2. Views expressed by member and observer States of
the Council on the review outcome
445. China thanked the Brazilian delegation and expressed its appreciation for the Government’s serious attitude in responding to the various questions and recommendations. China noted that in recent years Brazil has recorded high economic growth and rapid social development, making great achievements in areas such as the elimination of poverty, the realization of the rights to education, food and health, and the elimination of racial discrimination. China appreciated Brazil’s active participation in international human rights activities, its active promotion of mainstreaming gender issues into human rights, and its advocacy of cooperation and dialogue on human rights in the international community. China also noted the open and frank attitude with which the Brazilian Government approaches and deals with human rights challenges.
446. Canada congratulated Brazil for the serious attitude with which it participated in the review, noting that Brazil allowed its civil society to participate in the reporting process. Canada acknowledged Brazil’s progress towards the full respect of human rights, noting the fact that Brazil has recognized the challenges it still has to overcome. Canada supported Brazil’s resolution to adopt internal evaluation tools for human rights, encouraging the country to concretely implement effective public policies emanating from the recommendations made during the review process.
447. Nigeria congratulated the Brazilian delegation for its comments on the adoption of the outcome of its review. It noted Brazil’s efforts to put in place mechanisms for the implementation of recommendations made during the review, and hoped that these initiatives will reinforce and deepen enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Brazilians. With the demonstration of such commitments by Brazil, Nigeria expects that the objectives of the universal periodic review will begin to be realized even before the conclusion of the first cycle of the review. Nigeria therefore calls on all parties concerned to assist Brazil in whatever way they might deem fit, in order to fully implement the recommendations and outcomes of the review for the benefit of its citizens.
448. Pakistan thanked the delegation of Brazil for its elaborated presentation, stating that Brazil has invested great human and material capital to improve the human rights situation in the country. It urged Brazil to continue to implement its reforms relating to indigenous people, the situation of prisoners, the criminal justice system, violence and extrajudicial killings, the protection of human rights defenders, and economic and social inequalities. Pakistan requested that Brazil closely cooperate and share its good practices on how it resolves its issues with the relevant multilateral structures. Pakistan also hopes that while strategizing the promotion of rights, Brazil will be mindful of concerns regarding climate change and right to food.
449. Switzerland, as a member of the troika together with Saudi Arabia and Gabon, stated that it was in a good position to observe the serious attitude and commitment shown by Brazil during the review. Switzerland noted that Brazil has accepted the 15 recommendations submitted to it, which shows its high ambitions in the area of improving the situation of human rights in the country. Switzerland stressed two issues taken up during the interactive dialogue that appear in a number of recommendations. Firstly, as children are a particularly vulnerable group in Brazil, Switzerland welcomed Brazil’s commitment to implement quickly the programmes related to the situation of children. The other issue deals with the assessment of the implementation of programmes and national action plans Brazil has launched, and Brazil has made the voluntary commitment to establish new instruments to monitor human rights at the national level and to introduce human rights indicators. Drawing up annual national reports including on follow-up to the universal periodic review, is another of its voluntary commitments. Switzerland will follow with great interest the way in which Brazil will translate these objectives into actions at various levels of the Federation. Switzerland remains convinced that civil society will continue to provide a valuable contribution to this process.
450. The Syrian Arab Republic expressed its appreciation of Brazil’s transparency and collaboration with different human rights mechanisms, including the Council. Brazil’s acceptance and endorsement of the various difficult recommendations made to it is a clear testimony of its determination to promote and protect human rights in their different manifestations and interpretations, despite the burden of development in the last two decades. This includes, inter alia, continuing and intensifying efforts to reduce poverty and social inequality, to improve prison conditions, to enhance access to justice, and to adopt the law on access of citizens to public information.
451. Angola welcomed Brazil’s efforts to concretely improve the situation of human rights through its cooperation with the United Nations system and its willingness to accept several recommendations made during the review. Angola noted that Brazil is showing great progress towards improving the situation of human rights, by making the voluntary commitment to create new tools to monitor human rights, which include a national system of human rights indicators and annual reports on the situation of human rights. Angola welcomed policies to improve the life of African descendants and minorities, and to promote gender equality. These strategies will help Brazil to face the challenges that still exist in these areas. Angola noted with satisfaction that Brazil considers the right to education a fundamental tool for the fight against poverty and social exclusion, concurring with Brazil’s position that education and development strategies can be the key to solving regional and economic inequalities and racial, ethnic and gender issues. Angola expressed its appreciation for Brazil’s engagement to reduce poverty and social inequalities.
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