On Tuesday morning (December 17th), love and hope set the tone for the first edition of the More Citizenship in Prisons project, held at the Provisional Prison of the city of Palmas. The initiative of the General Internal Affairs of Justice of the State of Tocantins promoted the civil marriage of 13 inmates and their partners, restoring dignity and strengthening the family ties of people deprived of their liberty.
Among the exchange of rings, smiles, tears and emotional declarations, the couples shared several stories of love and overcoming. One of the most remarkable moments of the ceremony was the surprise experienced by the bride and groom when they received the news of their release on the altar.
“My heart is beating faster! I'm going to go home with my wife and see our children. Now, more than ever, we're going to work together to build our house, which is our dream,” he celebrated.
Another inmate also made a point of emphasizing that civil marriage is a chance for the whole family to start over. “It's a dream to be married, we've been together for 11 years, we have two children, we want to have one more. When I leave here, I want to get a job and focus on restarting our lives,” he said.
Dressed as brides, with bouquets and rings, the brides also realized a dream at the ceremony. One of them pointed out that she hadn't seen her partner for a year and this was a chance to get closer. “We've been together for three years and this is an opportunity to get together again. We've been dating since we were teenagers, we've always dreamed of this and now we're realizing it,” said one of the beneficiaries of the project.
Project
The project of the General Internal Affairs of Justice of the State of Tocantins (CGJUS) was created with the aim of bringing citizenship and dignity to people deprived of their liberty. The initiative is being carried out in partnership with the Department of Citizenship and Justice of the State of Tocantins, the Association of the Magistrates of the State of Tocantins, the Public Defender's Office, the BAR Tocantins, the State Prosecution and the Civil Registry Offices of the city of Palmas, Taquaralto and Taquaruçu. From the Judiciary, the 4th Penal Execution Court of the District of Palmas and the Group for Monitoring and Inspection of the Prison System of the State of Tocantins (GMF) are supporting the project.
During the ceremony, the Chief Justice of the state of Tocantins, Justice Maysa Vendramini Rosal, stressed the importance of the initiative as an act of social transformation. “Although you are deprived of your liberty, you are all citizens, with rights that cannot be excluded. Civil unions represent hope, accompaniment and reconnection with society. Strengthening the family nucleus is essential so that you can be reintegrated in a fuller and more dignified way,” she said. 
“This moment symbolizes the realization of citizenship for people in vulnerable situations. The union brings new opportunities and changes; and this formalization here represents your right coming true. I wish this special day to continue, bringing happiness and achievements to everyone,” added the assistant Judge of the General Internal Affairs of Justice, Esmar Custódio Vêncio Filho.
The Secretary of Citizenship and Justice, Deusiano Pereira Amorim, also stressed that marriage “guarantees rights for wives and children and strengthens family ties” and wished that “this union brings a more structured, organized and dignified new start for everyone”.
“The Judiciary and the Department of Citizenship and Justice are committed to the process of re socialization and social reintegration of all. We have a serious project, dedicated to build citizenship, because everyone is equal and should be treated with dignity,” said Allan Martins, the Judge of the 4th court of criminal executions of the district of Palmas and President of the Association of Magistrates of the State of Tocantins.
Presence
The ceremony was attended by the director of the Court of the District of Palmas, Flávia Afini Bovo; the executive secretary of the Secretariat of Public Security, Reginaldo Menezes Brito; the coordinator of the Applied Center for Minorities and Collective Actions of the Public Defender's Office, Silvânia Barbosa de Oliveira Pimentel; the acting President of the BAR Tocantins, Priscila Madruga; the representative of the Specialized Center for Assistance and Defense of Prisoners (Nadep), Napociani Pereira Póvoa; the vice-President of the Human Rights Commission of the BAR Tocantins, Andressa Preto; the Justices of Peace of the Civil Registry Offices of Natural Persons of the district of Palmas/Downtown, Gilson Pereira Alves; fromTaquaralto, Bruno Borges Kertesz de Oliveira; and from Taquaruçu, Nilmar Ribeiro Máximo.
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