New headquarters of the Public Defender's Office ensures the decentralization of services and expands access to Justice
The delivery marks the celebrations for the 156 years of the district, bringing free services closer to the population
As part of the celebrations for the 156 years of the Icoaraci district, celebrated this Wednesday (8), Governor Helder Barbalho, accompanied by the mayor of Belém, Igor Normando; the State Public Defender, Mônica Belém, and other authorities, participated in the delivery of the new headquarters of the Metropolitan Nucleus of the Public Defender's Office of the State of Pará (DPE-PA), located on Manoel Barata street, in Icoaraci.
The initiative is part of the strategic plan of the Public Defender's Office, which seeks to expand the reach of services throughout the Pará territory and ensure that residents of districts, islands, and more distant municipalities also have free access to Justice and their fundamental rights.
During the delivery ceremony, Governor Helder Barbalho highlighted the importance of decentralizing public services and the role of the Public Defender's Office in serving the population living far from the center of Belém.
“The arrival of the Public Defender's Office, in a robust manner, will allow the population of Icoaraci - from the islands that come here, such as Cotijuba, from other islands of Belém, and even those coming from Marajó - to receive attention and have an adequate space to be well welcomed and received,” emphasized the governor.
Helder Barbalho also emphasized the partnership between the state government and the Public Defender's Office in expanding services and in itinerant citizenship actions.
“We have been working closely with the Public Defender's Office on the 'Balcão de Direitos' actions, which bring services closer to those who need them most. Every week we are in a different community, providing essential services to the population. The services provided by the Public Defender's Office are among the most relevant because they directly care for people, ensuring access to Justice and dignity. I celebrate the partnership with the Public Defender's Office, which allows us to advance in expanding coverage and continue with the goal of universalizing services in all 144 municipalities of Pará,” stated the governor.
One of the most populous districts of Belém, Icoaraci has more than 167 thousand inhabitants, according to the latest census from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Only at the Metropolitan Nucleus, the DPE-PA conducts an average of 1,700 monthly attendances, mainly in the areas of family law, criminal law, and consumer rights. With the new structure, the expectation is to expand the service to about 2,000 people per month.
The State Public Defender, Mônica Belém, emphasized the institution's commitment to providing increasingly accessible and humanized services to the population.
“This new headquarters is much more than a building: it is a space designed to be close to the people, with special attention to women and families. We have a playroom, a breastfeeding room, and a humanized service that values each person who comes to us. Last year, there were more than two million four hundred thousand attendances, and each one reinforces our commitment to citizenship. Today, Icoaraci, in its 156 years, receives this gift that symbolizes the Public Defender's Office getting closer to the population,” she emphasized.
The coordinator of the Metropolitan Nucleus of Icoaraci, public defender Francisco Pinho, celebrated the new space and stated that the unit should further boost the demand for the institution's services.
“With a broader and more modern structure, the new headquarters will boost the visibility and demand for the services of the Public Defender's Office, strengthening the bond with the community and improving service to people in vulnerable situations,” evaluated Francisco Pinho.
The delivered headquarters is the third inaugurated by the Public Defender's Office in 2025 and was designed to offer more comfort, accessibility, and efficiency in services. The building has a reception and triage area, individual service rooms, adapted restrooms, two playrooms, a changing room, and an auditorium.
Among the improvements, there are also sustainable practices, such as the use of presence sensors in specific areas for energy savings.
The new space will allow the Public Defender's Office to expand services to the population living in more distant areas, including the islands of Cotijuba, Outeiro, and other riverside regions, reinforcing the state's and the institution's commitment to promoting human rights, education in rights, and conflict mediation.
Text: Tamiris Amorim
