The mother of a young man killed by police in Rio wins the Nobel Human Rights Prize

Brazilian Ana Paula Gomez de Oliveira, the mother of a young man killed by Rio de Janeiro police, was recognized on Wednesday, 26 this month, as one of the main voices for human rights in the world. She won the Martin Ennals Prize, considered the “Nobel for Human Rights,” and became the first person in Brazil to receive it.

The ceremony was held in Geneva, Switzerland, and was attended by politicians, ambassadors, and members of the United Nations senior leadership and civil society. In an emotional speech, Ana Paula made a direct appeal to the international community. “Today, I appeal to the international community, especially the United Nations, to join us. During these 11 years, I have said that this fight cannot be just for the mothers who lose their children, for the mothers who are already sick because of this violence that affects us. This fight must be for the whole of society. We need to put pressure on the Brazilian state to take urgent measures to reduce the high rate of police deaths,” he said to applause.

Ana Paula, a resident of the northern region of Rio, is one of the founders of the group Mías de Manguinhos, which was created to bring together family members of victims of state violence and report abuses committed by security agents. The Martin Ennals Prize is awarded by a jury of ten leading organizations in the global human rights movement.

Ana Paula’s path as an activist began tragically. On May 14, 2014, his 19-year-old son, Jonatha de Oliveira, was shot in the back by a military police officer from the Manguinhos Police Pacification Unit (UPP). The young man was walking towards his girlfriend’s house in the slums of the area when he was injured.

The responsibility of the agent involved in the crime remains a matter of legal dispute. In March last year, military police officer Alessandro Marcelino de Souza was found guilty of murder, when there was no intention to kill, by the third jury in the capital. Shortly after, the Rio Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed for the person responsible for premeditated murder, when there is intent to kill, to be held accountable. Souza, who shot Johnatha seven times, is awaiting the outcome of the case and is free.