Law Students Develop Public Policy Proposals for Amazon's Future
Law students in Manaus participated in a Public Policy Canvas workshop on March 24th as part of the Amazônia Que Eu Quero 2026 project. This event, held at the Grupo Rede Amazônica stand during DSX 2026, brought together final-year law students to transform discussions on digital democracy challenges into concrete proposals. The students, divided into groups, focused on solutions related to new technologies in electoral processes, information dissemination, and citizen participation. Political scientist Helso Ribeiro, a panelist at the event, emphasized the importance of critical reflection on technology's role in society and the need for proper information filtering. Academic Adrielle Frutuoso highlighted that while technology offers benefits, legislation lags behind in addressing disinformation. The workshop aimed to foster critical thinking, increase youth engagement in public discourse, and involve them in developing societal solutions. The proposals generated will be included in the "Caderno de Soluções" (Solutions Notebook) for Amazônia Que Eu Quero 2026, a document compiling project proposals to be delivered to authorities. Ruthiene Bindá, coordinator of Amazônia Que Eu Quero, stated that all proposals are analyzed and consolidated for the annual notebook, reflecting the aspirations of the Amazon region's inhabitants. The workshop concluded the project's 2026 programming, which spanned various capitals to discuss democracy, technology, and citizen participation. Launched in 2019 by Fundação Rede Amazônica and Grupo Rede Amazônica, the project promotes political education and dialogue to address regional challenges, with this year's theme focusing on "Democracy in the digital age: the use of new technologies in the electoral process."
This initiative effectively leverages educational institutions to bridge the gap between academic discourse and practical policy formulation, particularly concerning the evolving landscape of digital democracy. By engaging law students, the project taps into a demographic poised to shape future legal and governance frameworks. The focus on technology's impact on elections and information flow addresses critical systemic vulnerabilities in contemporary democratic processes. The "Caderno de Soluções" serves as a mechanism for translating grassroots concerns into actionable recommendations, potentially influencing policy development. However, the long-term efficacy will depend on the extent to which these compiled solutions are integrated into actual governance and legislative agendas, and whether mechanisms are established to continuously adapt to rapid technological advancements and their societal implications.
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