Brazil: Renewed judicial harassment against the Mining Observatory
New information
BRA 001 / 0525 / OBS 029.1
Judicial harassment /
Obstacle to freedom of expression /
Intimidation / Threats
Brazil
13 August 2026
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Brazil.
New information:
The Observatory has been informed about the judicial harassment and the intimidation against the Mining Observatory, an independent investigative journalism center and think tank focused on the extractive sector in Brazil. Founded in 2015, the Mining Observatory has since become an international reference in investigative coverage of the mining sector, notably focusing on the environmental and human rights impacts of mining projects.
On 6 July 2026, Sigma Mineração S.A. (Sigma Lithium), through its legal representatives, sent a second extrajudicial notification to the Mining Observatory regarding an article published on 27 June 2026, entitled “Polícia Federal indicia empresários, diretor-geral e alto escalão da ANM por organização criminosa e outras acusações em novos relatórios” (Brazilian Federal Police indict businessmen, director-general, and high-ranking officials of the National Mining Agency (ANM) for criminal organization and other charges in new reports).
However, the contested article does not state that Sigma Lithium is under investigation or has been indicted in the criminal proceedings arising from Operations Rejeito and Parcours. Instead, it identifies the company as one of the lithium mining companies that could benefit from the reduction of the Chapada do Lagoão Environmental Protection Area (Área de Proteção Ambiental – APA) in the Jequitinhonha Valley, based on information previously documented by the Mining Observatory in an investigation published in September 2025.
Moreover, Sigma challenged the article’s reference to the company’s relationship with the non-governmental organisation Associação Ambiental e Cultural Zeladoria do Planeta, which had commissioned a technical study supporting the reduction of the protected area. In response, the Mining Observatory recalled that Sigma publicly announced in November 2023 that it had received an “Environmental Management” award from the organisation and celebrated this recognition on its official social media channels. The article does not allege that Sigma financed or commissioned the technical study supporting the reduction of the protected area, but merely refers to the company’s interest in the region.
The Observatory recalls that this notification follows a similar attempt by Sigma Mineração S.A. to prevent the publication of an article by the Mining Observatory in April 2025. At this time, Sigma sent an extrajudicial notification threatening legal action should the Observatory publish an article reporting on a technical note prepared by researchers from several Brazilian and international universities documenting alleged human rights and environmental violations linked to the company’s mining activities. After the Mining Observatory proceeded with publication, the case prompted reactions from Brazilian organisations promoting freedom of the press and submissions before several public institutions, including the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), the Minas Gerais Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPMG) and the Federal Public Defender’s Office (DPU).
The Observatory condemns SIGMA’s acts of intimidation and threats against the Mining Observatory, which seems to be only aimed at preventing the media free exercise of its right to freedom of expression on a topic of public interest.
The Observatory is deeply concerned that the repeated use of extrajudicial notifications seeking the removal of published content and discouraging future reporting appears to constitute a pattern of judicial harassment and intimidation process (SLAPP) aimed at restricting the Mining Observatory’s legitimate work documenting the environmental and human rights impacts of mining activities in Brazil.
Therefore, the Observatory calls on SIGMA to commit not to use strategic litigation against public participation actions against the Mining Observatory or any journalists or human rights defenders and to respect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Actions requested:
Please write to the authorities of Brazil asking them to:
– Guarantee in all circumstances the physical integrity and psychological well-being of all the members of the Mining Observatory, and all human rights defenders in Brazil;
– Ensure that companies refrain from using extrajudicial notifications or other legal mechanisms to intimidate or silence human rights defenders and investigative journalists;
– Ensure in all circumstances the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the right to independent investigative journalism.
To Sigma Lithium asking them to :
– Refrain from using extrajudicial notifications or any other legal mechanisms to intimidate or silence the legitimate work of the Mining Observatory and other environmental human rights defenders;
– Respect the right to freedom of expression and refrain from engaging in strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) or other forms of judicial harassment aimed at restricting reporting on public interest affairs;
– Conduct its business activities in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including by respecting human rights and avoiding actions that may affect the legitimate work of human rights defenders.
Addresses:
• H.E. Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Email : secom.inter@presidencia.gov.br; X : @LulaOficial
• Mr. Guilherme Boulos, Minister-Chief of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil, Email: gpr.agenda@presidencia.gov.br; sgpr.chegab@presidencia.gov.br; X : @GuilhermeBoulos
• Mr. Wellington César Lima e Silva, Minister of Justice and Public Security; Email: senasp@mj.gov.br
• Ms. Janine Mello, Minister of State for Human Rights and Citizenship; Email: agenda.gab@mdh.gov.br; coordenacao.gab@mdh.gov.br; gab.mdh@mdh.gov.br; X: @mdhcbrasil
• Office of the National Public Defender for Human Rights (DNDH), Federal Public Defender’s Office (DPU); Email: gabinete.dndh@dpu.def.br
• Ms. Fabiana Keylla Schneider, Federal Prosecutor (Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office – MPF), Rio de Janeiro (PR-RJ); Email: fabianaschneider@mpf.mp.br
• Mr. Daniel Márcio Safadi Ubaldo, Federal Prosecutor (Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office – MPF), Minas Gerais (PR-MG); Email: danielubaldo@mpf.mp.br
• National Ombudsperson for Human Rights, Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship; Email: ouvidoria@mdh.gov.br
• Mr. Luiz Eloy Terena, Minister of Indigenous Peoples (head of the Ministry); Email: agenda.mpi@povosindigenas.gov.br
• H.E. Mr. Ricardo de Souza Monteiro, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations in Geneva; Email: delbrasgen@itamaraty.gov.br
• H.E. Mr. Silvio José Albuquerque e Silva, Ambassador, Embassy of Brazil in Brussels; Email: brasemb.bruxelas@itamaraty.gov.br; X: @BrazilBrussels
Please also write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of Brazil in your respective countries.
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Paris-Geneva, 13 August 2026
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
• E-mail: alert@observatoryfordefenders.org
• Tel FIDH: + 33 1 43 55 25 18
• Tel OMCT: + 41 22 809 49 39