OAB refutes criticism by founding father of the Friend of Sean Goldman

Organization's president says that 'the concept of human rights NGOs is similar to the prison at Guantanamo'
March 25, 2011 | 14h 15


Marilia Lopes - News Center

SAO PAULO - The president of the Bar Association of Brazil (OAB), Ophir Junior Cavalcante, countered on Friday, 25, the criticisms made by the Bring Sean Home Foundation (Bring Sean Home, in free translation), established by friends David Goldman, father of the boy. In a statement, Ophir said that "the concept of human rights foundation that is similar to that practiced in Guantanamo or intended for Cuban prisoners in the United States, or the civilians killed in wars in the Middle East."

Sean, along with his stepfather when he left Brazil in 2009

Yesterday, BSHF released a letter on its Web site criticizing Ophir, who last week asked the president Rousseff intercede on the case with President Barack Obama to the maternal grandparents could visit Sean in the United States, where he lives with his father since December 2009.

Ophir said that the OAB did not defend the Brazilian family, since there was already a court ruling on the case but that the organization believes that, regardless of where the minor is necessary that family members can exercise their right to freely visit without having to submit to rules or constraints.

Controversy. The Foundation sent a letter to Ophir in stating that the Justice of New Jersey did not prohibit the visitation of his maternal grandparents, only set conditions, accepted by David Goldman for that to happen. According to the letter, when conditions are accepted by the Brazilian family of Sean, Sean, you can visit her grandmother.

The conditions presented by the defense of Goldman were that all the lawsuits pending in Brazil challenging the return of the child to the U.S. were closed, that the maternal grandparents to consult for a specific period of time with the psychologist of the child in the U.S., which in with the parties, define the frequency and duration of visits, and that visitation would not be exposed to the press and to be maintained the confidentiality of all communications exchanged between the participants of the visit.

The letter notes that "even though the maternal grandparents can visit Sean provided they comply with fair and reasonable," the president of the Bar Association, asked Dilma, to intervene with Obama.

Last week, because of Obama's visit to Brazil, Ophir issued a letter directed to President Dilma. He said the problems exposed by the U.S. courts to allow visitation with maternal grandparents constitute a violation of the precepts and standards on human rights.

Sean Goldman is the son of designer Bruna Bianchi, who died in August 2008, with American David Goldman. He came to Brazil for four years, holidaying with his mother. Here, Bruno decided to separate the boy's father and not return to America. Goldman sued by international child abduction, based on the Hague Convention. After the death of Bruno, her parents and her second husband went to apply for custody of Sean. In December 2009, the Supreme Court (STF) decided that the boy should return to the U.S. to live with her father.

FULL OF NOTE Ophir

"The OAB is not joined to the merits, which has already been prosecuted and no moment is defending family A or B, the right of the biological father or father of the Brazilian. The claims that the Order is that the family of Sean Goldman Brazil, with whom the child has spent his entire childhood, may have contact with him. The criticism made by the foundation to the OAB is unfair, unreasonable and reflects a prejudice against the defense of human rights. It seems to us that the concept of human rights that foundation is similar to human rights being committed in Guantanamo or those for Cuban prisoners in the United States, or the civilians killed in wars in the Middle East. The Order has always defended and defends the family institution. For the body, it is necessary that , regardless of where the child, family members can exercise their visitation rights freely without having to submit to rules or constraints designed to prevent unreasonable that there is a simple contact between the Brazilian family and child, who currently lives in the U.S. "

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