Brasília, 20 March 2023 - The president of the National Council of Justice (CNJ), Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber, launched this Monday, 20 March, informational resources explaining the detention control hearings regarding the rights of prisoners in four indigenous languages - Tikuna, Marubo, Kanamari and Matis – in Tabatinga, Amazonas.

The posters address issues such as arrested peoples’ rights as well as information on employment, income, education, health, housing, social assistance benefits, and violence prevention. Posters had previously been launched by the Brazilian government and UNODC Brazil in Baniwa, Nheengatu and Tukano languages in May 2022. 

The initiative is part of the "Doing Justice Programme" (Programa Fazendo Justiça), implemented by the National Council of Justice (CNJ) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and with support of the Ministry of Justice and Public Safety (MJSP/SENAPPEN). The programme also counts on the technical assistance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Brazil, which provides support for improving pre-trial detention hearings across the Brazilian federative units.

During the event in Tabatinga, Justice Rosa Weber said that the launch of the posters reflects the responsibility of the Brazilian judiciary to guarantee the constitutional rights of indigenous people, as a guarantee of information and preservation of culture. "We will not give up respect for indigenous peoples and nations, who are the living history of the birth of Brazil. Our pride in being one of the most ethnically diverse nations on the planet is immeasurable," said Weber. 

The ceremony was opened in the city's town hall with the playing of the national anthem in the Tikuna language. Indigenous leaders, including translators of the posters, spoke about the recognition by the judiciary of the rights of native peoples. 

In addition to indigenous leaders, local authorities, among them the president of the Court of Justice of Amazonas (TJAM), the state governor, the mayor of Tabatinga, and the UNODC liaison officer, participated in the ceremony.