After football, rights ” “

With the end of World Cup, and after Germany’s victory in Brazil, Steilpass-Aktion, the German initiative that has run an international petition for social justice and human rights in Brazil, also came to an end. The initiative, launched on the suggestion of Adveniat, the organization of the German Church in Latin America, involved the Catholic associations of sport (Djk), workers (Kab), farmers (Kljb) and Kolping International. The petition and public awareness activities promoted by Germany turned out to be very successful in terms of the requests for decent work, health care, education, agrarian reform, respect for and protection of minorities, the fight against corruption, protection and education of children, democratic control of the judiciary and the media, social engagement. Stephan Jentgens, director of Adveniat, analyzed for SirEurope the results and future prospects of the project. What kinds of results have you achieved so far with Aktion-Steilpass? “Adveniat has so far collected nearly 10 thousand signatures for fairness and justice. But for us in Germany Steilpass action (literally ‘lob’ – ed.’s note) is not over just because the football circus was dismantled and moved elsewhere. It’s important to continue our support activity of the Brazilian population and jointly denounce their poverty, social injustices, local corruption, so that disadvantaged brackets in Brazil and throughout the world may overcome their difficulties. That’s why Steilpass action continues even after the football championship. The actions’ requests are contained in the petition that was submitted to the Brazilian government on the eve of the world championship. Forms for the signature collection or for the online petition can be requested online until November by logging on www.aktion-steilpass.de. Signatures will be handed to the German government by next December”. Observing the protests in Brazil the success of the sport event is hard to tell. “It’s true. In fact, it was widely noted that a true festive atmosphere in the Country that hosted the World Cup was not perceived. But sport brings peoples together, at least for a moment it helps them overcome class difference, it unites old people, youths, families. Football creates enthusiasm and this has been the case also for the championship in Rio de Janeiro. Obviously I welcome Germany as the winner of the World Cup, but the German team will bring to Germany also the awareness of social difficulties in the largest Country of South America”. What is the commitment envisaged for Western countries, humanitarian agencies and local workers? “The Brazilian government had promised to spend for the World Cup only the funds collected with sponsors, not public money. But the opposite happened. The costs were particularly high for those who have lost their homes in exchange for empty stadiums. The government must act now, because the demands of the Brazilian population to access education, health care services and a better transport system will not subside. It is very important that these requests are sustained even at international level. Steilpass Action shows that the Brazilians are not alone in their demands for a better society: they can count on a broad alliance”. The 2016 Olympic Games 2016 will be held in Rio de Janeiro: what are the prospects for Adveniat and Germany’s social commitment? “For the future, organizers and political leaders will have to adopt a critical approach towards such major events. My hope is that the international Olympic committee may learn the lesson of the world cup and that Brazil’s population may be more involved in the organizational aspects. Indeed, if the hosting Country perceives a great event as a burden, in the long run it will have detrimental effects on all initiatives, whether it is the World Cup or the Olympic Games. We need more transparency, more participation, more certified minimum standards, for example with regard to human rights and environmental protection. My expectation for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro the Brazilian government, – which corresponds to the expectation of the Bishops’ Conference and of the religious orders in Brazil -, is that the country will have made a big step forward in the implementation of ten requests related to Aktion -Steilpass for a fairer society”.