Handling social problems in the courts: repercussions for social assistants in the Judiciary Branch

Authors

  • Beatriz Gershenson Aguinsky PUCRS - Porto Alegre - RS
  • Ecléria Huff de Alencastro UNISINOS - Porto Alegre - RS

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-49802006000100002

Abstract

Although the civilizing conquests of human rights are undeniable, their recognition and enactment have required, in addition to increasingly intense historic struggles, the involvement of the Judicial Branch. The judicial treatment of social issues overlaps the responsibilities of the Judiciary with other public institutions. Access to justice takes place, as a rule, individually and by a select group of subjects – those who know how to access this legal channel. But the effective enactment of rights depends on other factors that include not only its recognition, but the capacity to attend to and finance the demand presented. Given this situation, this paper discusses the process of the effective enactment of rights, which by increasingly emphasizing judicial channels, leads to a reduced commitment of the State as a whole, to face social issues and toward the depoliticization of the public sphere. This adverse situation challenges social assistants to take an ethical-political direction in their professional responses to the demands of judicialization of the social question that is presented daily to the Judicial Branch.

Author Biographies

Beatriz Gershenson Aguinsky, PUCRS - Porto Alegre - RS

Possui graduação em Serviço Social pela PUCRS (1982), graduação em Ciências Jurídicas e Sociais pela UFRGS (1985) e doutorado em Serviço Social pela Pontifícia PUCRS Sul (2003). Atualmente é professor adjunto da PUCRS, assistente social - Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, editora da Revista Textos e Contextos da Faculdade de Serviço Social da PUCRS, avaliador de instituto de educação superior do Ministério da Educação e membro do conselho editorial científico da Revista Katalysis da UFSC. Tem experiência na área de Serviço Social, com ênfase em Infância e Juventude, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: serviço social, justiça restaurativa, direitos humanos, ética e formação profissional.

Mais informações: Currículo Lattes - CNPq.

Ecléria Huff de Alencastro, UNISINOS - Porto Alegre - RS

Possui graduação em Serviço Social pela Universidade Católica de Pelotas (1982), especialização em Metodologia do Ensino Superior pela PUCRS (1989), mestrado em Educação pela PUCRS (1994), ensino-fundamental-primeiro-grau pelo Ginásio Estadual Profa Sylvia Mello (1975) e ensino-medio-segundo-grau pelo Colégio Municipal Pelotense (1978). Atualmente é professor titular da UNISINOS e Assistente Social e Coord. Depto. Saúde Prev. da Prefeitura Municipal de Novo Hamburgo, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: Educação Especial, Pessoa Portadora de Deficiência Mental.

Mais informações: Currículo Lattes - CNPq.

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Published

2006-04-29

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2006): Poder judiciário cultura e sociedade

Section

Articles

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