soberania Popular na Mineração (MAM), Brazil
- Justice in Mining – Global Ignatian Advocacy Network
- Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, USA
- Justiça Global, Brazil
- FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
- World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
- Maattomien ystävät ry, Finland
- Friends of the Earth Finland, Mining group
- Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat, Society of Jesus, Rome, Italy
- Oxfam International
- Canadian Jesuits International
- IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL)
- JPIC Commission of USG/UISG, Rome, Italy
- Clean Clothes Campaign International Office, Amsterdam/Brussels
- Amnesty International
- CATAPA, Belgium
- Franciscans International
- FIAN Austria