Focolare Movement

Communion and Law at Manaus in Brazil

Nov 14, 2011

Ten law faculties involving judges, lawyers, politicians and students spend two days in the heart of the Amazon discussing legal issues from the point of view of fraternity, with implications for the field of environment.

“The Amazon State Inspector General of Justice, Judge Maria Guedes Moura, called the second congress on law and fraternity for the North and Northwest Brazil “An instrument for the building of a more just society and a better future, beginning from the law.” The congress, which was organized by Communion and Law, took place on 3-4 November 2011 at the Division for Internal Affairs of the State Court of Justice. The Congress was opened by the president of the Court, João Simões. As he welcomed attendees and presenters from different international settings, the judge stated that he felt honored to host such an important gathering. Among those present was also the director of the School of Magistracy, Flávio Pascarelli, and this seemed to underline the importance of the project for the formation of future judges. Over 300 law workers took part in the congress from different areas of the legal profession: judges, public ministers, lawyers, court officials, members of the police, deputies, some State Secretaries and students from ten Law faculties in Manaus. Cury Munir, Magistrate and member of the Drafting Committee of the Statute of the Child and Adolescent, laid the foundations for the work, which dealt with society and law in the construction of justice. Judge Carlos Augusto Machado from the Public Prosecution of Sergipe (the smallest State in Brazil) stressed the importance of fraternity as a true juridical and constitutional category. On the second day the presentation by Olga Boschi (director of the Center for Legal Sciences at the Federal University of Santa Catarina) was very much appreciated. She presented the value of possessing an understanding of fraternity as an academic topic in a curriculum of study. The lesson of Adalberto Carim, judge on the Tribunal for the Environment and Agricultural Affairs of the River of the Amazons, on Environmental Justice in the 21st century was also very well received. The idea of fraternity in law took on new meaning within the socio-cultural context of the State of Amazonas with its pressing ecological issues and the need to protect the environmental heritage as an expression of fraternity for future generations. Carlos Aurélio Motta, professor at the University of Ibirapuera and an expert on ethics and human rights, opened new avenues for academic research. In the opinion of the organizers of the conference, the ideas developed during these discussions will bear many benefits for Brazil. In fact, representatives from different States attended and the event was transmitted via internet on the School of Magistracy (ESMAM) website, whose page can be found on the official website of the State Court of Justice: http://www.tjam.jus.br/esmam

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