Country elects new guardianship counselors on Sunday (1st) – 09/29/2023 – Education

Next Sunday (1st), Brazil will elect new members of the guardianship councils of all 5,568 municipalities in the country. For experts, the main challenge in choosing new members is to avoid political-partisan and religious interference in the bodies, whose main objective is to ensure the rights of all children and adolescents.

For the first time, the country will hold elections for the renewal of 6,100 councils on a unified date and with the loan of electronic voting machines to all municipalities.

The support from the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) was given following a request from the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship, under the understanding that the aid could increase popular participation in the choice of more than 30 thousand new guardianship counselors.

There is an expectation of a greater number of voters this year, as the pandemic has highlighted the importance of the councils’ actions. These bodies were fundamental in protecting children and adolescents who were victims of domestic violence, child labor or in searching for those who did not return to schools after in-person classes resumed.

The greater role of guardianship councils also exposed the risks of electing members with political-party or religious ties, who let their private views override the best interests of children and adolescents.

“The pandemic showed society as a whole how the guardianship council can play a fundamental role in protecting children and adolescents, but these members need to have this protection as their main objective. They cannot let their political or religious positions interfere with their actions”, says Fernanda Flaviana, from the National Movement for Family and Community Coexistence.

According to her, complaints are common from counselors who end up using their position to impose their private views, with the threat of removing custody of children from families. Last year, for example, the mother of a 14-year-old girl was denounced by the Ribeirão das Neves guardianship council, in Minas Gerais, after taking her daughter to an Umbanda ritual.

“The guardianship counselor is not elected to defend his religion or a political position, but to ensure all the rights of children and adolescents provided for by the ECA [Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente]”, says Flaviana.

For her, the actions of the Ministry of Human Rights for this year’s elections could weaken situations that favored candidates with abuse of political or religious power. In addition to the request for assistance to the TSE, the ministry also asked municipalities to offer free transport this Sunday during the voting period.

“Unfortunately, we know of candidates who charter vans to take their voters to vote, co-opt voters in services or masses. As a result, many people, whose greatest interest is the protection of children, are unable to be elected.”

Renato Godoy, member of Agenda 227 (a group that brings together social organizations defending children’s rights), argues that municipalities can also have a more active participation in improving the qualifications of candidates and future council members.

Some municipalities, for example, have established a pre-selection exam for candidates. In Belo Horizonte and the Federal District, candidates undergo a test, document analysis and proof of experience with the topic.

“Counselors do not need to be technical people, with specific training, but who have an important link with the territory where they work and are committed to ensuring the rights of children and adolescents. These pre-selection mechanisms can help to strengthen the choice without distorting this role of community involvement”, he assesses.

Guardianship councils came into existence in the country on October 12, 1990, with the entry into force of the ECA. The statute established that all municipalities would be responsible for implementing this public and autonomous body with the function of guaranteeing and ensuring compliance with the rights of children and adolescents.

“The councils were born at a time of resumption of Brazilian democracy. Now, we are in a process of strengthening democracy, it would be important for society to see the election of new councilors as a civic act.”

How does the guardianship council work?

The guardianship council is a public and autonomous body whose function is to guarantee and ensure compliance with the rights of children and adolescents, and assist them when necessary.

According to the ECA, the mission of the councils is to represent society in defending these rights, guaranteeing, for example, access to health, education, leisure, family life, among others. Its activities must occur in partnership with schools and other public services.

The body is made up of at least five members chosen through elections by the local population to hold their positions for four years.

Who can vote in the trustee board elections?

Voters over 16 years of age, whose electoral registration is in good standing, can vote. You just need to present your voter registration card and be at your electoral address in the municipality in which you intend to vote.

The selection process for municipal councilors takes place every four years on the first Sunday of October of the year following the presidential election. Voting is confidential and also optional. Voting must take place from 8am to 5pm.