Film and Human Rights Showcase Promotes Culture in the Prison System
Resulting from a partnership between Seap, Senappen, and CNJ, the educational action carried out in two penal units in the Metropolitan Region of Belém benefited more than 60 detainees
In Pará, more than 60 inmates in penal units of the State Secretariat for Penitentiary Administration (Seap) participated from July 14 to 18 in an educational entertainment activity promoted by the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDH), through the National Secretariat of Penal Policies (Senappen), together with the National Justice Council (CNJ). The main objective is to stimulate culture and art with the help of cinematic productions.
The 1st Film Showcase is one of the actions of the "Fair Sentence" Plan, an initiative of the CNJ aimed at ensuring dignity for people deprived of liberty, improving conditions within the units, and promoting resocialization. The action also received support from the Federal Fluminense University (UFF) and other ministries, being carried out simultaneously in all states.
Program - In Pará, the action took place at the Women's Custody and Reintegration Unit of Ananindeua (UCRF Ananindeua) and the Custody and Reintegration Unit of Marituba I (UCR Marituba I), both in the Metropolitan Region. Blocks with five films were shown, addressing social issues and human rights. During the activity, there were breaks for meals and discussions about the content of each work. At the end, everyone produced summaries of what they watched, expressing their interpretations and learnings about what was shown.
In addition to the pedagogical benefits based on the themes addressed, the fulfillment of the 12 hours filled by the screenings is crucial for the validation of sentence remission. In the action, the presence of the inmates and the activities performed are directly monitored, informed Fernanda Almeida, state technical assistant of the "Making Justice" Program of the CNJ.
“The main gain for these people deprived of liberty in the showcase is that they will remit their sentence. That’s why there is all the monitoring with a frequency. They will need to write reports on the films, putting their perceptions, how they understood each work. We have mobilized the Judiciary, which, upon receiving this referral that Seap will make, can credit the number of sentences for these people who participated in the showcase,” explained the technical assistant.
Dialogues - For the pedagogue of UCRF Ananindeua, Natali Benassuly, the activity generates healthy reflections through the films. “Throughout the week, we were dialoguing about the films. I ask them what they know about human rights, what human rights mean to them, which are the main focus of the showcase. It may seem very tangible for us nearby, but for them it is distant due to the socioeconomic reality of our prison population. And this event brought dignity, in some way, to these people deprived of liberty,” said the pedagogue.
Maria da Assunção, a detainee at UCRF Ananindeua, said she intends to pursue a degree in Pedagogy, and the films awakened a feeling of perseverance to achieve this goal. “I really want to go to college for Pedagogy. And, even being detained today, I know it is possible. And I will realize my dream through everything I could learn. What I want, I can achieve if I persist. It’s a very good feeling. I am very grateful,” she added.
Text: Fernanda Ferreira, intern under supervision, at NCS/Seap
