

Currently released so far... 6239 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AU
AORC
AF
AM
AFIN
AEMR
AR
ASIG
AMGT
AG
APER
AL
ABLD
ASUP
AA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AE
AMED
AS
AGMT
APECO
AO
AFFAIRS
AJ
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
ADCO
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ABUD
ATRN
AID
AC
AVERY
APCS
CASC
CJAN
CVIS
CS
COUNTER
CD
CU
CI
CO
CG
CE
CA
CMGT
CH
CWC
CBW
CKGR
CR
CN
CPAS
CONS
CDG
CLINTON
CT
CJUS
CY
CV
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
CM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CF
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
COM
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EAIR
EAID
ET
EFIS
ENRG
EPET
ETTC
ER
EG
EINV
EAGR
ELAB
EUN
EWWT
ENGR
EMIN
ECIN
ENIV
ES
EC
ECPS
EIND
EI
EU
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELTN
EZ
EINT
ELN
EUR
EUNCH
EN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
ENNP
ECUN
EXTERNAL
EK
EFINECONCS
ECINECONCS
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ENVR
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IR
IZ
IWC
IC
ILC
IO
IAEA
IN
IS
IT
ICRC
INTELSAT
ILO
IBRD
IMF
ICAO
IMO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ITRA
ISRAELI
ICJ
IACI
INTERPOL
ID
IV
ICTY
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
IA
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KE
KCRM
KDRG
KIPR
KCOR
KSCA
KBIO
KDEM
KMCA
KMPI
KNNP
KJUS
KOMC
KGHG
KSUM
KSTC
KIRF
KTIP
KWMN
KZ
KG
KTFN
KHLS
KPAO
KFRD
KTIA
KOLY
KCFE
KISL
KFLU
KPKO
KWBG
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KUNR
KAWK
KICC
KPAL
KSTH
KN
KS
KGIC
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KBCT
KIDE
KFLO
KWMNCS
KSEP
KU
KNEI
KVPR
KACT
KRAD
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCIP
KSAF
KV
KSPR
KPRP
KFSC
KCRS
KR
KRFD
KX
KO
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KHIV
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KLIG
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
KCFC
KREC
KOMS
KWWMN
MASS
MP
MARR
MOPS
MNUC
MX
MO
MCAP
MY
ML
MU
MIL
MC
MTRE
MA
MD
MTCRE
MEPI
MAR
MRCRE
MR
MV
MPOS
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OVIP
OREP
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPDC
OPRC
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OAS
OFDP
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PREL
PGOV
PHUM
PTER
PE
PINR
PINS
PARMS
PARM
PHSA
PA
PK
PBTS
PO
PREF
POL
PLN
POLITICS
PROP
PL
PM
PAO
PSI
PG
PEPR
POV
PALESTINIAN
PINT
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PINF
PEL
SNAR
SO
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SP
SC
SA
SMIG
SAN
SZ
SW
SN
SY
SR
SL
SEVN
SF
SYR
SI
SG
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TERRORISM
TRGY
TZ
TX
TBIO
TSPA
TS
TSPL
TW
TU
TD
TIP
TURKEY
TP
TI
TC
TPHY
TH
TO
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TT
UG
UK
UP
UNGA
UNHRC
UZ
UN
UNAUS
USTR
UNSC
US
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UNHCR
UAE
UNMIK
USEU
UV
UNO
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
UNDC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07SAOPAULO946, UN REPORT ACCUSES BRAZIL OF SUPPORTING PRISON TORTURE
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07SAOPAULO946.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07SAOPAULO946 | 2007-11-28 18:06 | 2011-02-11 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Consulate Sao Paulo |
VZCZCXRO8185
PP RUEHRG
DE RUEHSO #0946/01 3321811
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281811Z NOV 07
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7710
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8843
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3203
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2963
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 2519
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 3598
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0613
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2222
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 3899
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 8463
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0658
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0001
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000946
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA AND DRL
NSC FOR TOMASULO
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
USAID FOR LAC/AA
DOL FOR ILAB
TAGS: PHUM PHUM SOCI BR
SUBJECT: UN REPORT ACCUSES BRAZIL OF SUPPORTING PRISON TORTURE
REF: (A) 06 SAO PAULO 988;
(B) 06 BRASILIA 496;
(C) 06 SAO PAULO 215
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY
Summary -------
¶1. (SBU) Consistent with Brazil's Annual Human Rights Report, a UN report released on November 23 points out that torture is systemic in Brazilian prisons. The report also blames the GoB for not taking steps to prevent prison abuses and calls for compensation for prison torture victims. The GoB's Special Secretariat on Human Rights disagrees with its content emphasizing that while torture does occur in some prisons, it is not "systematic" in practice. Human rights contacts agree that the UN report is accurate in general terms but stress that the document is outdated on information regarding Sao Paulo State, where, according to some of these experts, prison conditions have improved when compared to 2006 during which prison riots created chaos throughout the state. End Summary.
UN Report ---------
¶2. (U) A team of UN representatives visited several prisons in Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and the states of Bahia and Para in 2005 to investigate prison conditions in Brazil. Their report concluded that prisoners live in dehumanized conditions in overcrowded cells lacking in basic infrastructure such as beds. According to the report, prison authorities regularly deny inmates access to health care or legal representation. The UN team highlighted that although prison administrators, as well as federal government authorities, are aware of the problem, they have taken little action to improve the situation. (Note: The UN report further implies that the government supports the torture and mistreatment of prisoners in spite of legislation and international norms against such human rights violations. End Note.) The report's list of 16 recommendations for Brazil includes payment of compensation to victims of prison torture, quick investigation of cases of human rights violations, and punishment of police officers who commit violent acts against prisoners. The document further calls for increased funding on the prison system nationwide because present sub-human conditions in prisons facilitate and stimulate violence and torture.
Government Response -------------------
¶3. (U) The GoB denies it supports prison torture and that it is "systematic," stressing that abuses were government policy only during Brazil's military dictatorship. As regards prison conditions, the GoB's Special Secretariat on Human Rights acknowledges that living conditions in most Brazilian prisons are unbearable even though federal legislation prohibits deplorable prison environments and mandates penalties for abusive police officers. The Secretariat claims that the responsibility lies with the states as each state is responsible for its own prison system and should be held accountable for conditions at its prisons. The GoB claims it has taken tough measures to eliminate human rights violations in the prisons but that legislation alone cannot eliminate prison abuse.
Sao Paulo Prisons -----------------
¶4. (SBU) Human rights NGO contacts told us that the UN report is accurate in general terms and that in some parts of Brazil, torture remains local policy. Father Gunter Zgubic, coordinator of the Pastoral "Carcerari" (inmates) organization, one of the most important groups working on prison conditions, noted that the Sao Paulo State Government has made a concerted effort to improve prison
SAO PAULO 00000946 002 OF 002
conditions. If true, improvements in Sao Paulo jails would improve the overall prison system in Brazil as almost half of all Brazilian inmates are held in Sao Paulo penitentiaries. As evidence of the improvement of the Sao Paulo prison system, Father Zgubic pointed to the 2005 demolition of the Carandiru penitentiary in the northern part of the city of Sao Paulo - site of Brazil's most notorious post-dictatorship human rights incident in 1992, when military police invaded to break up a prisoners' riot and gunned down 111 inmates (see reftels). According to Father Zgubic, the demolition of this infamous prison illustrates that the Sao Paulo State Government is cognizant of prison conditions and is working to ameliorate them. He added that according to his information, physical torture is rare and that when it does occur, state authorities investigate the allegation and punish perpetrators. However, Father Zgubic ended his discussion by stating that while improvements have been made, there are still areas of concern such as health care and legal assistance for prisoners.
Comment -------
¶5. (SBU) The UN report is an important document shedding light on a serious human rights issue in Brazil. Just last week, local and international media focused on a story in the small northern town of Abaetetuba in which police allegedly confined a fifteen year old girl to a cell with 20 adult men where she was tortured and raped (septel). The report notes that regardless of the GoB's position on prison torture, there is evidence that it is continuing and increased efforts are needed to eradicate it from the prison system. USG efforts to improve the prison situation are already in place as part of our broader bilateral relationship. In Sao Paulo, the Sao Paulo State youth corrections system, FEBEM/CASA, recently began an intensive INL-sponsored training program to improve interaction between inmates and corrections officers and upgrade the status of its facilities. Such initiatives can go a long way in taking action on some of the recommendations laid out in the UN's report. End Comment.
¶6. (U) This cable was cleared by Embassy Brasilia.
WHITE