Violence against quilombolas, descendants of runaway slaves who formed settlements in remote areas in previous centuries, has increased in recent years in Brazil, according to a study released this Friday by the NGO Terra de Direitos.
There have been 62 violent deaths of quilombolas in the last decade – a 55 percent increase over the previous 10 years. Land conflicts are the main cause of quilombola murders in the country. At least 13 people have been killed in the context of fighting and defending territory.
Although not included in the figures, since they only reach 2022, the death of Maria Bernadete Pacifico, in August, hit the news for its violence. She was a leader of the Quilombo de Pitanga dos Palmares, and the mother of another leader who was murdered in 2017. Both cases are under investigation and are linked to land conflicts.
Partial data from 2023 shows that seven quilombolas have been murdered this year, which is already more than 11 out of the last 15 years.
“The Brazilian government must take immediate action to protect quilombo leaders throughout Brazil. It is the duty of the State to ensure that there is a swift and effective investigation and that those responsible for the crimes are duly held accountable,” said the head of the National Coordination of Black Rural Quilombola Communities, Biko Rodrigues.
In July, Brazil’s census provided the first up-to-date information on quilombolas. The country has 1.3 million quilombolas, spread across all regions and almost all states — except Roraima and Acre.
Less than 13 percent of quilombolas currently live in areas officially reserved for them. There are 494 officially demarcated quilombola territories and 4,859 communities outside these lands.
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