Considering the profound social-political inequality in Brazil, especially between Afro-Brazilian communities and the rest of the population, KOINONIA supports these communities on the affirmation of Human Rights – civil and political, economic, social, cultural and environmental. Strengthening this collective cause at times go through the legal and administrative route. Therefore, KOINONIA provides services in the legal area.

How? By always prioritizing the collective demands, not private ones, KOINONIA provides legal advisory free of charge (service and guidance) in cases of religious intolerance/religious racism and helps in the legal regularization of places of worship (terreiros) and non-profit associations from traditional Black communities. Any case that needs legal support will be assessed concerning its collective impact – in some cases, it may be individual, but under no circumstances can exclusively private causes receive advisory.

Services provided for constitution and/or legal regularization:
    • Advisory in the development and/or review of acts constituting Terreiro Associations or Quilombo Remainder Communities and Religious Terreiro Organizations;
    • Update of Bylaws according to the Civil Code and Law number 13.019/2014 (MROSC);
    • Initial (signature) from attorney in documents for registration in notary’s office;
    • Mediation with the notary’s office for Registration of Legal Entities to address disputes concerning the content of documents submitted to registration;

Attention: The advised religious association and/or organization is responsible for any payment of fees, notary fees, taxes, and any sums necessary for conducting the regularization or process.

Services provided in the fight against Religious Intolerance/Religious Racism:
    • Aid/sheltering to the victim;
    • Accompanying to police station, when possible and necessary;
    • Elaboration of complaint to the Prosecution Office;
    • Accompanying on audiences and monitoring of complaints;
Services provided in the area of popular legal education (Qualification on Rights):
    • Workshop about Associationism;
    • Workshop about Cooperative Work;
    • Workshop about Development of Bylaws;
    • Workshop about Ownership of Quilombola Lands (understanding of steps);
    • Conversation circle with instrumentalization of attendees about how to defend themselves from Religious Intolerance;
    • Formative meetings about Right to Territory, Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Dialogue, Fight against Racism and Religious Intolerance, and others related to the defense of Human Rights according to demands from terreiro peoples and quilombola communities.

    ATTENTION

    The services will be provided in two modes:

    IN-PERSON: on Mondays, from 2 PM to 6 PM, by order of arrival, at the KOINONIA office.

    VIRTUAL: by scheduling via phone number (+5571) 99271-9699 on the other days of the week, at a time to be set.

    Virtual services will be prioritized for people who are not in the city of Salvador and may be provided via e-mail: camilachagas@koinonia.org.br or koinonia@koinonia.org.br, or also through videocall (link sent beforehand to the assisted person after scheduling)

    No services will be provided via WhatsApp or Instagram

    KOINONIA does not work on lawsuits

    If the assisted person does not show up on the scheduled day, their service will be suspended for 30 days and they shall wait for the next available date at the end of the waiting line.