Brazil Trials: Amnesty International Urges Justice for Human Rights Defenders Marielle Franco & Mãe Bernadete

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court began deliberations Tuesday on the alleged masterminds behind the 2018 assassination of Rio de Janeiro city councilor Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, whereas a separate trial commenced for those accused in the 2023 murder of quilombo leader Maria Bernadete Pacífico Moreira, known as Mãe Bernadete. The concurrent proceedings mark a pivotal moment for accountability in a country frequently cited for violence against human rights defenders.

The trial of those accused of ordering Franco and Gomes’ deaths, taking place in Brasília, centers on brothers Domingos and Chiquinho Brazão, and former Rio de Janeiro police chief Rivaldo Barbosa. According to reporting by G1, the family of Marielle Franco expressed surprise at the alleged involvement of Barbosa, who had previously pledged to prioritize the investigation into her murder.

“After eight years, we can’t help but hope for a positive outcome regarding those who ordered the killings,” Marinete Silva, Franco’s mother, told GloboNews, as reported by G1. “It’s been dragging on for years.”

Simultaneously, in Salvador, Bahia, the Court of Justice began hearing the case against those accused in the murder of Mãe Bernadete, a leader of the Quilombo Pitanga dos Palmares. Bernadete was killed in August 2023 amid ongoing threats to quilombola communities and disputes over land rights, according to the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship.

The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC) released a statement Monday affirming its solidarity with the families of Franco, Gomes, and Bernadete, and the communities impacted by the crimes. The statement, published on February 23, 2026, emphasized the importance of a functioning justice system for protecting democracy and preventing future attacks.

Amnesty International has called the trials a “historic opportunity” to break the cycle of impunity surrounding attacks on human rights defenders in Brazil. “Justice for Marielle Franco, Anderson Gomes and Mãe Bernadete is long overdue,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General. “These killings are emblematic of the broader and highly alarming trend of lethal violence and structural racism against human rights defenders in Brazil.”

According to Amnesty International, Brazil is one of the deadliest countries for human rights defenders, particularly those working on land rights, environmental protection, and the rights of traditional communities. The organization cites data from Global Witness, which reported 342 land and environmental defenders were killed in Brazil between 2012 and 2021 – the highest number globally during that period.

Amnesty International is urging Brazilian authorities to ensure fair, independent, and transparent trials, protect family members and witnesses, and investigate the criminal networks and economic interests believed to be behind the killings. The organization similarly calls for strengthened policies to protect human rights defenders, addressing racial and territorial biases within the justice system, and reopening stalled cases.

The trials are proceeding after significant delays. The case of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes has remained unresolved for eight years, highlighting what Amnesty International describes as the Brazilian justice system’s failure to provide swift and effective responses in cases involving attacks on human rights defenders. The organization emphasizes that these two cases represent only a fraction of the broader issue of violence and intimidation faced by defenders across the country.