For the first time, a Black woman raised in a favela will take the post of general ombudsman of the Public Defender’s Office of Rio de Janeiro state (DPRJ, in Portuguese). Fabiana Silva was chosen by the DPRJ’s Superior Council and took office on Monday (4). It is a two-year term position.
The agency deals with human rights violations, torture and mistreatment cases, and access to urgent health care assistance, among other rights, such as providing free legal aid.
Fabiana Silva, 42, will lead the Public Defender’s Office until 2025. She is a Black woman from a poor background, graduated in Pedagogy, is a human rights militant with two decades of activities, and has already worked as a public servant of the institution for four years.
Today, she is the coordinator of Casa Fluminense Mobilization, which monitors political policies and other governmental actions. Besides the know-how and all the knowledge acquired throughout her career, the newly elected general ombudsman says she is compromised in basing her work on empathy, listening to the needs and expanding access to justice.
“My degree in Pedagogy and experience in the fight for human rights gives me a broader view on the issue of access to justice. I also believe that I can contribute to expanding the Ombudsman's activities even further by being more present in territories,” said Fabiana
The External Ombudsman is an assistance agency to the Public Defender’s Office and works as a mediator between the institution and civil society. The role is performed by people nominated on a triple list by civil society and elected by the Superior Council.
