Access to Justice in a University Extension Project A Study of Extrajudicial Conciliation in Conflict Resolution and Cultural Change

Abstract

This article addresses the university extension in an experiment conducted in 2012 by academics and professionals in Office Social Legal School “Desembargador Ranulfo de Melo Freire”, Course of Law FESP-UEMG, campus Passos. The university, as well as a center of knowledge production, must assume their social responsibility, acting, to the possible extent, in meeting the essential needs of society, aiming at reducing inequality, promoting citizenship. However, the development of a region hardly happens in full form when there is an environment of unresolved conflicts. Although access to justice is a constitutionally guaranteed right, it is seen a deficiency in its realization. Thus found to be important policies of university initiative promoting the restoration of social peace through legal assistance and other alternative means of dispute resolution. The aim of this study is to analyze the PAIJUS program, which brings a proposal for cultural change and its consequences for human development and realization of the right to access to justice. The methodology used includes literature review, document analysis and semi-structured interview. The theoretical framework developed was based primarily in the thoughts of, among others, Buarque, Sen, Cappelletti, Furtado, Gomma and Watanabe.