The next edition of Intervid already has a specific date and place: it will be held in Europe, from 10 to 15 December this year, with the aim of reinforcing the discussions started in the first edition in Brasilia.
The Brazilian Institute for the Comprehensive Attention and Protection of Victims (Pró-Vítima) held the International Victim Law Forum (Intervid) from 25 to 27 November in Brasilia-DF. The main purpose of the meeting is to issue a formal document, called the Charter of Powers, to raise awareness among the United Nations and other entities about the rights of people affected by crimes, natural disasters, accidents and public disasters.
The Charter of Powers will include proposals for public prevention and victim support policies as an integral and essential part of the justice system.
The first interview was conducted in the Federal District Section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and was attended by experts, public authorities, legal professionals, academics and representatives of civic organizations. The focus of the discussion was to build effective measures for protection, compensation (including the financial dimension) and recognition of victims, directly and indirectly. The forum’s programming included panel discussions, discussion tables, and lectures that addressed safeguards, access to justice, and institutional restoration practices.
The official opening of Intervid took place on Tuesday (25/11), at 1pm, and was presided over by its President, Mariana Ferrer. The president is the person who gave his name to Law No. 15.275/2021 (Mariana Ferrer Law) She is an ambassador for Pró-Vítima. After the ceremony, a symposium was held on “Symbolically Rape as a War Crime”, which discussed the case of the young woman who, after being exposed to sexual violence in 2018, was subjected to acts of torture during judicial proceedings, sparking criticism of the actions of the judicial system.
Prosecutor Celeste Leite dos Santos (MP-SP), who heads Pró-Vítima, also participated as a debater. She led a commission “on pro-victim skepticism and the legalization of expression in sexual crimes in light of Italian legislation on consent.” The lawyer touched on concrete measures aimed at guaranteeing rights and better defining the responsibilities of public authorities. Celeste stressed that the forum is necessary for Brazil to advance in building a comprehensive justice system that recognizes the victim as a rights holder, and to transform good intentions into concrete policies.
The first day of Intervid also saw a presentation by Judge Katia Herminia Roncada, of the Federal Regional Court for the Third District (TRF-3); Written by Amini Haddad Campos, Assistant Presiding Judge of the Supreme Military Court; Written by Luciana López Rocha, Judge of Law at the Court of Justice for Sport (TJD); and attorneys Clarissa Nepomuceno and Camila Rovato Duarte.
The second day of the forum (11/26), which began at one o’clock in the afternoon, was devoted to discussing crimes of high national concern, in addition to comparative analyzes of Brazilian legislation with that of other countries.
On Thursday (27/11), at 9 a.m., a vote was taken on the theses developed by the Intergovernmental Relationship Working Group of the University of São Paulo (USP), the group responsible for preparing the Victims’ Powers Letter. This document will be delivered to the main victim protection bodies, national and international, including the United Nations.
Celeste Lett dos Santos concluded that the forum will end with the drafting of the charter and an analysis of how different countries deal with people affected by violence, with a focus on mental health practices and social support. She also pointed to the Mariana Ferrer Law as a symbolic and legal milestone for Brazilian achievements in this field.
The next edition of Intervid already has a date and place set: it will be held in Europe, from 10 to 15 December this year, with the aim of reinforcing the discussions started in the first edition in Brasilia. Registration for this event is free.