24/07/2015 JAL 24/07/2015 UA 24/07/2015 JUA Case No Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted BRA 1/2015 Brazil Business enterprises; Hazardous substances and wastes; Health; Water and Sanitation; Allegations concerning the inadequate response to the contamination and poisoning of the environment and citizens in Piquiá de Baixo, Açailândia, Maranhão State, Amazon Region, in follow-up to the Government’s response to the previous communication of 5 November 2014. According to the information received, the Government has failed to activate previously formulated plans to resettle the population affected by the contamination in Piquiá de Baixo, caused by the iron and steel industry operating in the region, and to disburse the resources that would prevent, inter alia, aggravation of its health impact on the affected families. It is reported that residents continue to suffer from pollution despite the instalment of filters by the steel companies and that access to healthcare facilities for the affected victims remains inadequate. The previous communication was sent on 9 January 2014, see A/HRC/29/50, case no. BRA 6/2013. FRA 4/2015 France Minority issues; Allégation d’expulsion forcée de personnes Roms. Selon les informations reçues, entre le 7 et 9 juillet 2015, plus de 500 personnes Roms des villes de Ris Orangis, Ivry sur Seine et Porte d’Aubervillers auraient été expulsées. L’expulsion forcée aurait été menée sans consultation préalable et une solution de relogement convenable n’aurait pas été fournie à toutes les familles. GMB 2/2015 Gambia Summary executions; Torture; Allegations concerning the introduction of the Act to amend the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia which, if adopted, would expand the list of offences punishable by death in the country. According to the information received, in June 2015, the Government announced a plan to hold a referendum on the Act to amend the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia expanding the list of offences punishable by death to any crime deemed sufficiently serious by the National Assembly. Should the Act pass, the law maker would be able to pass bills imposing the death penalty for any crime it deems fit, effectively lifting the existing constitutional restrictions for its imposition. Furthermore, on 17 July 2015, the President of the Gambia announced on state television that the law will be applied to the letter for murderers, without mercy or exception. Many interlocutors expressed concern that the speech could be interpreted as a warning that executions of death row inmates may resume. A communication regarding a previous resumption of executions in the Gambia was sent on 28 August 2012, see A/HRC/22/67, case no. GMB 1/2012. Reply 22/09/2015 A/HRC/31/79 54 Date Type