Letter of concern to Brazilian Ambassador

Dear Ambassador

Persecution and assassination of rural leaders and activists

On behalf of the Trades Union Congress representing British workers and the 6.5 million members of our affiliated unions I am contacting you to register our deep concern and condemnation of the assassination of Elton Brum Da Silva, an activist in the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) and the attempted assassination of Elio Neves, general secretary of the Rural Workers Union of Sao Paulo state (FERAESP).

Both men were prominent leaders in the struggle to secure decent work in the agricultural sector in Brazil, a goal we know your government shares. However these tragic events take place against a backdrop of ongoing rural violence in Brazil to which workers often fall victim.

We urge your government to take the necessary steps to find those responsible for these latest attacks and to put in place measures which will guarantee the respect of fundamental rights for rural workers and the effective enforcement of all of the ILO core labour standards in Brazil

Yours sincerely

Brendan Barber

General Secretary