Innovations in preventing and combating harassment and discrimination; the implementation of the Policy for Preventing and Combating Harassment at the Court of Auditors of the State of Tocantins (TCE/TO); and restorative practices and the contributions of the First Meeting of Commissions for Preventing and Combating Harassment and Discrimination in the Judiciary were the topics discussed at the end of the III Judiciary Week for Preventing and Combating Harassment and Discrimination in all its forms, on Friday morning (May 10th), at the Court of Justice of the State of Tocantins (TJTO).
As part of the Panel 3, which dealt with the theme: "Human Dignity at Work: a commitment to you, the Judiciary and society", the Federal Judge of the Military Justice, Mariana Aquino, in a very didactic way, through virtual means, brought concepts about harassment and discrimination and spoke about prevention and policies to combat it, giving examples of innovations that can help, during the lecture on "Innovations in preventing and combating harassment and discrimination".
The speaker explained the difference among moral harassment, sexual harassment and discrimination, highlighting the most common forms and modalities of these practices. On the occasion, the magistrate gave practical examples so that the participants could learn how to distinguish among them.
"Anyone who has been the target of situations of harassment or discrimination in the workplace, or because of it, or has witnessed such acts, can report them to the Regional Commission or National Committee of the CNJ (National Council of Justice)," she emphasized, stressing that the proposal of the commission is, above all, to act preventively, adopting effective measures to prevent and combat harassment, in order to reduce the practice in the judiciary.
During her lecture, the magistrate highlighted what victims can do in the event of harassment and discrimination, such as resisting, gathering evidence, breaking their silence and contacting the commission.
As innovative actions that have been developed in the Military Justice, the speaker mentioned booklets, games, conversation circles, webinars and symposiums, as well as training and the inclusion of topics in personnel management and magistrate training courses.
"The fight against all forms of harassment and discrimination is not a fight for one group, or for women against men, but for everyone who wants a safe working environment," she concluded, pointing out that this is a fight of everyone for equality.
Preventing and Combating Harassment at the TCE/TO
Severiano José Costandrade de Aguiar, co-regulator of the Court of Auditors of the State of Tocantins, spoke about the implementation of the Policy for Preventing and Combating Harassment of the TCE/TO. At the time, he pointed out that this issue is included in the objectives of the administrative resolution of the Court of Auditors of 2023.
Also present were representatives of the Support Network for the Protection of Women Victims of Violence; the PAHS Program Working Group; the Unions and the Association of Justice Servers, as well as magistrates and civil servers from the Judiciary of the State of Tocantins.
According to the speaker, the codes of ethics for members (RA No. 04/2011) and civil servers (RA No. 01/2012) deal with some issues of discrimination and harassment, both for members of the ECA (Councilors, Prosecutors and Auditors) and for civil servers.
As actions taken in this direction, he also mentioned the creation of the Commission for Preventing and Combating Harassment; a course on the Code of Ethics and Harassment; a booklet on preventing and combating harassment, which is currently being drawn up; awareness campaigns; the promotion of an event on the National Ethics Day (May 2nd) and a survey carried out at the TCE/TO in April this year.
According to the advisor, 54% of civil servers (331 responses) answered the survey. The survey asked questions about knowledge of moral and sexual harassment and discrimination of the civil servers, and whether they had ever been the target of it.
"We have to be alerted to this at some point," commented the speaker, who at the end of the lecture launched a challenge for the Judiciary to, together with the Court of Auditors, through a cooperation agreement, promote regional meetings on harassment and discrimination for managers and the general population in municipalities in the State of Tocantins "We have to be attentive to issues that concern our institutions so that they can be an example to our society."
Restorative Practices
Closing the programming, Justice Salise Sanchonete, from the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region, spoke about restorative practices and the contributions of the 1st Meeting of Commissions for Preventing and Combating Harassment and Discrimination in the Judiciary.
Initially, the speaker discussed the changes to the Resolution 351/2020 of the CNJ, which deals with the adoption of measures to prevent and confront harassment and discrimination. At the time, she highlighted issues such as adjustments to the regulations and support; changes to inclusion, reliability and consent and reporting channels.
The Justice also spoke about the protocol for dealing with harassment and discrimination, the form for assessing the risk of harassment within the Judiciary, the work plan of the prevention commission and measures focusing on the Restorative Justice.
"A circle of conversations often solves a problem," said the speaker, noting that the Restorative Justice today plays a fundamental role in this space. "Restorative Justice is being adapted to deal with issues of harassment and discrimination."
For the Justice, there needs to be space for restorative practices within the Judiciary. "A space in which people can let loose, can say what they are feeling," she said, emphasizing that the Restorative Justice has come to fill a space.
The panel was coordinated by Justice Angela Haonat, President of the Commission for the Prevention and Combat of Moral and Sexual Harassment and Discrimination of the 2nd Level and Coordinator of the Cejusc of 2nd Level. The panelists were Judges Suzidarly Ribeiro Teixeira Fernandes, from the Regional Labor Court of the 10th Region (DF/TO); and Julianne Freire, a member of the Committee to Prevent and Combat Moral Harassment and Sexual Harassment and Discrimination of the Judiciary of the State of Tocantins and the CNJ.
