NEW YORK, Apr 26. An expert on the UN Human Rights on Tuesday expressed concern about the evictions that are taking place in several cities in Brazil for the World Cup in 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games. "I am particularly concerned about the lack of transparency, consultation, dialogue, fair negotiation and participation of affected communities in the processes relating to evictions carried out or planned before the World Cup and Olympics," the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Raquel Rolnik.
According Rolnik, displacement and evictions could lead to violations of human rights in different cities such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Recife, Natal and Fortaleza. The UN expert warned that evictions are executed without being sufficient time to the affected families to propose and discuss alternatives, and are not offered adequate plans to relocate them.
"Not enough attention is given to access to infrastructure, services and livelihoods in the resettlement sites," he said. The Special Rapporteur also expressed concern about the paltry compensation offered to affected communities, which is even more remarkable given the increased value of real estate in places where buildings are related to sports events.
"Compensation may be insufficient for the lack of housing and the formation of new settlements," he lamented. Rolnik called on the federal, state and municipal governments participating in the projects of the World Cup and the Olympics to launch a transparent dialogue with Brazilian society, especially in the sectors of the population directly affected.
"The authorities at all levels must stop the planned evictions until it locks dialogue and negotiation," he said. "The government should adopt a legal plan to ensure that the celebration of the World Cup and the Olympics have a positive social and environmental impact and avoid violations of human rights including the right to adequate housing," he said. 
According Rolnik, displacement and evictions could lead to violations of human rights in different cities such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Recife, Natal and Fortaleza. The UN expert warned that evictions are executed without being sufficient time to the affected families to propose and discuss alternatives, and are not offered adequate plans to relocate them.
"Not enough attention is given to access to infrastructure, services and livelihoods in the resettlement sites," he said. The Special Rapporteur also expressed concern about the paltry compensation offered to affected communities, which is even more remarkable given the increased value of real estate in places where buildings are related to sports events.
"Compensation may be insufficient for the lack of housing and the formation of new settlements," he lamented. Rolnik called on the federal, state and municipal governments participating in the projects of the World Cup and the Olympics to launch a transparent dialogue with Brazilian society, especially in the sectors of the population directly affected.
"The authorities at all levels must stop the planned evictions until it locks dialogue and negotiation," he said. "The government should adopt a legal plan to ensure that the celebration of the World Cup and the Olympics have a positive social and environmental impact and avoid violations of human rights including the right to adequate housing," he said.
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