Bar Association calls for specific legislation to deal with tragedies

The president of the Rio de Janeiro Bar Association (“Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil – OAB-RJ”), Wadir Damous, says there is a need for specific legislation on tragedies and catastrophes such as the one that took place in the mountainous region of the state (“região serrano”) on January 12.

“Over the years, these tragedies happen again and again. Each time is worse than the time before. We (the OAB-RJ) intend to submit a bill to the Congress proposing what we call The Law of Social Responsibility. Under the terms of the law, there will be legal sanctions in cases of administrators who do not invest in measures to prevent tragedies such as these,” said Damous. “We have general legislation (“legislação geral”) that says the government (“poder publico”) is supposed to engage in practices that avoid damages to society. We think something more specific in the case of climatic tragedies is needed.”