Entities reinforce demands for black women in the STF – 06/01/2023 – Power

Civil society movements questioned the nomination of Cristiano Zanin to the STF (Federal Supreme Court), confirmed by Lula (PT) this Thursday (1st), and reinforced the demand for the appointment of a black woman to the court.

The organization Mulheres Negras Decidem defends the names of black jurists that it considers qualified. “Today, we have big names validated and driven by dozens of movements, collectives and organizations. Here is the triple list of the people: Lívia Santana and Sant’Anna Vaz, Adriana Alves dos Santos Cruz and Soraia da Rosa Mendes”, says the note.

For the entity, the appointment of a STF minister is a political act, and the presence of black jurists would repair historical damage. “Since redemocratization, 130 years ago, there has not been a single black jurist who has held the position of Justice of the Supreme Court.”

In addition to being historic, such an appointment would contribute to the inclusion of a group still without representation in the STF, expanding through diversity the ability of the Brazilian Justice to guarantee rights and citizenship.

“A black jurist can facilitate the beginning of a new era for our country, in which the appreciation of life and constitutional rights are basic premises.”

A note released by the initiative, which acts to increase the participation of women in politics, also says that society needs to know the opinions of those who occupy the most important body of the Judiciary.

“Preferably, someone who has already produced literature, has given oral arguments, given public lectures or in any other way has established a dialogue with society about their theses; exposing themselves, therefore, to general scrutiny and contradictory.”

The excerpt makes direct reference to Zanin, who became Lula’s lawyer in 2013 and became known for defending the PT in Lava Jato proceedings, becoming his personal friend. He graduated in law from PUC-SP in 1999 and completed a specialization in civil procedural law at the same university, without having taken a master’s or doctorate in his professional years.

The accelerator for women in politics Conecta also rejected Lula’s nomination. “In Brazilian history, among 170 justices, we had only 3 women and 3 blacks in the STF, which is embarrassing”, she says.

The text questions how there can be democracy and progress in the country, if a large part of the social groups that suffer historical injustices, such as blacks and women, do not have the chance to participate in the decision-making process of doing justice.

“Connecta defends and advocates alongside social movements such as Mulheres Negras Decidem, Quero Você Eleita and others, the rapid expansion of the presence of women and blacks in higher courts, as a matter of social justice and efficiency of decision-making processes”, he concludes.

Frei David Santos, executive director of Educafro, is optimistic about the president’s next appointments. According to him, the institution presented Lula with a list of ten Afro-Brazilians for positions of ministers in the STF.

“There are five Afro-Brazilian women and five men, all with unblemished personalities and high academic knowledge. Most with postdoctoral degrees in Europe or the United States”, he says. “We know and trust Dr. Zanin’s choice, in the certainty that the next two openings will be for an Afro woman and the third for an Afro man,” she said.

Minister Rosa Weber will be the next to leave the Supreme Court, in October. Judges are required to retire at age 75.

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