Project offers legal and psychosocial advice to victims of racism
The Oxê initiative with an interdisciplinary team made up of lawyers, psychologists and social workers
Credit: Disclosure
By: Eduarda Nunes / Lupa do Bem – Favela em Pauta
With the objective of strengthening the fight against racism in the state of Pernambuco, the Network of Black Women, in partnership with the Office of Legal Advice to Popular Organizations (Gajop) and the Black Articulation of Pernambuco (Anepe), created the Oxê project.
The initiative provides legal and psychosocial assistance for victims and has an interdisciplinary team made up of lawyers, psychologists and social workers to monitor and forward cases.
The project was launched in November 2021 and brings together cases that were followed up by the aforementioned institutions and others that emerged from that date. The team is made up entirely of black people and also has support from the National Articulation of Black Psychologists and Researchers (Anpsinep) for the internal organization of the professionals involved.
The motto “Power for the black people” is one of the horizons worked on in the project. Who says this is Igor Oliveira, lawyer, researcher and member of Oxê. The name chosen for this initiative is not by chance: Oxê is the double-edged ax used by Orixá Xangô, who represents justice in Candomblé.
Popular advocacy
Patrícia Oliveira, who also works as a lawyer in this initiative, points out that in addition to legal institutions, other obstacles to the access of black and poor people to justice can be the lawyers themselves during the mediation and referral of cases. “In addition to intervening for the activation and good use of the public machine, our proposal also undergoes a differentiated reception, based on popular advocacy”, she comments. Empower people to make complaints and guide them on the best way to go in search of resolutions.
The project is referenced in other programs to combat racism in the country, such as SOS Racismo. In the formative moments, together with the Management Committee and the Political Council that accompany the interdisciplinary team of Oxê, it was found that today black people have more resources to claim their rights.
Whether by the popularization of the Caó Law (1989), which provides for imprisonment of up to five years for those who commit the crime of racism, or by other legal instruments to promote racial equality, such as the Racial Equality Statute (2010), it is understood that currently, there is wider access to racial literacy and, consequently, to a greater notion of rights as citizens.
“Law alone is not enough”
On the other hand, “we understand that the law alone is not enough”, comments Eliel Silva, the lawyer who coordinates the team.
Social worker Daniela Rodrigues says that one of the biggest obstacles the black population faces is the precariousness of public policies. Therefore, Oxê, in addition to guiding the paths that must be followed, demands that public services work and fulfill their functions. “People get sick because of extreme social vulnerability,” he says.
Psychologist Maria Luiza Santos says that the team’s biggest difficulties are difficulties imposed by racism, which “steals, takes it off the axis and leaves several sequels”. Sequels that not even the team members are unharmed.
How to support and monitor the project
To support the Oxê project, it is possible to accompany the following organizations:
