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DPU representatives meet with COP30 President
Representatives of the Federal Public Defenders' Office (DPU) met on Friday, 4 April 2025, with Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, President of COP30, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) to discuss the institution’s participation in the conference scheduled for November. The objective is to ensure that the demands of Indigenous Peoples, Quilombola communities and Riverside Populations are prioritized in global climate negotiations, ensuring that their voices are effectively represented in international decision-making processes.
During the meeting, the participants discussed ways to improve the State’s responsiveness to environmental disasters by enhancing coordination among public institutions. The DPU reiterated its commitment to supporting the Brazilian
government in developing more effective strategies for addressing climate emergencies. Among the measures highlighted was the DPU’s role in informing the public of their rights—an essential element in preventing and mitigating the impacts of environmental crises.
Federal Public Defender-General Leonardo Magalhães emphasized the DPU’s track record in responding to environmental disasters, citing the access to justice provided by public defenders to residents of Rio Grande do Sul during the floods in May 2024.
“Our intention is to collaborate, participate, and be actively involved in the discussions,” Magalhães stated. “We have a strong presence supporting Indigenous and riverine communities affected by the Belo Monte dam, we are working on issues related to mineral exploitation, and we have been engaged in dealing with the Brumadinho and Mariana disasters in Minas Gerais,” he added. The DPU also maintain several cooperation agreements with other countries and undertakes a broad range of actions focused on thematic priorities.
Ambassador Corrêa do Lago agreed on the importance of showcasing Brazil‘s coordinated institutional response to climate challenges. “I will need your support to demonstrate to the world that Brazilian society is equipped to meet these realities,” he affirmed.
Also present at the meeting were Juliana Rezende Melo da Silva, Special Projects Advisor; Fernando Mauro Junior, International Affairs Advisor; and Giorgi Sales, Advisor on Environment, Climate Change, and Human Mobility (AMA).
Source: The Federal Public Defenders' Office, Brazil
