Relief as Brazil eviction order halted
Neti de Araujo with residents outside the Mauá building
An eviction order facing over 200 families in the Mauá building in São Paulo, due to have been carried out on 21 August, has been halted.
This good news came after CAFOD received over 5,000 petition signatures, emails and messages calling for the evictions to be stopped. These were sent to the Brazilian authorities and to the community.
Ivaneti de Araujo (Neti) lives in Mauá and, together with our partner APOIO, champions poor people’s rights to decent housing. Neti said: “An appeal lodged by our lawyer has resulted in the court granting a suspension of the eviction sentence. This means that the Mauá community continues. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry in relief, I am so happy. Long live the Mauá residents!”
Victory for human rights
This is an important victory, as the decision to suspend the eviction order this time is based on the strength of the families’ case, not on the procedural reasons which prompted a previous temporary suspension.
The case involves very poor families without any other place to go, who already struggle with basic living conditions, and may face serious rights violations, such as life on the streets, children stopping attending school, if the eviction goes ahead.
Osmar Borges from our partner APOIO stressed, “The case is now with the Public Prosecutor's Office who is considering the legal appeals made by the families. Even if we don’t have a final decision yet, your support has been very important in strengthening the families’ case and making the authorities aware of the injustice which could result from an eviction without considering alternative solutions. The Mauá families are not on the streets today and we want to celebrate this victory with you.”
Thank you for not giving up
Clare Lyons, Head of Campaigns said: “Thank you for not giving up. There have been many setbacks in this campaign, but we can now share in the happiness of the Mauá residents as they celebrate that the threat of eviction has been halted. Thank you for sharing this petition with friends, churches and local groups – and even in one case with festival-goers in Edinburgh. Your solidarity made a difference at a crucial time for these families.”
Emily Mulville, our Brazil Programme Officer said, "We are delighted to hear that the eviction order set for today has been suspended. This is good news for the people in Mauá and for all of us who believe in people’s dignity and solidarity. It shows, that no matter where they are, when people come together to defend the rights of those who suffer injustice, the authorities can be made to listen.
“We will continue to stand by our partner APOIO and all of these families in the long term, as they continue their quest to bring about major social change so that the poorest people are able to live and raise their children close to where jobs, schools and hospitals are located.”
