The executive director of Justiça Global, Glaucia Marinho, announced a campaign for book donations, specifically seeking literature related to gender equity, racism and antiracism, feminism, environmental issues, ‘decoloniality’, political history, and social sciences. This initiative aims to support the establishment of the Bindeger Library in Bissau, in conjunction with the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies.
The campaign, initiated after a January mission to Guinea-Bissau under a UN project to enhance civil society’s understanding of international human rights mechanisms, addresses local organizations’ requests for literature on African history, feminist works, African ‘womanism’, and independence processes.
The first shipment of around 200 books, predominantly provided by Brazilian publishers, is scheduled for dispatch next week, coinciding with a visit by two researchers from Justiça Global to Guinea-Bissau. Marinho highlighted the limited access to Portuguese-language books in Guinea-Bissau and noted the financial burden of importing books from Portugal due to currency exchange costs.
Initially concentrated on the Bindeger Library, the campaign will also lend support to the Magne Bissau student movement. The goal is to forge a partnership between Brazilian and Guinean civil societies, fostering solidarity and mutual support, while also reinterpreting the colonial and slavery-linked shared history between Brazil and Guinea-Bissau.
The Brazilian official emphasized the need to redefine the historic relationship toward partnership and fraternity, while also highlighting the dire state of human rights in Guinea-Bissau, especially concerning women, stating, “The human rights situation in Guinea-Bissau is still very sad, akin to Brazil, but unfortunately somewhat more urgent.”
The campaign’s original conclusion date set for Friday has been extended. In tandem, Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality recently visited Guinea-Bissau, securing two Memorandums of Understanding with the University Amílcar Cabral (UAC) and the National Institute of Studies and Research (INEP) to bolster the South-South Exchange Program.
These agreements involve establishing joint work agendas, promoting events, training, exchanges, and research in combating racism and advancing racial equality. During their visit, the Brazilian delegation also held meetings with key figures, including Guinea-Bissau’s Education Minister, Herry Manel, and Brazil’s ambassador to Guinea-Bissau, Cláudia Maciel.
