Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

Today, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and FIFA President Sepp Blatter will officially mark the one-year countdown to the opening of the 2014 World Cup. Meanwhile, thousands of Brazil’s residents struggle to rebuild their lives after being forcibly removed from their homes to prepare for the multi-billion dollar sports event. Thousands more fear they will be the next victims as the government razes entire neighborhoods to make way for new infrastructure for the World Cup, as well as the 2016 Olympics. Witness starts a campaign against evictions.

On 15 June in the capital Brasilia, and in Rio de Janeiro on 16 June, residents affected by forced evictions will stage a “People’s Cup,” (more information available on their website) with teams representing different communities that have been displaced or are threatened. Local community advocates and their supporters worldwide have vowed to turn the spotlight around the World Cup and Olympics onto the global reality of forced evictions.

Michel is a resident and community leader from the Restinga neighborhood, that was razed to prepare for the World Cup and Olympics. Here he speaks about the experience:

Watch more stories from communities affected by forced evictions in Brazil:

As Brazil Marks One-Year Countdown to 2014 World Cup, Thousands Cope with Forced Evictions | WITNESS Blog.