Brazil’s human rights minister accused of sexual misconduct

Brazil’s Presidential Ethics Committee will investigate complaints of sexual misconduct against Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida. Federal Police Chief Andrei Rodrigues has also pledged to initiate an investigation into the case.

Me Too Brazil, an organization that helps victims of sexual violence, confirmed to press outlets that it was contacted by women who reported alleged episodes of sexual harassment committed by Mr. Almeida. Metrópoles, a news website, talked to 14 people with knowledge of the allegations. 

Only one of the alleged victims has been named: Anielle Franco, Brazil’s racial equality minister. She has not confirmed nor denied the reports publicly so far.

“The federal government recognizes the seriousness of the allegations. The case is being handled with the rigor and speed that situations involving possible violence against women require,” says a statement from the presidential office.

First Lady Rosângela da Silva on Friday published on Instagram a photo with Ms. Franco, which many saw as an indication that Mr. Almeida may be on his way out of the government. That perception was consolidated after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said “it is not possible” for someone accused of sexual misconduct to remain in the government.

He will reportedly meet with Lula to discuss his future today.

The Women’s Rights Ministry on Friday morning endorsed the investigations on Mr. Almeida.

Mr. Almeida “vehemently repudiated” all accusations in a statement of his own. “There is once again a group trying to erase and diminish our existence, attributing to me the conduct they carry. With that, Brazil, the human rights agenda, racial equality, and the Brazilian people lose.”

The human rights minister said he will seek the court system to ask clarification from Me Too Brazil around the accusations. “All accusations must be investigated rigorously, but for that to happen, the facts must be exposed. And they must not be based on lies, without evidence.”

The Human Rights Ministry has one of the smallest budgets within the government. At the beginning of the year, Mr. Almeida was criticized for failing to invest in areas he deemed as priorities when taking office — such as protecting marginalized teens and children and promoting LGBTQ rights.

His department did tally a recent win, with the recreation of a commission on political disappearances.