Brazil takes steps towards inclusive communication

In the last decade, we have seen companies all over the world dedicate their efforts to one important global concern: inclusiveness. This initiative, however, is taking place mostly in the private sector. Despite the movements of several groups and communities to raise awareness on such a significant issue, many governments are still giving them a cold shoulder and others have yet to take effective actions.

But I bear good news! We all know that a journey starts with small steps, and today I am happy to commend a recent initiative released in my country, Brazil. The Ministry of Public Affairs of the state of Minas Gerais published on its official website a set of four glossaries focused on promoting non-discriminatory communication. This material is divided as follows:

Volume 1: Sexual and Gender Diversity

Volume 2: People with Disabilities and the Elderly

Volume 3: Race and Ethnicity

Volume 4: Gender Equity and the Fight Against Domestic Violence

Each glossary is very comprehensive and includes several entries related to the proposed topic, with additional comments and explanations. The glossaries are presented in a beautiful format, which is another aspect that stands out. The team of researchers, writers, and designers that worked on this project certainly dedicated all their efforts to create something that is not only educational, but also inspirational.

For instance, the entry nome morto (“dead name” or “birth name”) includes not only a definition, but also a brief explanation about the rights of transgender people to legally change their names and have their social names recognized and respected, as well as the importance of being sensible and emphatic and addressing them with the gender appropriate pronouns to which they identify. And there are many other examples that show that this project goes beyond the creation of a linguistic reference.

In the opening statement of Volume?1, Allender Barreiro Lima da Silva, district attorney and coordinator of this initiative, says: “Our intention is to share with the ministerial community and with society in general information and knowledge in order to promote respect and facilitate the dialog and interaction between individuals and groups through a non?discriminatory e integrative communication…” This is the true essence of inclusion!

The glossaries are only available in Brazilian Portuguese. If you speak Portuguese, even if just a little, I invite you to check out this amazing material. They are available at: https://www.mpmg.mp.br/portal/menu/areas-de-atuacao/direitos-humanos/enfrentamento-as-discriminacoes/glossario-antidiscriminatorio.htm

Written by:?Maroh Pecktor, EN-PTBR Translator and Interpreter with more than 20 years of experience as a freelance translator and reviewer and 10 years as a sworn translator.