In the absence of government, businesses should lead the way in human rights

A paper published by German consultancy Löning has highlighted Brazil’s shortcomings when it comes to human rights violations, drawing attention to the state’s attempts (or lack thereof) to protect the population from abuses. Geared towards business, the report states that the private sector has the duty to strengthen human rights due diligence processes, in light of the government’s inability or unwillingness to fulfill its own human rights obligations.

While speaking highly of Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, the Bolsa Família cash transfer program, and the labor sector’s “Dirty List” for companies connected to slavery-like conditions, Löning is highly critical of Brazil’s recent backward steps in reducing poverty and inequality. Here, it mentions the two key pieces of legislation approved in the Michel Temer administration—the 2016 public spending cap and 2017 labor reform—as potential setbacks in human rights issues in the country.

The consultancy takes a broad look at six distinct topics concerning human rights, providing general descriptions of the...