1b - Introduction: New Approaches to Social Movements and Human Rights

The project that led to this issue emerged in Recife, during the 3rd Conference on Activism in Africa, held in September 2021 in online format owing to restrictions related to the pandemic. The three organisers of this issue took part in the conference, co-ordinating panels and proposing papers along the theme of social movements and their demands in the defence of human rights. In the process they identified the fundamental axes for building an intellectual link and civic commitment between Africa and Brazil. Therefore, in 2024 we decided to organise a special issue on topics re- lated to the Portuguese-speaking global South. We were keenly aware that this would be a challenge, for several reasons. First, scientific production in the Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) is still below par. Second, we wanted to go beyond the generally institutional representations of these countries, including studies on the Afro-Brazilian reality. There are numerous studies on bilateral or multilateral relations within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and the activities of various national governments. However, they avoid uncomfortable subjects such as LGBTQAI+ in the PALOP or the failure of many Portuguese-speaking countries, especially in Africa, to protect the human rights of their citizens or migrant populations. This is the context for our effort to create this intellectual link between the epistemological, historical and sociological universes on both sides of the Atlantic and the African Indian Ocean, the connections between which are more alive today than ever before.