April 22-28: The Brazilian Association of Exposed to Asbestos (ABREA) organized a series of events under the banner of “Protection Week against Asbestos.” The event was supported by the Inter-Union Health and Safety Council in Osasco and the Region where the event took place. The objective of the event was to evaluate next steps of the organization after the ban on asbestos in Brazil. An international delegation of Ban Asbestos Network, with delegates from Indonesia, India, Japan and United Kingdom attended to the meeting.

The week included an ecumenical event, honouring the victims of asbestos and the launch of the book “Eternidade”, by the journalist Marina Moura, which tells the story of the creation of ABREA and other regional organizations fighting against asbestsos.

The social movement made a very positive assessment of the ban on asbestos in the country, but, recognizes there is still a lot of work to do including fair compensation for those exposed to asbestos, environmental decontamination and the end of asbestos export. Brazil is the main asbestos exporter to India and the second exporter to Indonesia.