21/67 Statement made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the adoption of the report on the universal periodic review of Brazil

GE.12-16778

Human Rights Council Twenty-first session

Agenda item 6

Universal periodic review

Statement made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the adoption of the report on the universal periodic review of Brazil

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

welcomes the adoption of the report on the universal periodic review of Brazil, and

congratulates the Government of Brazil on having accepted all relevant recommendations.

As a country that is fully committed to the protection of refugees, Brazil and its

people are to be commended for their solidarity towards persons of concern and their

support for UNHCR. This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption by Brazil of

the Refugee Act, which has been referred to as a model for asylum legislation in the region.

As a State party to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and the

Protocol thereto of 1967, and sponsor of the Brasilia Declaration on the Protection of

Refugees and Stateless Persons in the Americas of 2010, Brazil continues to demonstrate its

commitment and remains a pioneer in refugee protection. As an example, a generous

interpretation of Brazilian refugee legislation has allowed the national commission for

refugees, CONARE, to recognize as refugees persons fleeing persecution because of their

sexual orientation and gender identity, thus reinforcing the protection of lesbian, gay,

bisexual, transgender and intersex persons who are victims of forced displacement.

UNHCR continues to welcome the efforts made by Brazil to provide a durable

solution to refugees and others of concern to UNHCR. The solidarity resettlement

programme has granted protection to and found solutions for many refugees over past years

and includes a fast-track modality, which enables the emergency resettlement of refugees

with urgent protection needs. The local integration of refugees is also a priority for the

Government, as demonstrated by the granting of permanent residency to refugees from

Angola and Liberia and the establishment of State committees in charge of the coordination

of policies and interventions for the local integration of refugees.

UNHCR also applauds the Government of Brazil for its commitment to the

protection of stateless persons. Brazil is a party to both the Convention relating to the Status

of Stateless Persons of 1954 and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness of 1961.

With regard to the latter Convention, it is worth mentioning constitutional amendment

54/07, which allows for acquisition of nationality by children born abroad through a simple

consular registration and represents an important example of the prevention of

statelessness, which has benefited approximately 200,000 children born to Brazilian

nationals outside the country.

As a final note, UNHCR highlights the reaffirmation made by Brazil of the pledges

made at the ministerial meeting on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of UNHCR in

2011, and stands ready to continue to assist the Government in their implementation,

including the establishment of a stateless status determination procedure.