Brazil

Mira Rosa with produce from the farm she and her husband set up on a legalised settlement [Marcella Haddad]

Brazil is the fifth largest and ninth-wealthiest country in the world, yet 54 million Brazilians live below the poverty line

The gap between rich and poor in Brazil is one of the most extreme in the world, with the wealthiest 10% enjoying more of the national income than the poorest 50%.

Responding to urban poverty

CAFOD set up an Urban Livelihood Programme in São Paulo with local organisations MDF (The Movimento de Defesa dos Favelado), APOIO (The Associacão de Auxilio Mutuo da Região Leste) and CCJ (The Centro Capacitacão da Juventude).

It seeks to pressure the government to fulfil their legal obligation to develop sustainable housing policy and to direct the necessary resources to ensure that this policy is implemented effectively.

Secure housing is essential to guarantee access to education, work and health facilities for people living in favelas and tenements.

Advocacy and lobbying is key to tackling the problems experienced by families living in sub-standard housing in São Paulo.

The programme works to ensure that people are able to fight for their right to housing, to strengthen the growth of community leaders and to ensure that people become involved in the development of their own communities.

section highlights

Fighting for the right to land After struggling for decades to secure land rights for his people, Jacir José de Souza thought victory had finally been achieved – only to find it could be turned into defeat instead Support the campaign - take action now

Linking faith and action Jose Oscar Beozzo, director of CAFOD partner CESEP in Brazil, explains how his organisation links faith with action

Defending justice and human rights Father Henri de Roziers, of the Catholic Church’s Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) in Brazil, talks about his award-winning human rights work, which has resulted in him being targeted with death threats

take action

Help in the fight to save Brazilian heritage

Please sign a petition asking the Brazilian government and its Supreme Court to uphold the constitution, which promises land rights for the indigenous people of the Amazon. We need at least another 800 signatures before July 28 so, even if you have already taken it, please email your friends about it too!