Brazil – March 2025 – Salesian Deacon José Alves accompanied public defenders during the mission "Defensoria Até Você - Indigenous Edition," (Advocacy is Up to You - Indigenous Edition), carried out from March 17 to 21 across 14 villages in the municipalities of Água Boa and Nova Nazaré. His presence was crucial in facilitating access for the Public Defense representatives to the villages, thanks to the Salesians' long-standing work with indigenous communities.
The event, promoted by the Public Defense Office of the State of Mato Grosso (DPEMT), aimed to provide free legal assistance and facilitate citizenship access for indigenous communities in the region. International human rights defender Nicolas Laino and state public defender Fábio Barbosa participated in the initiative, visiting various villages and listening to local leaders on issues such as health, education, housing, and sustainability.
On March 18, they visited the municipality of Nova Nazaré to present the collected requests and discuss challenges related to education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Later, in the Paraíso and Tritopá villages, they engaged with teachers, students, nurses, and indigenous leaders. In Cocalinho, where some Guarani indigenous people live in an urban setting, they followed the community's struggle for land rights after being displaced from their territory.
Deacon José Alves actively participated in all visits, facilitating dialogue between the parties. During the mission, 113-year-old Germana Perãamo, from the Xavante ethnic group, received the news from public defender Jaqueline Oliveira that her pension had been reinstated. Clodoaldo Queiroz, Executive Secretary of the Public Defense Administration, highlighted the importance of the initiative, while Pamela Watanabe, Coordinator of Community Actions and Interactions, emphasized the value of partnerships in the project.
Reflecting on his experience, José Alves stated: "For me, this experience was very positive. We believe that evangelization means joining forces, creating collaborations, and that the defense of human rights is part of the great evangelization project that Jesus brought and wanted to make tangible."
