Evangelical lawyers in Brazil were unable to obtain consultative status at the UN (United Nations), which would have allowed the group to speak at official meetings, hold discussions, and even submit reports to different bodies.
A decision regarding the request for access to the National Association of Evangelical Lawyers (Anajure) was delayed after Cuba requested clarification and thus prevented the process from being completed.
The entity has been trying to join the United Nations since 2017. But he was questioned at every meeting. In the past, one of these had to do with the relationship between the evangelical entity and the government of Jair Bolsonaro.
The Cuban diplomatic mission asked for details about the support Anajure received from the Brazilian federal government, and more specifically from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Nicaraguan government also questioned membership and sought clarification on the nature of the accounts of the Brazilian presence.
Previously, the Chinese government had created barriers and raised questions about the performance of the Brazilian presence.
Now, Havana requested late last week “more information on the information tools and resources the organization uses to determine which religious conflicts pose a threat to peacekeeping in Latin America,” according to an official UN statement. ” “.
The column found that if the country that wanted the ground to be questioned was Cuba, the Latin American country had the support of several people, primarily allies of the Havana government.
The maneuver thus avoided confirmation of the involvement of Brazilian evangelical lawyers and delayed any decision.
In early 2020, representatives of the evangelical entity were already the subject of an inquiry at the UN Committee on NGOs. The hope was that access would be guaranteed at meetings in 2021, which didn’t happen.
Also in 2019, Brazilian government sources noted that they welcomed Anajure’s bid to join, as the group could be an ally to influence the changes it advocates on the international agenda on issues related to Itamaraty’s human rights, sexuality and other aspects of foreign policy.
After receiving the ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) seal of the United Nations, organizations may also appoint a representative, make written statements or be summoned to testify in New York and Geneva.
In the case of Brazil, many organizations already have this status, including groups representing indigenous peoples, human rights, and minority interests.
Over the past few years, Anajure has insisted that his action was “independent of any government” and that there were points of inconsistency between the Bolsonaro administration and the corporate entity.
In the first months of Bolsonaro’s government, the party took a stance of support for the foreign policy of former foreign minister Ernesto Araújo, particularly on issues of gender and reproductive rights and sexual education.
The organization was also invited by President Jair Bolsonaro to attend a thanksgiving service at the Palácio do Planalto. It was up to the head of the being to read the Bible.
Anajure also signed an agreement with the Human Rights portfolio, currently under the command of Damares Alves, to launch “a whistleblower channel for human rights abuses in the pandemic”.
The organization also announced that it will monitor legislative proposals being processed in the National Congress. The minister said, “I want Anajure to double her attention to the agendas exposed there. The opposition is intelligent and outspoken.”
The relationship between Anajure and Damares is not new. In 2012, at one of their first meetings, Anajure paid tribute to Damares Alves. In a statement made at the time, the organization made it clear that the pastor was “a member of the National Association of Evangelical Lawyers” at the time.
source: Noticias
