We are deeply shocked by the high number of killings over the past week in Brazil, where at least 45 people were killed in different parts of the country during police operations allegedly aimed at combatting drug trafficking and organised crime. These figures make it one of the bloodiest weeks in many years. These killings follow other cases of police violence and alleged extrajudicial executions reported in recent years in circumstances that were never fully clarified and those responsible were not held to account. In recent years, overall deaths in police operations in Brazil have decreased to some extent, but deaths of Brazilians of African descent at the hands of police have increased – the already existing gap is growing further. ENDS For more information and media requests, please contact: In Geneva Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or Jeremy Laurence + +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org In Nairobi Seif Magango - +254 788 343 897 / seif.magango@un.org Tag and share Twitter @UNHumanRights Facebook unitednationshumanrights Instagram @unitednationshumanrights