The Brazil Institute invites you to a lecture by Geisa de Assis Rodrigues, a Professor in the School of Law at Mackenzie University (São Paulo), and Visiting Research Fellow in the Brazil Institute. 

Abstract

What is so unique about the Brazilian Prosecution Service's constitutional design? What are the main responsibilities of the Federal Prosecution Service concerning indigenous people`s rights? What is the relevance of defending the right to education for indigenous people? How can it contribute in maintaining the multicultural richness of Brazil? Federal Prosecutors in Brazil work far beyond criminal prosecution. They face many challenges especially when they have to deal with indigenous demands. The majority of the indigenous claims are related to the demarcation of their territories and health issues, but since 2008 the Federal Prosecution Service has been receiving a large number of complaints against government policy on indigenous schools.  According to the Brazilian Constitution their schools should preserve their language, creed and tradition.  Is the “differentiated indigenous school” a reality? Does it respect the singularities of each indigenous person? Education can empower communities and individuals to live their differences in a more equal way but it can also be a gateway to uniformity and to the death of diversity. The academic world must provide an arena to debate the performance of a State Institution conceived to enhance indigenous people`s rights.

Biography

Geisa de Assis Rodrigues is a Professor in the School of Law at Mackenzie University (São Paulo) and at the National School of Union Prosecution (ESMPU).  She has a PHD in Civil Law from the State University of Rio de Janeiro. She has also taught in the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGRS). Geisa teaches Constitutional Law and Collective Civil Procedure.  Since 1995 she has been a Federal Prosecutor, having had posts in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Porto Alegre. From 2004 she has been working at the Office of Federal Circuit Prosecution in São Paulo.  Her main professional activities are in the field of civil and social rights promotion, environment law, and the defence of minorities. Her current research focusses on the right to education and public policy.