Event to debate the 30 years of the Citizens’ Constitution

This event, organised by Conectas, Folha de S.Paulo and the FGV Law School, will hold debates on progress and setbacks in applying the Constitution.

Leandro Colon, jornalista da Folha de S.Paulo, moderando a mesa "Constituição Federal e Sistema Internacional de Direitos Humanos", no seminário 30 anos da Constituição Cidadã realizado no auditório da Folha, em São Paulo. Compuseram a mesa: (da esq. p/dir.) Glenda Mezarobba, cientista política, Alberto Toron, advogado e Rogério Sotilli,diretor-executivo do Instituto Vladimir Herzog. São Paulo/SP.

On Monday 15 October, Conectas, Folha de São Paulo and the Getúlio Vargas Foundation Law School held a seminar on the “30 years of the Citizens’ Constitution: Progress and Setbacks”. The event took place in the Folha de São Paulo auditorium in the city of São Paulo.

During the seminar, academics, judges and representatives from civil society discussed subjects like, the role of the judiciary as guardian of the Constitution, counterpoints between austerity measures, the international human rights system and the Citizens’ Constitution.

Among those invited to attend was the Sao Paulo Court of Justice Judge Kenarik Boujikian, Economist at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation, Samuel Pessoa and the Executive Director of the Vladimir Herzog Institute, Rogério Sotilli.

The Political Scientist and USP Professor, Rogério Arantes, the USP Law Professor, Conrado Mendes and the São Paulo Court of Justice Judge, Kenarik Boujikian were on the panel on “The role of the Judiciary as Guardian of the Constitution”. During the debate, Professor Rogério Arantes said the current situation in Brazil is ‘gloomy’. He appeared to be pessimistic about the future of the legal system. “What I see ahead is a process of the deinstitutionalisation of democracy.” He said.

To see the full debate.

Conectas Executive Director, Juana Kweitel, the OXFAM Campaign Coordinator, Rafael Georges and the Getúlio Vargas Foundation Economist, Samuel Pessoa were on the panel on “Austerity Measures versus the Citizens’ Constitution”. In her analysis of the austerity measures recently introduced in Brazil, Juana Kweitel reflected on Constitutional Amendment 95, that has hit the country’s underprivileged classes: “A tool is needed to guarantee the necessary adjustments to ensure access to basic services such as health and education.” She said.

To see the full debate.

Political Scientist, Glenda Mezarobba, Lawyer, Alberto Toron and Executive Director of the Vladimir Herzog Institute, Rogério Sotilli participated in the panel on “The Federal Constitution and the International Human Rights System”. The lawyer, Alberto Toron drew attention to the need to control institutional violence in order to defend human rights. “When the police do whatever they want and behave as though ‘anything goes’, we enter a process of undermining human rights.” He said.

To see the full debate.