After being announced as the new Minister of Human Rights and CitizenshipMinas Gerais state deputy Macaé Evaristo (PT) said this Monday (9) that her administration’s priorities include tackling sexual violence against children, guaranteeing the rights of the elderly and the homeless population.
The official appointment to the position is expected to take place next week, but the work has already begun today with a first visit to the ministry. Macaé Evaristo held a brief meeting to meet the secretaries, prepare an initial diagnosis of the department and establish the urgent matters.
“Tackling sexual violence against children, the homeless population, the elderly: this ministry has policies that are very important. We need to get out of this mourning and get back to fighting. There is a lot of work to do,” said Evaristo, in his first speech to the press after the announcement.
Until she officially takes office, Macaé Evaristo will alternate between Brasília and Minas Gerais. She is taking leave from her position as state deputy, but still has some commitments to fulfill during her term. She will take over the ministry after Silvio Almeida leaves. fired last Friday (6) amid allegations of sexual harassment.
Complaints
The minister spoke about the invitation received by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the need to investigate the accusations against the former minister.
“The conversation with President Lula was quite calm. President Lula knows my work and his main concern is that we can strengthen the policies of this ministry, which are very important for society as a whole. And, regarding the allegations, it is very important that those responsible carry out the necessary investigations and that is what we are here to do,” he said.
“We are in this transition phase, but we must be able to complete the entire procedure. I believe that it is necessary to guarantee the rights of the people who make the complaint, to guarantee the broad and full right to defense. And something very important is that we guarantee the privacy and confidentiality of the facts, especially for those people who will be harmed.”
Macaé Evaristo also commented on the criticism the department received about the delay in resuming memory and reparation work, such as case of the Special Commission on Political Deaths and Disappearances (CEMDP)resumed at the end of August.
“I believe that everyone has the right to memory and the truth. And our country especially needs to respond to this, because if we don’t do this in a very clear and transparent manner, we will never move forward in terms of the ethical dilemmas that we have in Brazilian society. The right to memory and the truth is what strengthens democracy. We have to commit ourselves. And we will work. We will not look back. We will look forward.”
