The official handover of the vessels took place this Tuesday (18th) at the Itaipu Binacional booth at COP30 in Belém (PA)
Itaipu Binacional and the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC) officially formalized this Tuesday (18th) the delivery of five boats that will be assigned to communities in the Marajó Archipelago, in the state of Pará.
The ceremony, held at Itaipu’s booth at COP30 in Belém (PA), marked a significant step in expanding access to public services and ensuring fundamental rights for the local population through the Marajó Citizenship Program.
The boats, which previously belonged to Itaipu’s operational fleet and were used in activities on the plant’s reservoir, have been replaced by new ones and now take on a new social purpose, benefiting the municipalities of Afuá, Curralinho, Melgaço, Oeiras do Pará, and São Sebastião da Boa Vista.
During the ceremony formalizing the delivery of the vessels and their documentation, Itaipu Binacional’s Executive Financial Director, André Pepitone, highlighted the importance of the donation, emphasizing that development goes beyond energy generation.
“This is a symbolic moment, but above all a practical one: it shows that the Brazilian State is present, attentive, and committed to the real needs of the Marajó people. Development is not built only with megawatts; it is built with citizenship, inclusion, and respect for local realities.”
Pepitone also stressed that the five donated vessels, having completed their original mission at Itaipu, will now be directed toward a “social, human, and transformative purpose,” becoming part of an essential public policy for the Marajó region.
“They now become part of an essential public policy to expand access to services, strengthen mobility in remote areas, and advance the realization of fundamental rights in the Marajó archipelago. May these vessels shorten distances, bring public services closer, and strengthen the presence of the State in the daily lives of riverside communities,” he stated.
The National Secretary for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, Élida Lauris, noted that the partnership between Itaipu and the MDHC represents a development project aimed at addressing historical inequalities and discrimination.
“We are establishing a national project, a development project. Above all, a project that asserts that rights must exist in territories where people are often forgotten, ignored, and discriminated against.”
The secretary highlighted the direct impact the vessels will have on protecting vulnerable groups and on ensuring the presence of the State in the benefiting municipalities. “The boats we are delivering will greatly increase the capacity to protect children and adolescents, women, individuals with disabilities, and older adults, and they will reach five municipalities with the presence of the State.”
The initiative was coordinated by the Brazilian General Directorate of Itaipu through the Social Responsibility Office, in partnership with the Administrative Directorate. The collaboration aims to strengthen mobility in hard-to-reach areas and contribute to the fulfillment of fundamental rights, focusing on reducing the region’s historical inequalities.
About the Marajó Citizenship Program
Established by Ordinance No. 292 of May 17, 2023, the Marajó Citizenship Program is a strategic initiative of the MDHC aimed at combating the abuse and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, promoting human rights, and expanding access to public policies in the Marajó Archipelago.
Covering a population of more than 590,000 residents across 17 municipalities, the program prioritizes federal coordination and social participation, ensuring culturally appropriate public policies that address local realities and needs.
