Brazil in the Dock: What Has Changed with Brazil’s International Accountability before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Cases of Slave-Like Labor?

Abstract

Brazil, as an American State, is part of the Inter-American System for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and is subject to the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Having been held internationally accountable on several occasions for violations of rights enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights, it is necessary to assess the effectiveness of compliance with the determinations issued by the aforementioned court, particularly in relation to Brazil's conviction for rights violations in two cases involving slave-like labor: Fazenda Brasil Verde and Santo Antônio de Jesus Fireworks Factory. The research problem of this study is as follows: By being tried by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) in cases of slave-like labor, has Brazil fulfilled its international responsibility and changed its internal practices? Accordingly, this study aims to analyze Brazil’s conduct in complying with judgments issued by the IACtHR and, consequently, to examine any changes made in terms of ensuring the rights enshrined at both the domestic and international levels. As a result, it is found that Brazil still has significant progress to make with regard to the effectiveness of these decisions. This study uses the deductive method of analysis and legal-bibliographic research techniques with a focus on international decisions.