Brazil Land Dispute: Families & Decades of Conflict – 1996 Paraná Encampment

In Rio Bonito do Iguaçu and Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil, members of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) began providing aid to communities impacted by tornadoes in November 2025, producing meals and snacks, organizing donations, and assisting with cleanup and reconstruction efforts, according to the MST.

The MST, founded in 1984, is Brazil’s largest land reform movement, with an estimated informal membership of 1.5 million people across 23 of Brazil’s 26 states. The movement’s origins can be traced to a meeting in Cascavel, Paraná, forty years ago, where peasants united to fight for agrarian reform, according to Brasil de Fato.

The MST’s core goal is to secure land access for poor workers through land reform, addressing systemic issues like income inequality, racism, and sexism that contribute to land ownership challenges. The movement asserts the legal justification for occupying unproductive land, citing Article 5, XXIII of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution, which stipulates that land must fulfill a social function. Data from a 1996 census indicated that 3% of the population owned two-thirds of all arable land in Brazil.

In March 2026, women affiliated with the MST in Paraná participated in events marking International Women’s Day, including a march in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu focused on defending nature and agrarian reform. Approximately 1,000 women attended, engaging in discussions about the environmental crisis, agroecology, and support for families affected by the recent tornadoes. A similar gathering of around 800 women took place in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, integrating into the national Day of Struggle, with a focus on environmental issues and solidarity with tornado victims. Earlier that month, the MST celebrated the 27th anniversary of the Contestado settlement, located 70 kilometers from Curitiba, with a community lunch and a soccer tournament.

The MST has also been involved in educational initiatives, launching a series of video tutorials on agroforestry techniques, specifically focusing on the production of Effective Microorganisms (EM) to improve soil health and reduce production costs. MST members in Curitiba also participated in the city’s Carnaval celebrations, with the groups “Unidos da Lona Preta” and “Rosa do Povo” winning the competition.

In 1991, the MST received the Right Livelihood Award for its work in securing land for landless families and promoting sustainable farming practices. The movement has facilitated the settlement of approximately 370,000 families on 7.5 million hectares of land acquired through occupations over more than two decades. Currently, around 900 encampments house 150,000 landless families in Brazil, who remain mobilized to advocate for their political, social, economic, environmental, and cultural rights.