Bahia Public Defender's Office Offers Free Paternity Recognition and DNA Tests
The Public Defender's Office of Bahia (DPE-BA) is launching another edition of its "Meu Pai Tem Nome" (My Father Has a Name) campaign, providing free DNA tests and legal guidance in various cities across the interior of Bahia. The initiative begins on Wednesday, August 5th, and will run throughout August. The campaign will visit Feira de Santana, Santo Estevão, Conceição do Coité, Ipirá, Irará, and Serrinha. Beyond establishing biological paternity, the program also addresses cases of socio-affective paternity. Services include voluntary recognition of biological paternity, free DNA testing, paternity verification, and support for socio-affective recognition. Additionally, participants will receive legal advice and assistance with extrajudicial mediation. Information regarding the rights of children and adolescents will also be provided. While the campaign is intensified in August, the DPE-BA states that paternity recognition services are available year-round at its various offices. Specific dates and locations for August include Santo Estevão on August 5th, Conceição do Coité on August 12th, Ipirá on August 13th, Irará on August 19th, Serrinha on August 21st, and Feira de Santana on August 22nd.
This initiative by the Public Defender's Office of Bahia addresses a fundamental aspect of civil rights and family law, aiming to resolve legal uncertainties surrounding paternity. By offering free DNA testing and legal support, the program tackles potential barriers such as cost and lack of information that might prevent individuals from seeking legal recognition. The focus on both biological and socio-affective paternity acknowledges the diverse realities of family structures. In the long term, such programs contribute to greater legal certainty for children and families, potentially impacting social welfare and access to inheritance and other rights. The accessibility of these services throughout the year, beyond the August campaign, suggests a sustained commitment to addressing this societal need.
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