Voice for Reason Silenced in Brazil’s Maelstrom of Violence

João Maria Figueiredo was only 34 when I met him at the end of 2016 at a meeting of the Brazilian Public Security Forum. A stocky, exuberant military police officer from Rio Grande do Norte state, he already projected an air of experience. At the time, a colleague and I were collecting testimony from officers like João, who had faced disproportionate punishment for expressing opinions that diverged from those of their superiors. With his melodic northeastern accent and commanding voice, João laid out an articulate and impassioned defense of officers’ rights. He understood the importance of effective…

Read complete article

~	Hong Kong ranks low on global press freedom index as watchdog cites ‘unprecedented’ setbacks

~	Media coverage of campus protests tends to focus on the spectacle, rather than the substance

~	The good news is the government plans to cancel $3 billion in student debt. The bad news is indexation will still be high

~	Albanese government to wipe $3 billion in student debt, benefitting three million people

~	The Indigenous Peoples Camp that calls for rights every April in Brazil

~	Pillay: Israel is helped by ‘powerful States’ in violation of Palestinians’ rights

~	Debates on campus safety in response to Palestine solidarity activism show we need strategies to navigate discomfort

~	El Salvador: Constitution “à la carte” could deepen human rights crisis in coming years

~	Arrest Warrant Issued for Former Central African Republic President

~	With eyes on Gaza, violations against West Bank journalists multiply