Religious intolerance and violence in Brazil: a study in response to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

In September 2021, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights invited stakeholders to submit information about intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence based on religion or belief. The present article is the result of a study dedicated to answer this invitation with systematized information regarding Brazil. The study investigated instances of religious intolerance and violence in the country, as documented by UN and Inter-American human rights mechanisms. It included a literature review and document analysis encompassing reports and other publications from the universal and regional human rights systems, as well as normative acts, caselaw, and media sources. This research is justified by the legal, historical, and social importance of understanding religious-related intolerance and violence. It may interest practical jurists and civil servants, as well as people interested in international law, international human rights law, constitutional law, human and fundamental rights, and Brazilian sociology.