Amnesty International today launched a new app to document the use of firearms in Rio de Janeiro before the 2016 Olympic Games.
Cross-fire will allow people living across Rio de Janeiro to report incidents of gun violence, which have been increasing over the last few years.
“Brazil has one of the highest levels of homicides across the world, with around 42,000 people killed with guns every year. Those living in the most marginalized areas of the city are disproportionately affected by this crisis,” said Atila Roque, Brazil Director at Amnesty International.
“The application is a tool to give more visibility to the tragic reality thousands of people across Rio de Janeiro have to live with every day and a way to urge the authorities to take some real steps to tackle this crisis.”
The application is a tool to give more visibility to the tragic reality thousands of people across Rio de Janeiro have to live with every day and a way to urge the authorities to take some real steps to tackle this crisis
Atila Roque, Executive Director at Amnesty International Brazil
Information gathered through the application during its first month will be made public at a press conference in Rio on 2 August 2016.
The application has been developed with Cecília Olliveira, external researcher and data manager of Cross-Fire app. It is part of Amnesty International’s campaign Violence has no place in these games! which calls on the authorities in Brazil to take steps to avoid human rights violations during public security operations in Rio de Janeiro.
The app will be available for download from the Apple Store and Google Play.