Sabrina Craide Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – The Brazilian constitution has over 300 articles, so it is not surprising it goes into a lot of detail. For example, it has articles on divorce, the rights of families (especially youth), poverty and even corrupt judges. The Senate has just approved a series of constitutional amendments.
Divorce in Brazil can now be obtained without judicial separation of a year or physical separation of two years, which were mandatory in the past.
Another amendment, known as the “youth amendment,” deals with economic, social and cultural rights of young people, altering the part of the constitution that deals with the interests of the family, children, adolescents and senior citizens. The new text says that it is the duty of the family, society and the State to ensure, as an absolute priority, that children, adolescents and youths have a right to life, health, food, education, leisure, professional training, culture, dignity, respect, liberty and family and community living. The text adds that those groups should be safe from all forms of negligence, discrimination, exploitation, violence, cruelty and oppression.
Another constitutional amendment extends, for an indeterminate period, the Eradication of Poverty Fund, which was due to expire this year.
Another amendment approved will eliminate retirement benefits for corrupt judges. In the 1988 constitution, the maximum punishment a judge could receive was a suspension or expulsion followed by something called “retirement in the public interest.” That meant full benefits after being removed from the judiciary.
All these amendments were approved in a first vote. At least one other vote in the Chamber of Deputies will be necessary before they become part of the constitution.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English – contains additional information
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