The Brazilian Institute of Family Law or IBDFAM (from Instituto Brasileiro de Direito de Família, in Portuguese) is a non-profit civil association founded on October 25, 1997, in the city of Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...

, state of Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...

, Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, during the First Congress of Brazilian Family Law.

The national headquarters of the Brazilian Institute of Family Law is located in Belo Horizonte. However, IBDFAM has representatives in all states of the union through its state and regional leaderships.

Justice Maria Berenice Dias

Maria Berenice Dias

Maria Berenice Dias is a progressive Brazilian judge and the first woman to take the bench in her home state of Rio Grande do Sul. Dr. Dias also was the first woman to become a justice of the state highest Court of Appeals...

 of the state of Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...

 is the founder of the Brazilian Institute of Family Law and is currently its vice-president (in 2006). Dr. Dias was the very first female judge to take the bench in her home state. She also became a nominee to the Supreme Court of Justice of Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 at the start of 2006.

Some of the main goals of IBDFAM are to conduct studies and research, to promote discussions with an interdisciplinary focus and to try and foster the overall wellbeing of the Brazilian family

Family

In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...

. The Institute also acts on behalf of free and full citizenship

Citizenship

Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...

for all members of society Brazilian and on defense of the rights of all Brazilian families - traditional and non-traditional. Furthermore, IBDFAM also promotes and seeks to participate in dialogs and round tables throughout Brazil and abroad.

External links

• Instituto Brasileiro de Direito de Família. Website in Portuguese, accessed on April 25, 2006.
• Maria Berenice Dias. Website in English, Spanish and Portuguese, accessed on April 25, 2006.