Rising in Defense for the Pataxó People: Upholding Life, Autonomy, and Fairness

BLASTING A CAMPAIGN TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIESBarra Velha / Bahia - Brazil, March 21, 2025

To the Brazilian authorities, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, international organizations, the media, and global civil society:

We at Cultural Survival don't mince words, expressing our outrage and solidarity in face of the brutal human rights violations committed against the Pataxó People, particularly in the Indigenous territories of Barra Velha and Comexatiba, in the southern region of Bahia, Brazil.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Council of Caciques of the Barra Velha Indigenous Territory and Pataxó leadership, and numerous other organizations, to denounce the escalating violence targeting these communities and demand immediate action from Brazilian authorities and the international community to guarantee safety, justice, and respect for Indigenous rights.

Starting in 2022, the Pataxó people have faced murder, persecution, armed invasions, disinformation, and systematic attempts at criminalization as retaliation for their legitimate struggle for the demarcation of their ancestral lands, as confirmed by us and other national and international organizations (See also CIMI). Most recently, on March 20, 2025, a massive police operation involving numerous vehicles, helicopters, and drones was executed against Pataxó villages, resulting in the arbitrary imprisonment of Indigenous leaders and severe rights violations, including against the young, the old, and children.

The Pataxó Territorial Observatory's map reveals the systemic and geographically widespread nature of the attacks carried out by state police forces, placing children, youth, women, and the entire Pataxó population residing in their ancestral lands in grave danger.

These incidents occurred shortly after the murder of Vítor Braz, a young Indigenous man, who was killed during an armed attack on his village, leading to suspicions of coordinated retaliation against the Pataxó—particularly by local political and economic actors connected to landowners, municipal authorities, and disinformation producers, as noted by Indigenous leaders.

In light of this predicament, we demand:

The immediate release of all Indigenous individuals unjustly detained during the March 20 police operation and be subjected to due process in federal courts,
The accountability of state agents and political actors involved in acts of repression, omission, or complicity in the attacks against these families and communities;
The guarantee of physical and emotional safety for the Pataxó communities, with effective, impartial protection coordinated by the Federal Government;
The swift resumption and completion of the demarcation processes for the Barra Velha and Comexatiba Indigenous Territories, as mandated by the Federal Constitution and international treaties ratified by Brazil;
The immediate suspension of police operations in Indigenous territories without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, as prescribed in ILO Convention 169.

We further urge the following structural solutions:

The issuance of a Declaratory letter or ordinance initiating the demarcation of the territory as a critical step towards legal security for Indigenous communities;
The creation of an Interministerial and Interinstitutional Crisis Task Force, including Indigenous organizations, to act swiftly in southern Bahia;
The implementation of permanent mechanisms for listening to and including Indigenous communities in decision-making processes;
The strengthening of public policies for the protection of Indigenous activists and the battle against the militarization of agrarian conflicts;
The accountability of media outlets and political actors pushing disinformation and inciting hatred against Indigenous Peoples;
International support for the presence of human rights observers to closely monitor the situation and provide recommendations to Brazilian authorities;
Immediate international action in the face of the imminent risk of further extreme violence, threatening the physical and cultural survival of the Pataxó people.

We call on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and all international institutions to activate their emergency mechanisms and pressure the Brazilian State to meet its national and international obligations regarding human rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Silence and inaction in response to this unfolding crisis amount to complicity. Enough is enough!

"We will not be silenced. We will not back down. We will resist." - Council of Caciques of the Pataxó People

Photo courtesy of Ramón Rafaello Castro de Souza.

LETTER OF PROTEST TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIESBarra Velha / Bahia - Brazil, March 21, 2025

To national and international authorities, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, international organizations, the media, and global civil society:

We at Cultural Survival speak out in indignation and solidarity regarding the grave human rights violations being committed against the Pataxó People, particularly in the Indigenous territories of Barra Velha and Comexatiba, in the southern region of Bahia, Brazil.

We stand alongside the Council of Caciques of the Barra Velha Indigenous Territory and Pataxó leadership, as well as many other organizations, to denounce the increasing violence affecting these communities and demand immediate action from Brazilian authorities and the international community to ensure security, justice, and respect for Indigenous rights.

Since 2022, the Pataxó people have found themselves targets of murder, persecution, armed invasions, disinformation, and systematic efforts at criminalization in response to their legitimate campaign for the demarcation of their ancestral lands, as confirmed by us and other national and international organizations (See also CIMI). Most recently, on March 20, 2025, a significant police operation involving numerous vehicles, helicopters, and drones was conducted against Pataxó villages, resulting in the arbitrary detention of Indigenous leaders and severe rights violations, including against the young, the old, and children.

The Pataxó Territorial Observatory's map displays the seemingly systemic and geographically widespread nature of the attacks carried out by state police forces, putting children, youth, women, and the entire Pataxó population dwelling on their ancestral lands at significant risk.

These incidents took place shortly after the death of Vítor Braz, a young Indigenous man, who was killed during an armed attack on his village, stirring concerns of orchestrated retaliation against the Pataxó, mainly by local political and economic actors connected to landowners, municipal authorities, and disinformation producers, as reported by Indigenous leaders.

Under these circumstances, we demand the following from Brazilian authorities:

The immediate release of all Indigenous individuals unjustly detained during the March 20 police operation and submit them to federal due process,
The accountability of state agents and political actors involved in acts of repression, omission, or complicity in attacks against these families and communities;
The guarantee of physical and psychological protection for the Pataxó communities, with effective, impartial protection coordinated by the Federal Government;
The prompt resumption and completion of the demarcation processes for the Barra Velha and Comexatiba Indigenous Territories, as mandated by the Federal Constitution and international treaties ratified by Brazil;
The immediate suspension of police operations in Indigenous territories without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, as outlined in ILO Convention 169.

We strongly recommend the following structural solutions:

The issuance of a Declaratory letter or ordinance initiating the demarcation of the territory as a crucial step toward legal security for Indigenous communities;
The creation of an Interministerial and Interinstitutional Crisis Task Force, including Indigenous organizations, to act quickly in southern Bahia;
The establishment of permanent mechanisms for listening to and including Indigenous communities in decision-making processes;
The strengthening of public policies for the protection of Indigenous advocates and the fight against the militarization of agrarian conflicts;
The responsibility of media outlets and political actors disseminating disinformation and encouraging hostility against Indigenous Peoples;
International support for the presence of human rights observers to closely monitor the situation and provide recommendations to Brazilian authorities;
Immediate international action in response to the imminent threat of further extreme violence, endangering the physical and cultural survival of the Pataxó people.

We urge the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and all international institutions to promptly engage their emergency mechanisms and urge the Brazilian State to fulfill its national and international obligations regarding human rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Silence and inaction in the face of this mounting crisis result in complicity. Enough is enough!

"We will not be silenced. We will not falter. We will resist." - Council of Caciques of the Pataxó People

The protests from Cultural Survival, a human rights organization, regarding the Pataxó People's situation in the Indigenous territories of Barra Velha and Comexatiba, affected by serious human rights violations, have escalated to national and international authorities. Their call for action involves immediate release of unjustly detained Indigenous individuals, accountability for state agents and political actors, guarantees of safety and protection, completion of demarcation processes, and suspension of police operations without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Additionally, they suggest structural solutions, including issuance of a declaratory letter, creation of crisis task forces, strengthening of public policies for Indigenous advocates, and support for human rights observers.