ABSTRACT
Brazil has a long and complex history when it comes to human rights. During Lula's first two mandates, the government institutionalised the protection of human rights so that concepts and principles were incorporated into legal and political systems. Institutions were created to coordinate and implement government policies, the Third National Plan for Human Rights was approved, and channels for social participation were strengthened. The political crisis in the country from 2015 onwards started to undermine those institutions. Although it is widely known that human rights institutions fell apart later under Jair Bolsonaro, it was during Michel Temer's short term in office, from 2016 to 2018, that the process began. Against expectations, Bolsonaro between 2019 and 2022 used the existing institutions to try to change the idea that Brazilians have of human rights, of public policies for human rights, and indeed of democracy. Weak institutions affected the capacity of the Brazilian state to deliver policies. We conclude by discussing the challenges now to recreate effective policies and rebuild institutions in Lula's third term in office.
