Victory! New Rights Enshrined for People Affected by Dams in Brazil
From Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens
We were very excited to get word from our partner Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (Movement of People Affected by Dams, MAB) on this important victory.
It is with great joy that we share this message.
Brazil’s affected populations have achieved a historic breakthrough, one of the most important in their entire history of struggle and organization.
On December 15, 2023, the Policy on the Rights of People Affected by Dams (PNAB) was signed into law by the President of the Republic. This victory is the result of more than 30 years of struggle by the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) and all the organizations that have supported us politically and financially over the years.
The main achievement of the PNAB is the creation of a regulatory framework to guarantee the rights of those affected, who are currently subordinated to Conduct Adjustment Terms and judicial agreements, which create an asymmetry in reparations. In addition to recognising who those affected are, the legislation provides the guarantee, for example, of resettlement and full reparation for the communities, as well as initiatives with the aim to economic and productive recovery, among other rights. The Bill was approved in the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies in August 2019 with strong support: 328 votes in favor, only 62 against and one abstention. In the Senate, the Bill was approved unanimously, demonstrating the importance of mobilizing those affected had for this achievement.
« This is a historic and unprecedented advance in Brazil and shows the Lula government’s concern to recognise the Brazilian state’s debt to the affected populations who have historically been victims, » says Cleidiane Barreto, a member of MAB’s National Coordination.
We want to highlight the importance of each organization which was together with us, supporting the actions and contributing politically and financially to the affected communities. We are fully convinced that, without you, this achievement would not be possible. And we reaffirm that we remain firm in the fight for the law to be regulated and put into practice. There is still a lot of struggles ahead, and we count on your solidarity and support to keep moving forward.
We take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year of many struggles and achievements!
With enthusiasm and solidarity,
MAB National Coordination