Exile and testimony: a study on the Russell II Tribunal (1974-1976) and the enunciations of torture during the Brazilian military dictatorship

Abstract

This is a study on the experience and memory of the Russell II Tribunal, an opinion tribunal held in Italy and Belgium between 1974 and 1976, which included testimonies from Brazilian exiles and former political prisoners during the military dictatorship (1964-1985). The empirical research will be carried out in the Historical Archive of the Basso Foundation (Rome, Italy), which has the complete transcripts of the testimonies, as well as letters, reports, official documents and audiovisual collections. By ethnographically analyzing these materials, the objective is to understand the tone change from the revolutionary ideals to the grammar of human rights, taking into account the point of view of the event organizers, participants and audience, in the mid-1970s. The purpose intends to contribute to the already established field of studies on exiles and international denunciation during Latin American military dictatorships through the investigation of unpublished material in Brazil. (AU)