GENEVA (22 February 2021) – The murder of land rights defender Fernando dos Santos Araújo, a key witness and survivor of the 2017 massacre of rural workers in Brazil’s Amazonia region, should be duly investigated to bring the perpetrators to justice, said Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. Fernando dos Santos Araújo, who had testified in the criminal probe into the police killings of 10 workers occupying land in Pau D"Arco, was found shot dead in his home in Pará state on 26 January 2021. He had told local human rights organisations of recent death threats against him. “The fact that another human rights defender has been killed in the state of Pará, even after the Pau D´Arco massacre in May 2017, shows a concerning pattern of impunity,” Lawlor said. Human rights lawyer José Vargas Sobrinho Junior, who represented dos Santos Araújo, has been threatened over his efforts to ensure accountability for the killings in Pau D"Arco. Vargas Sobrinho has also faced a smear campaign by local media outlets and messaging groups since the start of the year. “Despite constant threats and intimidation by local actors, both Mr. dos Santos Araújo and Mr. Vargas Sobrinho continued to bravely speak out on behalf of the survivors and to demand justice for the victims of the massacre,” Lawlor said. Although there had been some progress in the Pau D’Arco investigation, many questions remain unanswered. “The investigation into those responsible for the crime has not been completed and officers allegedly involved in the crime have been reinstated to their functions and remain active,” Lawlor said. The expert said she was also concerned about the lack of protection for Vargas and other victims and witnesses of the massacre, as well as the absence of reparation and support for the families. “To duly investigate and protect human rights defenders who promote and protect the rights of others should be a priority for the Government. If such a tragic murder remains in impunity, it would set a worrying precedent to the defence of human rights in the region, and in the country overall.” The expert is in contact with the authorities on this matter. The expert’s call has been endorsed by Mr. David R. Boyd, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment. ENDS