Transnational Access to Justice and
Public Defense: Proposals for a Full Guarantee of International Procedural
Legal Assistance
Name: DOUGLAS ADMIRAL LOUZADA
Publication date: 22/05/2026
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| FABRICIO BERTINI PASQUOT POLIDO | Examinador Externo |
| GILBERTO FACHETTI SILVESTRE | Examinador Interno |
| PAULA MARIA ALL | Examinador Externo |
| VALESCA RAIZER BORGES MOSCHEN | Presidente |
Summary: Object: This research analyzes international legal and procedural assistance in multi-connected
civil claims from the perspective of the Public Defender's Office. The dissertation is linked to
the Graduate Program in Procedural Law at UFES and is the result of the author's participation
in the LABCODEX Research Group. Problematic: Globalization and cross-border relations
challenge Private International Law and Transnational Procedural Law, requiring the recognition of the individual's international legal-procedural capacity. This scenario demands a "fourth
wave of access to justice," focused on overcoming barriers through normative harmonization,
cooperation, and network action. To make it effective, States must provide instruments for
transnational free legal assistance. This study analyzes this objective from the perspective of
the Brazilian Public Defender's Office, the institution constitutionally tasked with representing
the vulnerable. Problem: How to ensure effective international legal and procedural assistance
by the Public Defender's Office in multi-connected claims? Hypothesis: The Public Defender's
Office may not be effectively guaranteeing international legal assistance in multi-connected
claims, generating a deficit in transnational access to justice. Therefore, to overcome the challenges of relations with foreign elements, it may be necessary to establish specific institutional
mechanisms, structures and practices. Objectives: The research aimed to structure and systematize a cooperative and procedural action model for the Public Defender's Office in international
legal assistance that can confer adequacy and effectiveness to the guarantee of transnational
access to justice for people in vulnerable situations. Methodology: The research employed the
qualitative method, with an exploratory and descriptive purpose, and the hypothetico-deductive
technique. For data collection, a combination of literature review, document analysis and data
gathering was used, including through interviews and questionnaires. Results: The study structures a model to consolidate the Public Defender's Office in transnational access to justice,
integrating it with Central Authorities and cooperation networks to protect vulnerable people in
international litigation. Contributions: Centered on the Public Defender's Office, the investigation crosses International and Procedural Law to propose cooperative solutions for transnational access to justice for the vulnerable. The study converges directly with SDGs 10 (Reduced
Inequalities), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) of
the UN 2030 Agenda.
