Console Newonalde Jastip Departamento de Monitoramento e Fiscalizag3o do Sistema Carcerério @ do Sistema de Execugdo de Medidas Socioeducativas - DMF To the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, The cultural, political, economic and social development of Brazil is largely moulded under the blood and experiences of African people and their descendants. Presently, the Brazilian population declares itself, in census terms, mostly black. We are many, occupying various spaces in diverse areas, even though the vast majority of Afro-Brazilians are relegated to subalternity, a daily life of violence and violation of rights. To be assumed as black in a society that muzzles and mutes the existence of racism is a task of constant confrontation with the naturalisation and dissimulation of inequalities, aspects that seek to discredit the legitimate claims of Afro-Brazilians. Given this reality, since the beginning of my university education in Law, | have related my political and legal practices in the defence of the rights of the people and communities of African descent, | have engaged myself, since 2011, in the promotion of human rights education and legal advice to the black Quilombolas communities, with special attention to the Quilombo of Paratibe, placed in Paraiba/Brazil. | joined the Centre for Afro-Brazilian and indigenous Studies at the Federal Universtiy of Paraiba, developing documentary and phonographic research, as well as acting in teacher training, in order to foster the adoption of the teaching of Afro-Brazilian history ‘and culture in the educational curriculum. In 2015, in addition to the political commitment to the causes of black people, family ties and identities shifted my focus to the defence of the rights of religious communities of African descent, with special attention to local disputes involving evangelical neo-pentecostal persecution toward practitioners of such religions. My graduation’s final paper concretely supported the reaction of black religious communities against the violation of their rights. At present, | work as a public servant, performing legal technical assistance for the Department. of Monitoring and Supervision of the Prison System and Juvenile Justice, a strategic department. of the National Council of Justice (CN). Developing actions committed to the defence and promotion of the rights of the Afro-Brazilian population in institutional public arena is a challenging task, assuming that black people are under-represented in positions of power. Although, such task is also a stimulating job, given the privileged position of the CNJ regarding the development of nationwide policies aimed at access to justice for the black population; to overcome the legal culture of mass incarceration which primarily victimises the Afro-Brazilian population; the promotion of black participation in public ions through affirmative policies.Conscthe Nacional ae Jestipa Departamento de MonitoramentoeFiscalizarSo do Sistema Carceréro edo Sistema de ExecusBo de Medides Socoeducatvas-DMF Thus, my application to the Fellowship Programme represents both a personal commitment relating to my research and activism history, and an institutional commitment of the Council with theoretical and practical deepening in the mechanisms of promotion and protection of rights of people of African descent. The impact of my participation in the programme will be measured from the enhancement of the theme of racism within the regulatory content and within the policy guidelines of the Brazilian judiciary services that cater to black people, particularly in relation to access to justice, imprisonment and affirmative actions. (aifabad aaa dct ax cor do St Se sonar do sss eae CN!