Brazil Strengthens Judicial Policies to Resolve Land Conflicts with Civil Society Collaboration

On March 4, 2026, representatives from key civil society groups—including the Landless Workers' Movement (MST), the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib), and Terra de Direitos—met with the National Justice Council (CNJ) to discuss advancing judicial policies aimed at resolving land conflicts in Brazil. The group emphasized the critical role of CNJ Resolution 510/2023, which established the National Commission for Land Solutions and mandated regional commissions within Justice and Federal Regional Courts to handle land disputes with a focus on vulnerable populations and preventive, technical, and dialogued interventions.

The delegates advocated for a stronger institutional framework to enhance the Commission's active role in conflict-prone regions, encouraging negotiated solutions over isolated judicial decisions that might inflame tensions. They also called for expanded partnerships with universities to produce technical diagnostics and improve mediation efforts. Strengthening collaboration between the judiciary and society aligns with the CNJ's national strategy for 2021-2026 and remains a priority for the 2025-2027 CNJ management.

The meeting highlighted the importance of preserving recent legal gains, such as the Supreme Federal Court's ADPF 828 decision, which suspended evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Present at the discussions were CNJ councilor Fabio Esteves, auxiliary judge José Gomes de Araújo Filho, and representatives Jaqueline Andrade, Darci Frigo, Ricardo Terena, and Diego Vedovatto.

This engagement underscores Brazil's commitment to a more technical, dialogued, and preventive approach in judicial policy to effectively address ongoing land conflicts while ensuring the protection of vulnerable communities.