The Mud Went Through my Soul:

The areas affected included the Paraopeba river basin, including the municipalities of Brumadinho and Juatuba [2] which were badly affected by the rupture Brumadinho dam rupture exactly three years ago, on 25 January 2019.

The floods exacerbate the already very difficult situation that local communities and women in the 26 municipalities of the Papaopeba river basin have faced since dam I of the Córrego do Feijão Mina Complex in the municipality of Brumadinho, owned by Vale, collapsed and spilled 11.7 m3 of toxic waste and mud (residue from mining activities), burying homes and infrastructure and contaminating the Paraopeba river, which was the lifeblood of local communities. 

Now, there is a danger that these may be compounded by the floods, which could further spread the toxic materials and mud which according to scientific studies are still present in high quantities in the riverbed,[3] and exacerbate the high levels of anxiety and mental illness among affected communities, as some reports on recent floods indicate.[4]

Today Christian Aid and Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB) have published a report that documents how, three years on, the devastating environmental and social impacts of the Brumadinho dam rupture continue to undermine the achievement of human rights, particularly of women, in the affected communities. Research undertaken with the MAB Women’s Collective among affected women demonstrates that the Brumadinho tailings dam rupture has undermined women’s rights, specifically, in relation to access to water and to a healthy environment, gender equality and freedom from violence, decent work and income, and mental health.

It describes how this has exacerbated gender inequalities by disproportionately affecting women in poor and marginalised communities who already faced multiple and intersecting barriers to achieving their rights; and how reparation efforts led by Vale have been insufficient to guarantee women's rights. The report shows that these violations have generated specific concerns and differential burdens on women which, if not adequately addressed, will contribute to a ‘vicious cycle’ of poor health, gender-based violence and poverty.

These should not only address the differential impacts of the disaster on women and men but also support affected women’s leadership and agency, increase their access to resources, and guarantee their freedom from discrimination and violence.  However, the research findings clearly point to an absence of gender differentiated response by Vale and attention to the harm caused to women. An independent assessment acknowledges that there are no specific measures for women in any of the agreements, reports, or decisions in the lawsuits against Vale [5].

The affected women, many of whom still do not have adequate access to clean water, have been collectively demanding adequate reparations. They are calling on the governments of Minas Gerais State, the federal government of Brazil and Vale to mitigate and repair the damage caused to their lives and communities by the dam collapse. The affected communities need support to restore lost livelihoods, access to sufficient water and healthcare, independently verified information about the risks of the contamination to food production and fishing, and interventions to prevent and address gender-based violence which has increased since the disaster.   

This should incorporate effective accountability mechanisms to address human rights abuses perpetrated by companies, effective regulation of large-scale mining operations, mandatory gender impact assessments of business activities, and gender-sensitive justice and remedy mechanisms.

Many of the women affected by the Brumadinho dam rupture and its aftermath have faced a backlash (often violence or harassment) because of their continued campaigning and efforts to claim their rights.  This illustrates why it is also essential a binding treaty ensure respect, protection and an enabling environment for women human rights defenders.