ABSTRACT
In spite of the important democratie advances registered since Brazil retumed to democracy in 1985, widespread human rights violations associated with the right to life continue to be reported. This article examines the nature ofhuman rights violations and the govemment’s attitude to them. Since 1985 there has been a fundamental shift in the relationship between the perpetrators of violations and the state authorities, in the identity of the victims, the motives behind the crimes and the poli ti cal context in which they take place. During the same period the govern.ments’ response to human rights violations has evolved from a reactive to a pro-active strategy, culminating in the launching of the country’s f1rst National Plan for the Protection ofHuman Rights, in May 1996. The article concludes that despite sorne positive developments, the underlying causes, pattern and intensity ofhuman rights violations continue essentially unabated.
