Brazil urged to raise rights issues at BRICS summit

Sao Paulo, July 15 (IANS) Brazil should speak out in support of human rights in Russia and Moscow's independent activists at the BRICS summit, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.

Brazil should also firmly reject any attempt by Russia to persuade Brazil to support weakening the human rights mandate of the UN and other intergovernmental organizations.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are meeting in Fortaleza, Ceará, for the sixth annual BRICS summit July 14-16. BRICS is the association of nations with advanced economies that are often seen as rising global leaders.

"Brazil should urge Russia to end its crackdown on dissent when it meets its BRICS partners at this summit," said Maria Laura Canineu, the Brazil director at Human Rights Watch.

"As a country that itself has recognized and promoted civil society, Brazil should insist on the same from its partners."