São Gonçalo launches initiative to support African-matrix religious communities

The City of São Gonçalo held the first workshop of the Project for the Institutional Strengthening of Religious and Cultural Spaces at the Joaquim Lavoura Cultural Center. Organized by the Secretariat of Social Assistance through the Coordination for the Promotion of Racial Equality, the initiative aims to support traditional African-matrix communities and terreiros.

The project focuses on the legal, administrative, and territorial regularization of these communities. Key objectives include ensuring the exercise of constitutional rights, providing protection against religious racism, and enabling autonomous access to tax immunities and cultural funding policies. The workshop covered modules such as basic rights, the creation of foundation charters and statutes, CNPJ issuance, and heritage safeguarding instruments.