Ana Paula Gomes de Oliveira

Ana Paula Gomes de Oliveira
Born (1976-10-09) 9 October 1976
Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Alma materEstácio de Sá University
OccupationHuman rights activist
Years active2014–present
OrganizationMães de Manguinhos
Known forCampaigning against police brutality and institutional racism in Brazil
Children2
AwardsMartin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (2025)

Ana Paula Gomes de Oliveira (born 9 October 1976) is a Brazilian human rights activist. Following the death of her son in 2014 as a result of police brutality, she co-founded Mães de Manguinhos, an organisation supporting the families of victims of state violence and institutional racism. In 2025, Oliveira received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders in recognition of her activism.

Personal life

Oliveira was born on 9 October 1976 in Manguinhos, a favela in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro. She is the eldest of four children born to Maria José Gomes de Oliveira and José Isídio de Oliveira Filho. Her grandparents had been forcibly relocated to Manguinhos from Caju in 1956. In 1977 during the military dictatorship in Brazil, Oliveira's parents were arbitrarily detained and tortured by police officers for two days. As a child, Oliveira's uncle and cousin both died as a result of state violence; her uncle was stabbed to death while in prison, while her cousin was shot dead by police officers.[1][2]

In 1994, Oliveira had her first son, Johnatha. After finding employment at a daycare centre, she started studying pedagogy in Méier, though she was forced to drop out after losing her job. By 2005, Oliveira had married and had a second child, Maria Paula; that same year, she graduated with a degree from Estácio de Sá University. Shortly afterwards, her husband was shot in the knee and permanently disabled by military police while drinking at a bar.[1][2]

Activism

Murder of son and investigation (2014–2024)

On 14 May 2014, a clash occurred between the Pacifying Police Unit and demonstrators in Manguinhos who were protesting against ongoing police violence in the favela. Officers were reported to have been shooting indiscriminately into the crowd; Oliveira's son Johnatha, who was reported to have been either walking to or from his girlfriend's home, was shot seven times in the back, and died of his injuries.[3][4][5][6][7][8] He was one of 580 people killed by the police in Brazil in 2014, of whom 79% were black.[6]

Shortly following Johnatha's death, the police and local media erroneously reported that he had been a known criminal operating in Manguinhos. A member of the Pacifying Police Unit, Alessandro Marcelino de Souza, was identified as making the shots that killed Johnatha. Souza initially denied being present during the shooting, though later contradicted this in statements provided in 2016 when he acknowledged being at the scene.[2][3][9][10]

In 2018, a jury trial was ordered. In 2024, the Third Jury Court of Rio de Janeiro reduced the charges against Souza from premeditated murder to manslaughter without intent to kill. Following this, the Public Defender's Office of Rio de Janeiro filed an appeal for Souza to be charged with intentional homicide. A new trial remains pending as of 2024.[3][5][11]

Establishment of Mães de Manguinhos and subsequent activism (2014–present)

In the immediate aftermath, Oliveira was supported by Marielle Franco, then a member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro's Human Rights Commission.[12] Oliveira was introduced to other mothers of children killed by Brazilian police officers in the area; they subsequently co-founded Mães de Manguinhos (lit. 'Mothers of Manguinhos'). The organisation, comprising largely of black women from favelas whose children or other relatives had been killed as a result of police brutality or state violence, called for the remembrance of, and justice for, victims, as well as accountability.[1][3][4]

Through Mães de Manguinhos, Oliveira campaigned for greater awareness and addressing of issues of police violence and institutional racism in Manguinhos and other favelas in Rio de Janeiro, including incidents of murder, arbitrary detention, and racially-motivated violence, from municipal, state and legislative bodies. Oliveira has also called for greater state support for victims and their families, and communities impacted by violence.[3][6]

In addition to her work with Mães de Manguinhos, Oliveira has worked for the national coalition of state violence activist groups, the Rede de Atenção a Pessoas Afetadas pela Violência de Estado (lit. 'Network for Supporting Victims of State Violence'). This has included providing psychological support for families of victims of police brutality, and lobbying for legislative reforms to address systemic racism and provide comprehensive emotional and practical support for victims of violence.[6][13][14] Oliveira is also part of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, where she works as an analyst for its Assassination Witness project, documenting attacks linked to organised crime.[15]

Oliveira has said described Brazilian state institutions as being racist and intent on "separating Black mothers from their children" through murder, incarceration, and forced disappearances.[5] She has identified systemic racism both in the police as well as the judiciary and in all levels of local, state and national government. Oliveira said that "the military dictatorship ended for the middle class and for artists... in the favela, it never ended", referencing the ongoing presence of military police in favelas.[7][14] Following Operation Containment, a 2025 series of police raids in Rio de Janeiro which led to the deaths of 121 people, she publicly called for the urgent establishment of legal mechanisms to regulate and ensure transparency concerning police operations in favelas.[7]

Recognition

Oliveira's story was one of 15 featured in the book Mães em Luta (lit. 'Mothers in Struggle'), published in 2016 by Ponte and Mães de Maio, about women who lost family members to police violence.[2]

In 2025, Oliveira received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, the first Brazilian to win the award.[3][5] The panel's chair, Hans Thoolen, stated that "the racist violence that plagues the streets of Brazil deserves the full attention of the federal government and the international community" and praised Oliveira's activism following her son's death.[9] She dedicated her award for her son and Franco, who was murdered by police in 2018.[5][16] She also called on the United Nations to pressure the Brazilian government to address state-sanctioned violence.[5][17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mães de Manguinhos: como a dor do luto foi transformada em luta no Rio de Janeiro". Brasil de Fato (in Portuguese). 9 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sansão, Luiza (18 May 2021). "Ana Paula, mais uma sobrevivente: 'enquanto tiver forças, serei a voz do meu filho'" [Ana Paula, another survivor: 'As long as I have the strength, I will be my son's voice']. Ponte (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 23 May 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ana Paula Gomes de Oliveira". Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. 2025. Archived from the original on 14 April 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 Jaccottet, Aline (10 November 2025). "Ana Paula Gomes de Oliveira, une mère en deuil dans les favelas de Rio: «Le respect de la vie doit primer sur tout»" [Ana Paula Gomes de Oliveira, a grieving mother in the favelas of Rio: "Respect for life must take precedence over everything"]. Le Temps (in French). Archived from the original on 4 July 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "'Dedico ao meu filho e a Marielle Franco': Ana Paula Oliveira, do Mães de Manguinhos, ganha prêmio de Direitos Humanos na Suíça" ['I dedicate this to my son and to Marielle Franco': Ana Paula Oliveira, from Mães de Manguinhos, wins Human Rights award in Switzerland]. Brasil de Fato (in Portuguese). 26 November 2025. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Ativista brasileira vence principal prêmio de direitos humanos do mundo" [Brazilian activist wins world's top human rights award]. IstoÉ (in Portuguese). 26 November 2025. Archived from the original on 15 December 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Karpov, Kleber (15 November 2025). "Prêmio Martin Ennals reconhece mãe de jovem morto pela polícia no Rio" [Martin Ennals Prize recognizes mother of young man killed by police in Rio]. PDNews (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Mãe de jovem morto pela PM no Rio vence prêmio 'Nobel' de direitos humanos" [Mother of young man killed by police in Rio wins 'Nobel' prize for human rights]. Terra (in Portuguese). 26 November 2025. Archived from the original on 21 December 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 Souza, Matheus (14 November 2025). "Ativista brasileira fundadora do Mães de Manguinhos ganha "Nobel dos Direitos Humanos"" [Brazilian activist and founder of Mães de Manguinhos wins the "Nobel Prize for Human Rights"]. Afirmativa (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Sansão, Luiza (5 May 2016). "PM que matou jovem com tiro nas costas em favela no Rio cai em contradição" [Police officer who killed young man with a shot in the back in a Rio favela contradicts himself]. Ponte (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Serpa, Verônica (13 December 2024). "PM que matou jovem negro na favela de Manguinhos será julgado pela 2ª vez" [The police officer who killed a young black man in the Manguinhos favela will be tried for the second time]. Alma Preta (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Neto, Solon (25 November 2025). "'Reconhecimento de luta coletiva': Ana Paula Oliveira ganha 'Nobel' dos direitos humanos" ['Recognition of collective struggle': Ana Paula Oliveira wins the 'Nobel Prize' for human rights]. Alma Preta (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Seja bem-vindo à Rede de Atenção a pessoas Afetadas pela Violência de Estado!" [Welcome to the Network for Assistance to People Affected by State Violence!]. RAAVE (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 20 February 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Mãe de jovem morto pela polícia do Rio recebe prêmio internacional de Direitos Humanos" [Mother of young man killed by Rio police receives international human rights award]. Itatiaia (in Portuguese). 16 November 2025. Archived from the original on 4 December 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Oliveira, Ana Paula (2023). VIER RELEVANTE GRÜNDE: ORGANISIERTE KRIMINALITÄT BETRIFFT DIE MENSCHENRECHTE [FOUR RELEVANT REASONS: ORGANISED CRIME AFFECTS HUMAN RIGHTS] (PDF) (in German). Geneva: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 March 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Deister, Jacqueline (14 March 2025). "Caso Marielle completa 7 anos, e família permanece na luta por justiça" [The Marielle case marks its 7th anniversary, and her family continues the fight for justice]. Brasil de Fato (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 11 February 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Fonseca, Bruno; Cavalcanti, Guilherme (2 November 2025). "Letalidade policial aumenta com 5 dos 6 governadores que apoiam Cláudio Castro" [Police lethality increases with 5 out of 6 governors supporting Cláudio Castro]. Brasil de Fato (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 21 November 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
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