Amnesty International said today Brazilian police and jail guards continued to use torture on prisoners 11 years after the country signed an international treaty outlawing its use.
As the United Nations Committee against Torture began a special hearing on Brazil today at its twice-yearly meeting in Geneva Amnesty said degrading and inhuman treatment continues unabated and largely unpunished.
Brazil ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in September 1989 but had so far failed to meet its obligations under it, Amnesty said.
Torture is regularly used as a means to extract confessions, to dominate, humiliate and control those in detention, it said in a statement.
Brazil's delegation is due to present its first report on implementation of the treaty to the UN committee, composed of 10 independent experts.
UN officials said it was unusual for such a long period to elapse between a state signing the treaty and the presentation of its first report. "I expect Brazil will be asked why," one official said.
Amnesty said there was also a worrying trend for corrupt police officials to use torture for extortion.