The communities in the Pratigi Environmental Protection Area (APA) celebrated the opening of the Civil Rights Desk in Nilo Peçanha, Bahia. A result of a partnership between the municipal government and the Civil Rights and Citizenship Institute (IDC), the unit is facilitating access to basic civil documentation – identity and work cards, army reserve papers and criminal records – conflict mediation and professional education courses in IT, crafts and cooking, among others. The service is free.

Previously, there had been two Civil Rights Desks operating under the IDC’s direction in the municipalities of President Tancredo Neves and Camamu. Since 2003, these units have provided over 297,000 services, and 12.103 people benefited from this program in 2010 alone.