UN experts launch urgent call for action on anniversary of devastating Brazil dam collapse
GENEVA (4 November 2016) – A group of United Nations human rights experts has called for immediate action to address the
ongoing impacts of the deadly collapse of a mining dam in Brazil on 5 November 2015.
In a statement to mark the first anniversary of the disaster at the Fundão tailing dam, the experts highlight unresolved
issues including access to safe drinking water, river pollution, the uncertain fate of communities forced from their
homes, and the insufficient response from the Government and companies concerned.
“On the eve of the first anniversary of the catastrophic collapse of the dam owned by Samarco, we urge the Brazilian
Government and the companies involved to immediately address the numerous ongoing human rights impacts of this disaster.
The measures they are currently developing are simply insufficient to deal with the massive extent of the environmental
and human costs of this collapse, which has been described as the worst socio-environmental disaster in the country’s
history.
A year on, many of the six million people affected continue to suffer. We believe their human rights are not being
addressed in areas including impacts on indigenous and traditional communities, health problems in riverside
settlements, the risk of further contamination of waterways which have not yet recovered from the initial disaster, the
slow pace of resettlement and legal redress for all displaced persons, and reports that human rights defenders are
facing legal action.
We remind the Government and companies that a disaster on this scale – which released the equivalent of 20,000 Olympic
swimming pools of tailings waste – requires a response on a similar scale.
We call on the Brazilian State to provide conclusive evidence that the river water and all sources of water currently
being consumed by the population are safe and meet applicable legal standards. We are concerned by reports suggesting
that some of the 700km of affected waterways, mainly the vital River Doce, are still contaminated by the initial
disaster. Notably, levels of some heavy metals and water turbidity are said to be in breach of minimum standards.
This is particularly urgent in the light of reports that communities affected by the disaster have suffered adverse
health effects. We fear this impact is being suffered by riverside communities not just as a result of the contaminated
water itself, but also as a result of dust produced from dry mud.
We also note the conclusions of the Brazilian environmental agency, IBAMA, that efforts by the companies concerned –
Samarco, Vale and BHP Billiton – have been insufficient to stop the continuing leakage of mud from the Fundão tailing
dam site in the State of Minas Gerais. We fear that more waste will reach the downstream region once the rainy season
begins in the next few weeks.
As well as seeking urgent clarification on water quality and health, we are also concerned about the fate of communities
who were forced from their homes by the disaster. One year on, the resettlement of these communities is far from
complete. Restitution and resettlement measures should be taken that include the relocation of displaced indigenous
peoples and local communities to lands, territories and resources which are equal in quality, size and legal status to
the lands from which they were uprooted as a result of the disaster.
We believe the Brazilian Government and the companies concerned must speed up the resettlement process and ensure this
work matches international human rights standards. Special attention should be given to the rights of these communities
to ongoing improvement of their living conditions and to respect for their cultural values.
We previously welcomed the suspension of the settlement agreement by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice, owing to
concerns over its provisions. However, we note that the issue is still pending before lower federal courts. We restate
our deep concern over the adverse effects that some provisions of this agreement could have on people’s right to access
justice.
While conciliation and quick access to reparatory measures are welcome, the settlement agreement must not deprive the
affected communities of full access to effective long-term remedies.
We urge the companies to refrain from taking any action that amounts to intimidation of the work of human rights
defenders, and to ensure that measures to safeguard their property are proportional and do not conflict with people’s
right to freedom of expression and right to access remedies.
We call on the Brazilian Government to step up its work to solve this legal deadlock, to avoid further damage to the
human rights of the communities affected and to reach a full remediation scheme. This must include guarantees that a
disaster like this can never happen again.
We acknowledge steps taken by the companies to engage with the public prosecution, public attorneys and community
leaders to find common solutions and resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
These efforts must now be redoubled to ensure that all those affected, including the relatives of the 19 people who died
in the initial disaster, have their human rights fully and speedily met.”
ENDS