Sobre - Instituto de Estudos da Religião

We are a lay organization of Brazilian civil society and we produce studies, research and social intervention in two strategic areas:

Religion & Public Space
Rights & Justice System

We have as fundamental principles:

Valuing social diversity
cultural and environmental

Recognition of religious diversity and the secular state

Interlocutions to
from the grammar of human rights

Dialogue and partnerships
for impact on society and public debate

Our action strategies are:

knowledge production of social relevance, mainly in the interface between religion and public space

Promotion of dialogue and training to strengthen movements and
civil society initiatives in favor of human rights

Communication and mobilization to engage religious groups in the socio-environmental rights and justice agenda

Articulation for
qualified incidence
in the public debate on the
commitment issues
of the ISER

History of performance

Founded in 1970, ISER was initially established in the city of Campinas (SP) and moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1979, consolidating its institutionality and affirming its two complementary dimensions: search It is social intervention.

During the country's redemocratization period, ISER contributed to the reorganization of social movements and the emergence and strengthening of civil society organizations. Creating bridges between different areas of knowledge, ISER acts based on the dialogue and in the promotion of alliances strategies in the defense of democratic values, justice and human rights

ISER has always been guided by the perception that religion is a fundamental factor in social change and an indispensable variable to better understand and act together with Brazilian society. In this way, ISER stands out for its pioneering look in studies of the relationship between religion, politics and human rights.

Five decades of existence record the crossing of its different faces: production of knowledge, activism and articulation. With this hybrid profile, ISER was a pioneer in identifying the significant transformations that occurred in the Brazilian religious field and faced the challenges imposed by different political conjunctures and changes in government.

Timeline

Over the past 50 years, ISER has been present in different areas of reflection, debate and action, working to strengthen democracy and defend rights. This timeline highlights actions, publications, research, films, training and meetings that ISER promoted throughout its history.

Foundation of the Higher Institute of Theological Studies – ISET, in São Paulo by Protestant and Catholic theologians with difficulties in their churches, due to the military regime. With the support of the World Council of Churches, ISET organized itself as a group of researchers, scientists and scholars.

Its mission was: “To develop interdisciplinary research that has a contribution to offer to theology” to understand the place of religion in Brazilian society.

Rubem Alves, one of the founders and first president of ISET. He remained in this position, alternating as executive secretary, until 1978.

Waldo César takes over as executive secretary.

Creation of Cadernos do ISER, with Domício Pereira Mattos as director, Rubem Alves as editor and Peter Fry on the Editorial Board.

First issues dedicated to the themes of “Conversion”, “Religion and art”, “Psychology of Religion” and “Grassroots Communities”.

The series remains until 1981 when ISER Communications is created.

Cadernos then became a stamp to publish research and theses by researchers linked to ISER.

Creation of the journal Religião & Sociedade in cooperation with the CER (Center for Religious Studies), composed of professors from USP and PUC-SP. First Editorial Board: Alba Zaluar, Duglas Teixeira Monteiro, Jaime Pinski, Rubem Alves and Rubem César Fernandes. Director: Sérgio Coelho de Oliveira.

The Magazine was born in the environment of Unicamp (State University of Campinas-SP), along with the effervescence of debates and political movements in vogue at the time.

Patrícia Birman takes over as assistant secretary and Pierre Sanchis as treasurer.

A team of coordinators and research fellows is created; and an advisory center for churches.

First visit of a Pope to Brazil. In the impact of the presence of John Paul II, ISER holds a series of meetings and their inputs were gathered in edition nº 11 of Cadernos do ISER “The Pope in Brazil, sociological aspects” organized by Rubem César

Foundation of Ibase – Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis – by sociologist Herbert de Souza, Betinho, and economists Carlos Afonso and Marcos Arruda. The three were political exiles during the military dictatorship and returned to Brazil after the Amnesty Law.

Institutional redefinition and entry of a new generation into ISER. The formalization of an Institute itself begins, with infrastructure and other non-religious projects.

Creation of the series of publications Comunicações do ISER, featuring on the Editorial Board: Rubem César Fernandes, Pedro Ribeiro de Oliveira and Waldo César. Its purpose was to establish more organic contact with the academic world. Publication that remains active until today.

Relying on the link between religion and social movements, ISER expands its scope of action to the space of actions and projects to strengthen civil society, democratization and effective social action.

Based on new MEC definitions on higher education institutions, the name of ISER was changed to Instituto de Estudos da Religião.

Pierre Sanchis takes over as president; Regina Novaes, executive secretary.

Death of President-elect Tancredo Neves.

ISER Publication of Communications, nº 14, “Our prayers for Tancredo”, with comments by Alba Zaluar, Diatahy Bezerra de Menezes, Frei Betto, Clodovis Boff, Pedro Ribeiro, Rubem César and Roberto da Matta.

Solidarity with the Boff Brothers for the censorship suffered by the leadership of the Catholic Church/Vatican: more than 2 thousand people in the auditorium of the Instituto Metodista Bennett, in Rio de Janeiro.

Religião & Sociedade magazine nº 12/3 publishes a long interview with Leonardo Boff, with the title “The Boff case: the meaning of obedience”

Publication of “O Negro Evangélico”, in a special edition of Comunicações do ISER, organized by Regina Novaes and Maria da Graça Floriano, with texts on racial relations and Protestantism/Pentecostalism.

As of this year, ISER is experiencing a major expansion of its activities with a new generation of activists and researchers from different areas, especially those linked to work against discrimination, prejudice and economic and social inequality.

The ISER-Vídio production company is created and stands out in the making of independent videos. Diversity of productions.

New board is elected: president, Joaquim Beato; deputy, Waldo César; secretary, Maria José Rosado Nunes (Zeca); treasurer, Zélia Seiblitz and in the executive secretary: Pedro Ribeiro and Rubem César

Creation of the newspaper “Beijo da rua”, guided by associations of prostitutes from 18 Brazilian states and addressing topics such as human rights, health and public policies. Under the direction of Gabriela Leite and Flávio Lenz.

program creation Brazilian Religion & Negritude from ISER, coordinated by Joaquim Beato and Olímpio Sant'Ana

Nilton Bonder is elected Deputy Secretary, being replaced by Maurício Lissovsky

ISER performs the search Rio de Janeiro Penitentiary Census, coordinated by Edmundo Campos Coelho

Publication of the catalog of Entities of the Black Movement in Brazil: a profile with the aim of facilitating contact between groups for various activities around the Centenary of the Abolition of Slavery.

First direct elections for the Presidency of the Republic after the 1964 military coup

Otávio Velho and Vanilda Paiva are elected president and vice president of ISER

1st local meeting of the program How Much is a Black Child Worth? on childhood and racism, organized by Joel Rufino and Eduardo Viana

Creation of the “Previna” Project, by Gabriela Leite, on AIDS care among sex workers. The project launched the collection of booklets “Fala Mulher da Vida”, “Estrela da Noite” and “Rapaz da Noite”, about prostitution and HIV prevention.

Publication of ISER notebooks nº 22/23: “Signs of the Times: religious traditions in Brazil” and “Signs of the Times: religious diversity in Brazil”.

Eco-92 preparatory decade

Environmental issues assume the condition of a Program in ISER's institutional agenda.

Installation of three new thematic areas of projects and research at ISER: 1) Religion & Citizenship; 2) Marginality & Self-esteem (name adopted at the time); and 3) Traditions & Ethnicities.

Creation of the newspaper “Vermelho e Branco' Transformações no Socialismo”, with Rubem César and Ivo Lesbaupin on its editorial board; as editor, the journalist Newton Carlos and in the newsroom Alessandra Aldé and Marcelo Camurça. The newspaper continued to be published until 1993.

Publication of “Churches and AIDS” coordinated by Milton Quintino and Ernesto Cardoso, from the ISER Project Religious Support against AIDS (ARCA), with the collaboration of theologians and specialists.

launch of Religion and Modernities Collection with the book “Religiosity in the French Revolution”, by Ignasi Terradas Saborit

Active participation of ISER in the development process of other NGOs and in the foundation of ABONG (Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations) created in 1991.

Creation of the Research Center on Violence and Justice, coordinated by Luiz Eduardo Soares, Rubem César and Leandro Piquet Carneiro

The “Instituinte” proposes a new structure in ISER. New board: with Regina Novaes, president; Antonio Aparecido, deputy; Joel Rufino, secretary.

Emergence of ISER Assessoria. The Advisory Group, active for several years, is no longer an ISER Program. Dedicated to research, organization of courses, training and meetings aimed at popular and religious movements, it became an autonomous entity.

Research publication NGOs in the 1990s: the opinion of Brazilian leaders, inaugurating the Research Nucleus/ISER's "Series of Research Texts"

ISER publishes the book “Quatrocentos contra um” about the history of the Comando Vermelho faction, written by William da Silva Lima

Project Creation If this street were mine, an initiative involving NGOs: ISER, IBASE, FASE and IDAC to work with “street children” (a concept used at the time).

Research on the Project “Se esse rua…” published under the title “If this street were mine… Lessons from an experimental Project with street kids in Rio de Janeiro.

In Rio de Janeiro, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (ECO 92). ISER organized the Great Interreligious Vigil for World Peace: “A New Day for the Earth”, which brought together leaders from different creeds and ideologies in defense of the environment.

Publication of the book “Environment, Development and Reproduction: Visions of ECO 92”, by Gustavo Lins Ribeiro, Carlos Fausto, Lúcia Ribeiro.

ISER actively participates in the definition of “Agenda 21” as a model of international public policy regarding environmental preservation. Global NGO Forum.

Creation of the Inter-Religious Movement (MIR) in Rio de Janeiro.

On September 7, ISER organizes the “Interreligious Vigil for Ethics in Politics”, at Fundição Progresso, RJ, with dozens of religious groups.

ISER carries out the Evangelical Institutional Census (CIN) in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro and puts in numbers the scope of the evangelical field, which for some decades had been presenting transformations

O ISER Catholicism Group, coordinated by Pierre Sanchis, created in the mid-1980s, publishes three volumes edited by Loyola: “Catholicism: modernity and tradition”;

The 1990s became known as the “Decade of Massacres” – Acari, Candelária, Vigário Geral. The Mães de Acari group forms to fight for justice for their families.

Decade also marked by police violence in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Formation of ISER's Research and Training Program, composed by Regina Novaes, Samyra Crespo and Leilah Landim.

The book “Transvestite: the invention of the feminine”, by Hélio Silva is published. As well as the searches What do Brazilians think about Ecology? and Brazil in the Green Era, by Samyra Crespo and Pedro Leitão.

Publication of the “Series of Research Texts”, by the Research Center/ISER of the investigation Beyond the Market and the State? Philanthropy and Citizenship in Brazil, by Leilah Landim

Publication of the report Intentional Homicides Committed against Boys in the State of Rio de Janeiroo, research developed as part of the project If This Street Were Mine (Phase/ Ibase/ Idac /Iser)

Publication of a series of books on urban violence organized by Luiz Eduardo Soares, such as “Violence in Rio de Janeiro in 1993: symbols, icons and indices It is "Urban Crime and Violence: Rio de Janeiro in the international context”

Creation of the Viva Rio Movement, with a Public Act at Cinelândia “Two minutes of silence for peace in the city of RJ”, bringing together civil society leaders, religious leaders, Rubem César and Betinho, on December 17th.

Interreligious act at Praia do Arpoador promoted by ISER, with presentations by musicians, artists and the participation of different religious traditions, Rubem César and Betinho, to launch interreligious participation in the Citizenship Action against Hunger and for Life.

Creation of the Interreligious Fund Against Hunger and for Life. Fund Council: Reverend Caio Fábio D'Araújo (Evangelicals), sociologist Luiz Alberto Gomez de Souza (Catholics) Edvaldo Roberto de Oliveira (Spiritists) Ialorixá Mãe Beata de Yemanjá (Candomblé), Loka Saksi Das (Hare Krishna). General Secretary, Marcelo Camurça.

Publication by the Núcleo de Pesquisa/ISER of “Faces and dimensions of the Campaign against Hunger”, by Emerson Giumbelli.

ISER Communications Publication nº 46 “Romaria against hunger and for life”, with reflections on the event organized by ISER, IBASE, Centro João XXIII/IBRADES of the pilgrimage to Aparecida do Norte around the so-called Betinho Campaign Against Hunger and for the life.

Creation of ISER's Environment area, coordinated by Samyra Crespo.

The theme of Community Policing and Weapons comes up with force in ISER. Publication of the research Community Policing in Copacabana: qualitative monitoring, coordinated by Leandro Piquet Carneiro and Jaqueline Muniz.

New ISER board: Pres. Regina Novaes; deputy, Maria José Rosado Nunes (Zeca); treasurer, Nilton Bonder; secretary, Pierre Sanchis.

Body: my good, my bad. 3rd Seminar on Theology and Reproductive Rights: ethics and power. Sofia Program: woman, theology and citizenship, coordinated by ISER.

realization of Environmental theory and praxis course, from ISER.

Publication by ISER of the research “In the name of charity: social assistance and religion in spiritist institutions. vol. I”. From now on, the “Research Texts Series”, which named the Nucleus' publications, is now called “Projeto Filantropia e Cidadania”.

Publication by the Núcleo de Pesquisas/ISER, project: Philanthropy and Citizenship, of the research NGOs: A profile. Registration of affiliates of the Brazilian Association of NGOs (ABONG), by Leilah Landim and Letícia Cotrim.

Publication by the Núcleo de Pesquisas/ISER, project: Philanthropy and Citizenship, of the second volume of the research by Emerson Giumbelli “In the name of charity: social assistance and religion in Spiritist institutions. vol.II”; and also from the catalog “Spiritist Social Works”, a partnership ISER/USEERJ (Union of Spiritist Societies of Rio de Janeiro), product of the same research by Giumbelli.

Publication of Violence and Politics in Rio de Janeiro, with Luiz Eduardo Soares, Bárbara Musumeci, Carlos Antonio Costa Ribeiro, Claudia Milito, Helio Silva, Jaqueline Muniz, Joao Trajano, José Rodrigues and Leandro Piquet.

Consulting by ISER (Marcelo Camurça and André Mello) to IBGE for the classification of religious groups in the publication of the 1991 Census

Publication of two editions of Comunicações ISER, dedicated to Law & Freedom on urban violence, policing and criminality.

ISER and Human Rights Watch initiate proceedings at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, based on the well-known “Caso Nova Brasília”, a petition signed by Ignacio Cano.

1st Trial of the slaughter of Vigário Geral.

Publication of the research From sambaqui to Galo Branco: a walk through history, on conservation and the environment.

Commemorative issue of Religião & Sociedade nº 18/2, for the 20th anniversary of the magazine, with an interview by Rubem César by Regina Novaes

“What Brazilians think about the environment, development and sustainability”. Research with opinion makers, with Samyra Crespo, Monica Serrão, Pedro Marinho and Phillippe Layrargues.

Publication of two surveys by sociologist Ignacio Cano “Territorial Analysis of Violence in Rio de Janeiro” and “Lethality of Police Action in Rio de Janeiro”, by the Núcleo de Pesquisas /ISER.

EdUERJ and ISER launch the book O Mal à Brasileira, organized by Patrícia Birman, Regina Novaes and Samyra Crespo.

Research publication Novo Nascimento – Evangelicals at home, in the church and in politics, with texts by Rubem César Fernandes, Pierre Sanchis, Otávio Velho, Leandro Piquet Carneiro, Cecília Mariz and Clara Mafra.

ISER Communications publishes issue No. 49 "City on the Move” dedicated to Viva Rio's actions, with the collaboration of Rubem César, Luiz Eduardo Soares, Leonarda Musumeci, Jacqueline Muniz, Patrick Larvie and Napoleão Miranda.

ISER Communications n 50 publishes the Seminar “Youth: Conflict and Solidarity”, with testimonials from young people who work in NGOs, environmental defense organizations, religious organizations and social action organizations.

Publication of the booklet "21 questions and answers for you to know more about”, an explanatory guide on the United Nations Global Agenda 21 program (UNCED/UN).

Publication of the book “Nonprofit organizations in Brazil: occupations, expenses and resources”, by Leilah Landim and Neide Beres.

ISER Communications publishes two editions dedicated to the debate on adolescents and young people: “Youth: conflict and solidarity” and “On the front line of the issue of childhood and youth”, an analysis of the tutelary councils of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. Both coordinated by Regina Novaes.

In the 2000s, the issue of favelas assumes great importance at ISER, resulting in various partnerships around projects, campaigns, seminars and publications.

A violent event, broadcast live throughout Brazil and the world, was the episode known as Sequestro do Ônibus 174, on July 12, 2000.

After the Bus 174 hijacking, the NGO Viva Rio launched the National Campaign “Enough I Want Peace – Mural da Dor”

book publication Donations and Volunteer Work in Brazil: a survey by Leilah Landim and Celi Scalon.

Term of office of the ISER Board. President Nair Muls; deputy, Guido Geli; secretary, Ana Maria Quiroga; treasurer, Marcelo Camurça. Executive Secretary: Patrick Larvie.

Beginning of a series of works on religious teaching.

An Institutional Profile of ISER, by Regina Novaes, was published in ACERVO Revista do Arquivo Nacional volume 15, number 1, jan/jun 2002.

Project Favela Tem Memória, a partnership between ISER and Viva Rio, coordinated by Christina Vital.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 57, entitled Young people from Rio: circuits, beliefs and accesses, organized by Regina Novaes and Cecília Campello Mello.

Publication of the book Juventude, Cultura e Cidadania, organized by Regina Novaes, Marta Porto and Ricardo Henriques. Course on the same subject at IFCS/UFRJ, a partnership between ISER and UNESCO and the Human Development Coordination of the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

From 2002 onwards, MIR, in partnership with ISER and Viva Rio, annually organizes the Aldeia Sagrada event. In it, more than 30 spiritual traditions gathered to promote inter-religious actions of a social, ecological and dialogical nature.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 58 entitled The Rooster and the Peacock, organized by Regina Novaes and Marilene Cunha. Result of partnerships between ISER and Viva Rio around monitoring the policing program (GPAE), implemented by the government of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Publication of the book collection Sustainable consumption, organized by Fábio Feldmann and Samyra Crespo.

Board: Pres. Sergio Goes; deputy, Nair Muls; treasurer, Andres Cristian Nacht. Members: Antônio César Pimentel Caldeira and Eduardo Sales Novaes. Samyra Crespo becomes ISER's executive secretary.

Start of a work agenda on religions in prisons, coordinated by Ana Quiroga. In it, a dialogue between researchers, religious people and former members of the system resulted in publications and partnerships between ISER and bodies linked to the penitentiary system in Brazil.

ISER Communications No. 59 about "The Memory of the Favelas”, organized by Regina Novaes, Christina Vital and Marilena Cunha.

ISER and Viva Rio form part of the international research network on arms circulation – Small Arms Survey.

Emerson Giumbelli and Sandra Carneiro conduct research on Religious Education, with a specific volume of ISER Communications No. 60.

Search Evangelical Social Action, coordinated by Ana Maria Quiroga, with Flávio Conrado, Clemir Fernandes, Valdemar Figueredo and more.

ISER actively participates in the National Disarmament Campaign, which resulted in the delivery and destruction of 443,719 firearms

Publication of the manual Conflict Resolution – Training Manual for Peace Mediators and Agents (Viva Rio/Iser); and the book Brazil: the weapons and the victims, by Rubem César Fernandes (org).

Decade in which social participation in the federal government had significant growth. Creation of CONJUVE, National Youth Council, under the presidency of Regina Novaes.

Paola Lins assumes the secretariat of Religion & Society joining the then editors Patrícia Birman, Emerson Giumbelli and Clara Mafra, in preparing the journal for indexing in Scielo, a fundamental step for the national and international dissemination of the journal.

edition of ISER Communications No. 61, dedicated to the theme “Religions and Prisons” by Ana Maria Quiroga, Christina Vital and Flávio Conrado.

A series of studies on the subject of the environment and socio-environmental impacts is carried out by the ISER research team, under the coordination of Samyra Crespo. ISER provides consultancy to institutes and companies related to the subject.

Project “Intergenerational Dialogues: Evangelicals, socio-political memory and formation of new leaders”, about resistance to the military dictatorship. Highlight for the documentary about the trajectory of Waldo César: “Christ and the Brazilian revolutionary process”. With Marcus Vinicius Matos, Alexandre Brasil, Flávio Conrado and Fernando Velasco.

edition of ISER Communications dedicated to the referendum on gun ownership, “Referendum from YES to NO: an experience of Brazilian democracy, coordinated by Maria Aparecida Rezende Mota and Samyra Crespo.

Holding of the First National Communication Conference, a milestone in the debate on media regulation in Brazil.
Research series on the Federal Legislative. The first one was “Evangelicals and doctrine on the air: an investigation into evangelicals in the National Legislative Committees and Councils”, coordinated by Christina Vital.
The magazine Religion & Society is indexed in Scielo.
ISER researchers are part of the GPAE police training course, coordinated by Viva Rio.
Organization of a set of thematic seminars by ISER with researchers and religious activists under the general idea “Christianity and Human Rights”. Coordination by Flávio Conrado and Clemir Fernandes.
ISER carries out the survey “What Brazilian leaders think about Climate Change and Brazil's engagement”, with the support of the British Embassy in Brazil.

Pedro Strozenberg, becomes Executive Secretary of ISER.
Through the then Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance and Violence Prevention of the Municipality of Nova Iguaçu, Luiz Eduardo Soares, ISER develops research on male perpetrators of violence.
Research and publication of “Domestic Violence and the Perception of the Justice System Actors on the Maria da Penha Law in Nova Iguaçu” in the following year, coordinated by Christina Vital and Denise Salles
ISER's participation in the Group to Combat Religious Intolerance of the Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat for Social Assistance and Human Rights.
Reflection program on the practice of religious assistance in prisons, in partnership with the Department of Penitentiary Assistance.
First Walk in Defense of Religious Freedom, organized by CCIR, with the participation of dozens of religious traditions and civil society organizations, among them ISER.
Realization of the Religious Tourism Project, on religious spaces, diversity and culture in the neighborhood of Penha (RJ) coordinated by Flávio Conrado.
ISER develops and executes the Training Course for Police Ombudsmen.
ISER promotes interreligious and civil society meetings in the context of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Morro da Gamboa.
ISER carries out the survey “What Brazilian leaders think about Climate Change and Brazil's engagement”, with the support of the British Embassy in Brazil.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 63 under the title “MIR: actions, memories and perspectives of the Inter-Religious Movement of Rio de Janeiro”, organized by Clemir Fernandes, Flávio Conrado, Flávio Wiik and Maria das Graças Nascimento.
Conducting research on Religious Assistance in the Socio-Educational System, coordinated by Pedro Simões.
Execution of the Rights Desk project – Conflict Mediation Center (Rocinha, Alemão and Providencia).
ISER is responsible for drawing up the Participatory Municipal Plan for the Prevention of Violence in Juruti (PA), coordinated by João Trajano and André Rodrigues.
creation of Plural Electronic Bulletin with news related to academic research, events and interfaith practices. They went through the Emerson Giumbelli project, Paola Lins and Marília Assad.
ISER actively participates in the State and National Public Security Conferences,
ISER carries out a new survey of Mapping religious education in Brazil, coordinated by Emerson Giumbelli, Sandra Carneiro and Janayna Lui with support from CEBRAP.

Start of a series of research on religions in politics, focusing on confessional parliamentarians of the Federal Legislative and in the 2010 elections, which followed in the electoral processes of 2014 and 2018 – partnership between ISER and Heinrich Boll Foundation.

ISER is part of the first National Public Security Council (CONASP).

ISER is part of the first State Public Security Council of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CONSPERJ).

ISER is invited to prepare the bases for the creation of the Religious Assistance Forum at DEGASE.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 64 – Fisherman of Men: the profile of religious assistance in the socio-educational system, organized by Pedro Simões.

Several intergenerational meetings and great celebration for ISER's 40th anniversary.

Education and accountability services for male perpetrators of violence against women: proposals for the development of technical parameters. Coordination by Fernando Acosta and Bárbara Musumeci

Publication of ISER Communications No. 65: Men and Domestic Violence: reflective groups and the Maria da Penha Law, organized by Roberto Marinho Amado.

Search Democratic Governance in Contemporary Brazil: State and Society in the Construction of Public Policies with IPEA coordinated by Leilah Landim.

ISER is part of the State Council for Human Rights in Rio de Janeiro.

ISER promotes a seminar on the centenary of two religious groups from Brazil: Assembly of God and Umbanda.

Rio+20 / People's Summit

ISER develops research and activities on the period of the civil-military dictatorship and the justice process.

ISER Communications No. 67 devotes an issue to debates and reflections on the Pacifying Police Units (UPPs). Organized by André Rodrigues, Raíza Siqueira and Maurício Lissovsky

ISER's participation in the National Committee for Religious Diversity (National Human Rights Section. With Christina Vital and Clemir Fernandes

Publication of ISER Communications No. 66 “The Masks of the War of Intolerance”, organized by Hélio Silva and Felipe Berocan.

Following ISER's tradition of consulting the IBGE Census on religion, Christina Vital and Clemir Fernandes participate in the data classification, published this year.

June Days. A mobilization that started against the increase in ticket prices and won over Brazil with other battle flags such as the defense of the secularity of the State and the fight against corruption.

ISER assumes the Presidency of the State Human Rights Council.

book publication Religion and Politics. An analysis of the performance of evangelical parliamentarians on the rights of women and LGBTs in Brazil by Christina Vital and Paulo Victor Leite Lopes.

Assistance to male perpetrators of domestic violence: challenges to public policy, by Paulo Victor Leite Lopes and Fabiana Leite

Research Religions and Prison System in Rio de Janeiro, with Raquel Fabeni

ISER promotes various meetings on Religion and Dictatorship in Brazil, with Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Candomblecist perspectives.

First Coming of Pope Francis to Brazil – ISER promotes a reflective and analytical inter-religious meeting with the special participation of Leonardo Boff.

New Board: President: Hélio Silva, Deputy: Nair Muls, Executive Secretary: Pedro Strozenberg.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 68 dedicated to a critical analysis of the 50 years of dictatorship in Brazil. Iser starts to act strongly on the agenda of the National Truth Commission (CNV), with Moniza Rizzini, Fernanda Pradal.

Project A Brazil for Christ: religious candidacies in the 2014 elections, coordinated by Christina Vital.

edition of ISER Communications No. 69 focusing on data from the 2010 Census, “Religions in Connections: number, rights, people”, organized by Christina Vital and Renata Menezes.

ISER, at the invitation of the State Department of Penitentiary Administration, RJ, works to train religious agents in the prison system. With themes of diversity, secularism and religious tolerance. With Clemir Fernandes and Christina Vital. Training takes place twice a year. It remains active to this day (2020).

program creation Faith in the Climate, an initiative to raise awareness and commit religious communities to the issue of climate change. Launch of the Initiative, at an international event, with great religious and indigenous leaders. Coordination by Maria Rita Vilella and consultancy by Denise Fonseca.

Delivery of the Faith in the Climate Declaration to the Minister of the Environment in a ceremony at PUC Rio.

Receipt of a letter from Pope Francis thanking him for sending the Faith in the Climate Declaration to the Vatican, mediated by the Archdiocese of Rio.

Presentation of the Research Religious Assistance in Prisons in Rio de Janeiro, from the perspective of prisoners, penitentiary agents and religious. Coordination by Clemir Fernandes and consultancy by Ana Quiroga.

International Meeting on Climate and Religion with the participation of Catholics, Evangelicals, Muslims, Jews, indigenous peoples, African religions and more.

Faith in Climate Meeting at COP 22 – UN Conference on Climate Change

Publication of the book "Along the paths of truth: an analysis of the experiences of truth commissions in Latin America“, coordinated by Amy Jo Westhrop, Ayra Garrido, Carolina Parreira and Luciana Chernicharo (Eds.)

Publication of the book "The recommendations of the National Truth Commission: assessments on its implementation two years later” by Amy Jo Westhrop, Ayra Garrido Carolina Parreira and Shana Prado dos Santos

holy land – global multi-religious and social event in environmental defense, promoted in Brazil by ISER, with support from MIR, Koinonia, Ibase, Religions for Peace, GreenFaith and others.

Publication of the research “Impartiality or Blindness: a study on provisional prisons and penal alternatives” in ISER Communications nº70, which discussed over-incarceration in Rio de Janeiro

we are dignity – Social and inter-religious movement promoted Dignity Vigil in a critical perspective to the 2016 Olympics. With active participation of ISER and other partners, under the leadership of Koinonia.

Publication of the book "Religion and Politics: social fears, religious extremism and the 2014 elections”. by Christina Vital, Paulo Victor Leite Lopes and Janayna Lui

Águas Sagradas Convergence – Faith in the Climate, an interreligious training meeting for young people from dozens of Latin American countries, promoted by ISER and GreenFaith, in Rio de Janeiro. closing with Ritual Walk and Blessing of the Waters, in Guanabara Bay.

At the Religion and Politics Program, Meetings with Conservative Evangelicals: pastors, parliamentarians and rights activists.

Academic meeting at ISER to celebrate the journal's 40th anniversary Religion & Society.

Production of the Minidocumentary “Temporary Prisoners”

The activities developed by ISER are now guided, above all, by themes such as Religion and Politics, Religion and the Environment, Public Security and Access to the Justice System.

Publication of the booklet "Homicides in Rio de Janeiro: it is possible to reduce, it is possible to prevent!”; and the book Execution, Torture and Enforced Disappearance: Racism and State Violence Today, by Ivanilda Figueiredo, Noelle Resende and Maria Julia Reis.

ISER Communications dedicate a number to Homicides in the Baixada Fluminense; and another with reflections on the answers to the State violence in Rio de Janeiro

ISER develops the research Evangelical Candidates in the 2018 Elections, coordinated by Ana Carolina Evangelista, Felipe Lins, Clemir Fernandes and Christina Vital.

After years of construction with the active participation of ISER, the first State Council for the Promotion of Religious Freedom (Coneplir), linked to the State Secretariat for Human Rights, is created and takes office. ISER, represented by Clemir Fernandes, and MIR are part of the Board.

Participation of Fé no Clima in the G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires

ISER coordinates in Brazil the Interfaith Initiative for the Protection of Rainforests (IRI), United Nations global program, GreenFaith, Religions for Peace and Rainforest Foundation Norway. Coordination by Clemir Fernandes and Pedro Strozenberg.
Partnership with Conectas DH for the issue of Revista Sur dedicated to “Religion and Human Rights” (No.29), guest editors: Paul Freston and Magali Cunha.
Legal Outputs I and II Project focusing on networks to reduce mass incarceration and pre-trial detention, coordinated by Paula Jardim; Renata Neder and Natasha Neri.
Provisional Prisoners Project, coordinated by Paula Jardim in partnership with the Brazil Human Rights Fund.
The 3rd Fé no Clima Meeting was held in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together religious leaders and with the participation of Antônio Nobre, André Trigueiro and Marina Silva.
At the Brazilian Conference on Climate Change and in partnership with the Centro Brasil no Clima, Fé no Clima held the interreligious act in the oldest synagogue in the Americas, Kahal Zur Israel in Recife.
During the UN Climate Week for Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Salvador, Fé no Clima promoted the debate “Faith and climate change: religion, environment and preservation” at the White House, bringing together Mãe Flávia Pinto, Ekedy Neci Neves, Pastor Joel Zefferino and Ane Alencar, Director of Science at IPAM.
Participation of ISER – Fé no Clima in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP 25 in Madrid.

ISER celebrates its 50th anniversary with Cycle of Virtual Meetings It is digitization of the collection of research, curated by Felipe Lins and Regina Novaes.
Helena Mendonça, who was admitted to ISER in 1989, continues to work at the house and is a great reference, in terms of work and affection, for all ISER generations over the last 30 years.
Beginning of research on confessional parliamentarians in the Federal Legislative and religious Parliamentary Fronts. Coordination by Ana Carolina Evangelista and consultancy by Magali Cunha.
Research Religion and Covid-19, in progress, facing the challenge of the global pandemic.
Project Strengthening networks to reduce mass incarceration and pre-trial detention, in partnership with the Brazil Human Rights Fund.
Covid in Prisons website
The IV Fé no Clima Meeting was held in virtual format, with important contributions from former Minister of the Environment Izabella Teixeira, environmentalist Sérgio Besserman and the participation of Karenna Gore, director of the Center for Earth Ethics – Union Theological Seminary in NY.

Cycle of virtual meetings “ISER 51 years”, with the aim of promoting interlocutions that contribute to the renewal of the debate on the place and role of religious beliefs in Brazilian society.

Launch of the reformulated version of the Religion & Power Platform, which offers open data, analyzes and reports on the interface between religion and institutional politics and also on the role of political agents with religious identity in the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches.

Participation of Fé no Clima in the COP 26 United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland, accompanying inter-religious movements and establishing strategic connections with groups of different spiritualities.

Completion of the digitization process of all editions of Revista Religião e Sociedade, and creation of the website www.religiaoesociedade.org.br for full and free availability of its entire collection.

The 5th Faith in the Climate Meeting brought together around 50 religious leaders from different beliefs and regions of the country, representatives of traditional peoples, researchers and specialists on the Brazilian climate agenda.

Start of the project “Faith in the power that comes from the grassroots”, an intervention and advisory project offered to Christian leaders committed to the defense of rights and the promotion of citizenship in territories of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro.
Launch of the first edition of the “Faith in Climate Guide: reflections on climate change for religious communities” (https://fenoclima.org.br/guias-fe-no-clima/).
Cycle of Debates “The Novo Nascimento survey 30 years later: new evangelical configurations”
Launch of the Popular Public Security Forum, in Rio de Janeiro.
Participation of Fé no Clima in the Pan-Amazonian Social Forum in Belém do Pará.
Legal and Social Assistance Task Force. Care for family members and prison survivors, Rio de Janeiro.
Launch of the results of the survey “Women Evangelicals, Politics and Daily Life”, carried out by ISER.
Beginning of the Warriors for Release Training Cycle: Legal-Political Training in the Criminal Justice System and Rights of Prisoners, in Petrópolis, RJ.
Documentary release: “Faith for the Climate: Youths and Environmental Action” in Recife.
Beginning of the partnership with Nexo Public Policies, the newspaper's academic-journalistic platform nexus, which publishes the production of important research centers in Brazil and around the world.
Participation of ISER – Fé no Clima at COP27, in Egypt.
Holding of the VI Meeting Faith in the Climate, in Rio de Janeiro.

*This timeline is under construction – and always will be. Would you like to correct or suggest any information? Please contact us at iser@iser.org.br

Timeline

Over the past 50 years, ISER has been present in different areas of reflection, debate and action, working to strengthen democracy and defend rights. This timeline seeks to highlight actions, publications, research, activities, films, training and meetings that ISER has promoted throughout its history.

Foundation of the Higher Institute of Theological Studies – ISET, in São Paulo by Protestant and Catholic theologians with difficulties in their churches, due to the military regime. With the support of the World Council of Churches, ISET organized itself as a group of researchers, scientists and scholars.

Its mission was: “To develop interdisciplinary research that has a contribution to offer to theology” to understand the place of religion in Brazilian society.

Rubem Alves, one of the founders and first president of ISET. He remained in this position, alternating as executive secretary, until 1978.

Waldo César takes over as executive secretary.

Creation of Cadernos do ISER, with Domício Pereira Mattos as director, Rubem Alves as editor and Peter Fry on the Editorial Board.

First issues dedicated to the themes of “Conversion”, “Religion and art”, “Psychology of Religion” and “Grassroots Communities”.

The series remains until 1981 when ISER Communications is created.

Cadernos then became a stamp to publish research and theses by researchers linked to ISER.

Creation of the journal Religião & Sociedade in cooperation with the CER (Center for Religious Studies), composed of professors from USP and PUC-SP. First Editorial Board: Alba Zaluar, Duglas Teixeira Monteiro, Jaime Pinski, Rubem Alves and Rubem César Fernandes. Director: Sérgio Coelho de Oliveira.

The Magazine was born in the environment of Unicamp (State University of Campinas-SP), along with the effervescence of debates and political movements in vogue at the time.

Patrícia Birman takes over as assistant secretary and Pierre Sanchis as treasurer.

A team of coordinators and research fellows is created; and an advisory center for churches.

First visit of a Pope to Brazil. In the impact of the presence of John Paul II, ISER holds a series of meetings and their inputs were gathered in edition nº 11 of Cadernos do ISER “The Pope in Brazil, sociological aspects” organized by Rubem César

Foundation of Ibase – Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis – by sociologist Herbert de Souza, Betinho, and economists Carlos Afonso and Marcos Arruda. The three were political exiles during the military dictatorship and returned to Brazil after the Amnesty Law.

Institutional redefinition and entry of a new generation into ISER. The formalization of an Institute itself begins, with infrastructure and other non-religious projects.

Creation of the series of publications Comunicações do ISER, featuring on the Editorial Board: Rubem César Fernandes, Pedro Ribeiro de Oliveira and Waldo César. Its purpose was to establish more organic contact with the academic world. Publication that remains active until today.

Relying on the link between religion and social movements, ISER expands its scope of action to the space of actions and projects to strengthen civil society, democratization and effective social action.

Based on new MEC definitions on higher education institutions, the name of ISER was changed to Instituto de Estudos da Religião.

Pierre Sanchis takes over as president; Regina Novaes, executive secretary.

Death of President-elect Tancredo Neves.

ISER Publication of Communications, nº 14, “Our prayers for Tancredo”, with comments by Alba Zaluar, Diatahy Bezerra de Menezes, Frei Betto, Clodovis Boff, Pedro Ribeiro, Rubem César and Roberto da Matta.

Solidarity with the Boff Brothers for the censorship suffered by the leadership of the Catholic Church/Vatican: more than 2 thousand people in the auditorium of the Instituto Metodista Bennett, in Rio de Janeiro.

Religião & Sociedade magazine nº 12/3 publishes a long interview with Leonardo Boff, with the title “The Boff case: the meaning of obedience”

Publication of “O Negro Evangélico”, in a special edition of Comunicações do ISER, organized by Regina Novaes and Maria da Graça Floriano, with texts on racial relations and Protestantism/Pentecostalism.

As of this year, ISER is experiencing a major expansion of its activities with a new generation of activists and researchers from different areas, especially those linked to work against discrimination, prejudice and economic and social inequality.

The ISER-Vídio production company is created and stands out in the making of independent videos. Diversity of productions.

New board is elected: president, Joaquim Beato; deputy, Waldo César; secretary, Maria José Rosado Nunes (Zeca); treasurer, Zélia Seiblitz and in the executive secretary: Pedro Ribeiro and Rubem César

Creation of the newspaper “Beijo da rua”, guided by associations of prostitutes from 18 Brazilian states and addressing topics such as human rights, health and public policies. Under the direction of Gabriela Leite and Flávio Lenz.

program creation Brazilian Religion & Negritude from ISER, coordinated by Joaquim Beato and Olímpio Sant'Ana

Nilton Bonder is elected Deputy Secretary, being replaced by Maurício Lissovsky

ISER performs the search Rio de Janeiro Penitentiary Census, coordinated by Edmundo Campos Coelho

Publication of the catalog of Entities of the Black Movement in Brazil: a profile with the aim of facilitating contact between groups for various activities around the Centenary of the Abolition of Slavery.

First direct elections for the Presidency of the Republic after the 1964 military coup

Otávio Velho and Vanilda Paiva are elected president and vice president of ISER

1st local meeting of the program How Much is a Black Child Worth? on childhood and racism, organized by Joel Rufino and Eduardo Viana

Creation of the “Previna” Project, by Gabriela Leite, on AIDS care among sex workers. The project launched the collection of booklets “Fala Mulher da Vida”, “Estrela da Noite” and “Rapaz da Noite”, about prostitution and HIV prevention.

Publication of ISER notebooks nº 22/23: “Signs of the Times: religious traditions in Brazil” and “Signs of the Times: religious diversity in Brazil”.

Eco-92 preparatory decade

Environmental issues assume the condition of a Program in ISER's institutional agenda.

Installation of three new thematic areas of projects and research at ISER: 1) Religion & Citizenship; 2) Marginality & Self-esteem (name adopted at the time); and 3) Traditions & Ethnicities.

Creation of the newspaper “Vermelho e Branco' Transformações no Socialismo”, with Rubem César and Ivo Lesbaupin on its editorial board; as editor, the journalist Newton Carlos and in the newsroom Alessandra Aldé and Marcelo Camurça. The newspaper continued to be published until 1993.

Publication of “Churches and AIDS” coordinated by Milton Quintino and Ernesto Cardoso, from the ISER Project Religious Support against AIDS (ARCA), with the collaboration of theologians and specialists.

launch of Religion and Modernities Collection with the book “Religiosity in the French Revolution”, by Ignasi Terradas Saborit

Active participation of ISER in the development process of other NGOs and in the foundation of ABONG (Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations) created in 1991.

Creation of the Research Center on Violence and Justice, coordinated by Luiz Eduardo Soares, Rubem César and Leandro Piquet Carneiro

The “Instituinte” proposes a new structure in ISER. New board: with Regina Novaes, president; Antonio Aparecido, deputy; Joel Rufino, secretary.

Emergence of ISER Assessoria. The Advisory Group, active for several years, is no longer an ISER Program. Dedicated to research, organization of courses, training and meetings aimed at popular and religious movements, it became an autonomous entity.

Research publication NGOs in the 1990s: the opinion of Brazilian leaders, inaugurating the Research Nucleus/ISER's "Series of Research Texts"

ISER publishes the book “Quatrocentos contra um” about the history of the Comando Vermelho faction, written by William da Silva Lima

Project Creation If this street were mine, an initiative involving NGOs: ISER, IBASE, FASE and IDAC to work with “street children” (a concept used at the time).

Research on the Project “Se esse rua…” published under the title “If this street were mine… Lessons from an experimental Project with street kids in Rio de Janeiro.

In Rio de Janeiro, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (ECO 92). ISER organized the Great Interreligious Vigil for World Peace: “A New Day for the Earth”, which brought together leaders from different creeds and ideologies in defense of the environment.

Publication of the book “Environment, Development and Reproduction: Visions of ECO 92”, by Gustavo Lins Ribeiro, Carlos Fausto, Lúcia Ribeiro.

ISER actively participates in the definition of “Agenda 21” as a model of international public policy regarding environmental preservation. Global NGO Forum.

Creation of the Inter-Religious Movement (MIR) in Rio de Janeiro.

On September 7, ISER organizes the “Interreligious Vigil for Ethics in Politics”, at Fundição Progresso, RJ, with dozens of religious groups.

ISER carries out the Evangelical Institutional Census (CIN) in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro and puts in numbers the scope of the evangelical field, which for some decades had been presenting transformations

O ISER Catholicism Group, coordinated by Pierre Sanchis, created in the mid-1980s, publishes three volumes edited by Loyola: “Catholicism: modernity and tradition”;

The 1990s became known as the “Decade of Massacres” – Acari, Candelária, Vigário Geral. The Mães de Acari group forms to fight for justice for their families.

Decade also marked by police violence in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Formation of ISER's Research and Training Program, composed by Regina Novaes, Samyra Crespo and Leilah Landim.

The book “Transvestite: the invention of the feminine”, by Hélio Silva is published. As well as the searches What do Brazilians think about Ecology? and Brazil in the Green Era, by Samyra Crespo and Pedro Leitão.

Publication of the “Series of Research Texts”, by the Research Center/ISER of the investigation Beyond the Market and the State? Philanthropy and Citizenship in Brazil, by Leilah Landim

Publication of the report Intentional Homicides Committed against Boys in the State of Rio de Janeiroo, research developed as part of the project If This Street Were Mine (Phase/ Ibase/ Idac /Iser)

Publication of a series of books on urban violence organized by Luiz Eduardo Soares, such as “Violence in Rio de Janeiro in 1993: symbols, icons and indices It is "Urban Crime and Violence: Rio de Janeiro in the international context”

Creation of the Viva Rio Movement, with a Public Act at Cinelândia “Two minutes of silence for peace in the city of RJ”, bringing together civil society leaders, religious leaders, Rubem César and Betinho, on December 17th.

Interreligious act at Praia do Arpoador promoted by ISER, with presentations by musicians, artists and the participation of different religious traditions, Rubem César and Betinho, to launch interreligious participation in the Citizenship Action against Hunger and for Life.

Creation of the Interreligious Fund Against Hunger and for Life. Fund Council: Reverend Caio Fábio D'Araújo (Evangelicals), sociologist Luiz Alberto Gomez de Souza (Catholics) Edvaldo Roberto de Oliveira (Spiritists) Ialorixá Mãe Beata de Yemanjá (Candomblé), Loka Saksi Das (Hare Krishna). General Secretary, Marcelo Camurça.

Publication by the Núcleo de Pesquisa/ISER of “Faces and dimensions of the Campaign against Hunger”, by Emerson Giumbelli.

ISER Communications Publication nº 46 “Romaria against hunger and for life”, with reflections on the event organized by ISER, IBASE, Centro João XXIII/IBRADES of the pilgrimage to Aparecida do Norte around the so-called Betinho Campaign Against Hunger and for the life.

Creation of ISER's Environment area, coordinated by Samyra Crespo.

The theme of Community Policing and Weapons comes up with force in ISER. Publication of the research Community Policing in Copacabana: qualitative monitoring, coordinated by Leandro Piquet Carneiro and Jaqueline Muniz.

New ISER board: Pres. Regina Novaes; deputy, Maria José Rosado Nunes (Zeca); treasurer, Nilton Bonder; secretary, Pierre Sanchis.

Body: my good, my bad. 3rd Seminar on Theology and Reproductive Rights: ethics and power. Sofia Program: woman, theology and citizenship, coordinated by ISER.

realization of Environmental theory and praxis course, from ISER.

Publication by ISER of the research “In the name of charity: social assistance and religion in spiritist institutions. vol. I”. From now on, the “Research Texts Series”, which named the Nucleus' publications, is now called “Projeto Filantropia e Cidadania”.

Publication by the Núcleo de Pesquisas/ISER, project: Philanthropy and Citizenship, of the research NGOs: A profile. Registration of affiliates of the Brazilian Association of NGOs (ABONG), by Leilah Landim and Letícia Cotrim.

Publication by the Núcleo de Pesquisas/ISER, project: Philanthropy and Citizenship, of the second volume of the research by Emerson Giumbelli “In the name of charity: social assistance and religion in Spiritist institutions. vol.II”; and also from the catalog “Spiritist Social Works”, a partnership ISER/USEERJ (Union of Spiritist Societies of Rio de Janeiro), product of the same research by Giumbelli.

Publication of Violence and Politics in Rio de Janeiro, with Luiz Eduardo Soares, Bárbara Musumeci, Carlos Antonio Costa Ribeiro, Claudia Milito, Helio Silva, Jaqueline Muniz, Joao Trajano, José Rodrigues and Leandro Piquet.

Consulting by ISER (Marcelo Camurça and André Mello) to IBGE for the classification of religious groups in the publication of the 1991 Census

Publication of two editions of Comunicações ISER, dedicated to Law & Freedom on urban violence, policing and criminality.

ISER and Human Rights Watch initiate proceedings at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, based on the well-known “Caso Nova Brasília”, a petition signed by Ignacio Cano.

1st Trial of the slaughter of Vigário Geral.

Publication of the research From sambaqui to Galo Branco: a walk through history, on conservation and the environment.

Commemorative issue of Religião & Sociedade nº 18/2, for the 20th anniversary of the magazine, with an interview by Rubem César by Regina Novaes

“What Brazilians think about the environment, development and sustainability”. Research with opinion makers, with Samyra Crespo, Monica Serrão, Pedro Marinho and Phillippe Layrargues.

Publication of two surveys by sociologist Ignacio Cano “Territorial Analysis of Violence in Rio de Janeiro” and “Lethality of Police Action in Rio de Janeiro”, by the Núcleo de Pesquisas /ISER.

EdUERJ and ISER launch the book O Mal à Brasileira, organized by Patrícia Birman, Regina Novaes and Samyra Crespo.

Research publication Novo Nascimento – Evangelicals at home, in the church and in politics, with texts by Rubem César Fernandes, Pierre Sanchis, Otávio Velho, Leandro Piquet Carneiro, Cecília Mariz and Clara Mafra.

ISER Communications publishes issue No. 49 "City on the Move” dedicated to Viva Rio's actions, with the collaboration of Rubem César, Luiz Eduardo Soares, Leonarda Musumeci, Jacqueline Muniz, Patrick Larvie and Napoleão Miranda.

ISER Communications n 50 publishes the Seminar “Youth: Conflict and Solidarity”, with testimonials from young people who work in NGOs, environmental defense organizations, religious organizations and social action organizations.

Publication of the booklet "21 questions and answers for you to know more about”, an explanatory guide on the United Nations Global Agenda 21 program (UNCED/UN).

Publication of the book “Nonprofit organizations in Brazil: occupations, expenses and resources”, by Leilah Landim and Neide Beres.

ISER Communications publishes two editions dedicated to the debate on adolescents and young people: “Youth: conflict and solidarity” and “On the front line of the issue of childhood and youth”, an analysis of the tutelary councils of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. Both coordinated by Regina Novaes.

In the 2000s, the issue of favelas assumes great importance at ISER, resulting in various partnerships around projects, campaigns, seminars and publications.

A violent event, broadcast live throughout Brazil and the world, was the episode known as Sequestro do Ônibus 174, on July 12, 2000.

After the Bus 174 hijacking, the NGO Viva Rio launched the National Campaign “Enough I Want Peace – Mural da Dor”

book publication Donations and Volunteer Work in Brazil: a survey by Leilah Landim and Celi Scalon.

Term of office of the ISER Board. President Nair Muls; deputy, Guido Geli; secretary, Ana Maria Quiroga; treasurer, Marcelo Camurça. Executive Secretary: Patrick Larvie.

Beginning of a series of works on religious teaching.

An Institutional Profile of ISER, by Regina Novaes, was published in ACERVO Revista do Arquivo Nacional volume 15, number 1, jan/jun 2002.

Project Favela Tem Memória, a partnership between ISER and Viva Rio, coordinated by Christina Vital.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 57, entitled Young people from Rio: circuits, beliefs and accesses, organized by Regina Novaes and Cecília Campello Mello.

Publication of the book Juventude, Cultura e Cidadania, organized by Regina Novaes, Marta Porto and Ricardo Henriques. Course on the same subject at IFCS/UFRJ, a partnership between ISER and UNESCO and the Human Development Coordination of the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

From 2002 onwards, MIR, in partnership with ISER and Viva Rio, annually organizes the Aldeia Sagrada event. In it, more than 30 spiritual traditions gathered to promote inter-religious actions of a social, ecological and dialogical nature.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 58 entitled The Rooster and the Peacock, organized by Regina Novaes and Marilene Cunha. Result of partnerships between ISER and Viva Rio around monitoring the policing program (GPAE), implemented by the government of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Publication of the book collection Sustainable consumption, organized by Fábio Feldmann and Samyra Crespo.

Board: Pres. Sergio Goes; deputy, Nair Muls; treasurer, Andres Cristian Nacht. Members: Antônio César Pimentel Caldeira and Eduardo Sales Novaes. Samyra Crespo becomes ISER's executive secretary.

Start of a work agenda on religions in prisons, coordinated by Ana Quiroga. In it, a dialogue between researchers, religious people and former members of the system resulted in publications and partnerships between ISER and bodies linked to the penitentiary system in Brazil.

ISER Communications No. 59 about "The Memory of the Favelas”, organized by Regina Novaes, Christina Vital and Marilena Cunha.

ISER and Viva Rio form part of the international research network on arms circulation – Small Arms Survey.

Emerson Giumbelli and Sandra Carneiro conduct research on Religious Education, with a specific volume of ISER Communications No. 60.

Search Evangelical Social Action, coordinated by Ana Maria Quiroga, with Flávio Conrado, Clemir Fernandes, Valdemar Figueredo and more.

ISER actively participates in the National Disarmament Campaign, which resulted in the delivery and destruction of 443,719 firearms

Publication of the manual Conflict Resolution – Training Manual for Peace Mediators and Agents (Viva Rio/Iser); and the book Brazil: the weapons and the victims, by Rubem César Fernandes (org).

Decade in which social participation in the federal government had significant growth. Creation of CONJUVE, National Youth Council, under the presidency of Regina Novaes.

Paola Lins assumes the secretariat of Religion & Society joining the then editors Patrícia Birman, Emerson Giumbelli and Clara Mafra, in preparing the journal for indexing in Scielo, a fundamental step for the national and international dissemination of the journal.

edition of ISER Communications No. 61, dedicated to the theme “Religions and Prisons” by Ana Maria Quiroga, Christina Vital and Flávio Conrado.

A series of studies on the subject of the environment and socio-environmental impacts is carried out by the ISER research team, under the coordination of Samyra Crespo. ISER provides consultancy to institutes and companies related to the subject.

Project “Intergenerational Dialogues: Evangelicals, socio-political memory and formation of new leaders”, about resistance to the military dictatorship. Highlight for the documentary about the trajectory of Waldo César: “Christ and the Brazilian revolutionary process”. With Marcus Vinicius Matos, Alexandre Brasil, Flávio Conrado and Fernando Velasco.

edition of ISER Communications dedicated to the referendum on gun ownership, “Referendum from YES to NO: an experience of Brazilian democracy, coordinated by Maria Aparecida Rezende Mota and Samyra Crespo.

Holding of the First National Communication Conference, a milestone in the debate on media regulation in Brazil.
Research series on the Federal Legislative. The first one was “Evangelicals and doctrine on the air: an investigation into evangelicals in the National Legislative Committees and Councils”, coordinated by Christina Vital.
The magazine Religion & Society is indexed in Scielo.
ISER researchers are part of the GPAE police training course, coordinated by Viva Rio.
Organization of a set of thematic seminars by ISER with researchers and religious activists under the general idea “Christianity and Human Rights”. Coordination by Flávio Conrado and Clemir Fernandes.
ISER carries out the survey “What Brazilian leaders think about Climate Change and Brazil's engagement”, with the support of the British Embassy in Brazil.

Pedro Strozenberg, becomes Executive Secretary of ISER.
Through the then Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance and Violence Prevention of the Municipality of Nova Iguaçu, Luiz Eduardo Soares, ISER develops research on male perpetrators of violence.
Research and publication of “Domestic Violence and the Perception of the Justice System Actors on the Maria da Penha Law in Nova Iguaçu” in the following year, coordinated by Christina Vital and Denise Salles
ISER's participation in the Group to Combat Religious Intolerance of the Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat for Social Assistance and Human Rights.
Reflection program on the practice of religious assistance in prisons, in partnership with the Department of Penitentiary Assistance.
First Walk in Defense of Religious Freedom, organized by CCIR, with the participation of dozens of religious traditions and civil society organizations, among them ISER.
Realization of the Religious Tourism Project, on religious spaces, diversity and culture in the neighborhood of Penha (RJ) coordinated by Flávio Conrado.
ISER develops and executes the Training Course for Police Ombudsmen.
ISER promotes interreligious and civil society meetings in the context of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Morro da Gamboa.
ISER carries out the survey “What Brazilian leaders think about Climate Change and Brazil's engagement”, with the support of the British Embassy in Brazil.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 63 under the title “MIR: actions, memories and perspectives of the Inter-Religious Movement of Rio de Janeiro”, organized by Clemir Fernandes, Flávio Conrado, Flávio Wiik and Maria das Graças Nascimento.
Conducting research on Religious Assistance in the Socio-Educational System, coordinated by Pedro Simões.
Execution of the Rights Desk project – Conflict Mediation Center (Rocinha, Alemão and Providencia).
ISER is responsible for drawing up the Participatory Municipal Plan for the Prevention of Violence in Juruti (PA), coordinated by João Trajano and André Rodrigues.
creation of Plural Electronic Bulletin with news related to academic research, events and interfaith practices. They went through the Emerson Giumbelli project, Paola Lins and Marília Assad.
ISER actively participates in the State and National Public Security Conferences,
ISER carries out a new survey of Mapping religious education in Brazil, coordinated by Emerson Giumbelli, Sandra Carneiro and Janayna Lui with support from CEBRAP.

Start of a series of research on religions in politics, focusing on confessional parliamentarians of the Federal Legislative and in the 2010 elections, which followed in the electoral processes of 2014 and 2018 – partnership between ISER and Heinrich Boll Foundation.

ISER is part of the first National Public Security Council (CONASP).

ISER is part of the first State Public Security Council of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CONSPERJ).

ISER is invited to prepare the bases for the creation of the Religious Assistance Forum at DEGASE.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 64 – Fisherman of Men: the profile of religious assistance in the socio-educational system, organized by Pedro Simões.

Several intergenerational meetings and great celebration for ISER's 40th anniversary.

Education and accountability services for male perpetrators of violence against women: proposals for the development of technical parameters. Coordination by Fernando Acosta and Bárbara Musumeci

Publication of ISER Communications No. 65: Men and Domestic Violence: reflective groups and the Maria da Penha Law, organized by Roberto Marinho Amado.

Search Democratic Governance in Contemporary Brazil: State and Society in the Construction of Public Policies with IPEA coordinated by Leilah Landim.

ISER is part of the State Council for Human Rights in Rio de Janeiro.

ISER promotes a seminar on the centenary of two religious groups from Brazil: Assembly of God and Umbanda.

Rio+20 / People's Summit

ISER develops research and activities on the period of the civil-military dictatorship and the justice process.

ISER Communications No. 67 devotes an issue to debates and reflections on the Pacifying Police Units (UPPs). Organized by André Rodrigues, Raíza Siqueira and Maurício Lissovsky

ISER's participation in the National Committee for Religious Diversity (National Human Rights Section. With Christina Vital and Clemir Fernandes

Publication of ISER Communications No. 66 “The Masks of the War of Intolerance”, organized by Hélio Silva and Felipe Berocan.

Following ISER's tradition of consulting the IBGE Census on religion, Christina Vital and Clemir Fernandes participate in the data classification, published this year.

June Days. A mobilization that started against the increase in ticket prices and won over Brazil with other battle flags such as the defense of the secularity of the State and the fight against corruption.

ISER assumes the Presidency of the State Human Rights Council.

book publication Religion and Politics. An analysis of the performance of evangelical parliamentarians on the rights of women and LGBTs in Brazil by Christina Vital and Paulo Victor Leite Lopes.

Assistance to male perpetrators of domestic violence: challenges to public policy, by Paulo Victor Leite Lopes and Fabiana Leite

Research Religions and Prison System in Rio de Janeiro, with Raquel Fabeni

ISER promotes various meetings on Religion and Dictatorship in Brazil, with Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Candomblecist perspectives.

First Coming of Pope Francis to Brazil – ISER promotes a reflective and analytical inter-religious meeting with the special participation of Leonardo Boff.

New Board: President: Hélio Silva, Deputy: Nair Muls, Executive Secretary: Pedro Strozenberg.

Publication of ISER Communications No. 68 dedicated to a critical analysis of the 50 years of dictatorship in Brazil. Iser starts to act strongly on the agenda of the National Truth Commission (CNV), with Moniza Rizzini, Fernanda Pradal.

Project A Brazil for Christ: religious candidacies in the 2014 elections, coordinated by Christina Vital.

edition of ISER Communications No. 69 focusing on data from the 2010 Census, “Religions in Connections: number, rights, people”, organized by Christina Vital and Renata Menezes.

ISER, at the invitation of the State Department of Penitentiary Administration, RJ, works to train religious agents in the prison system. With themes of diversity, secularism and religious tolerance. With Clemir Fernandes and Christina Vital. Training takes place twice a year. It remains active to this day (2020).

program creation Faith in the Climate, an initiative to raise awareness and commit religious communities to the issue of climate change. Launch of the Initiative, at an international event, with great religious and indigenous leaders. Coordination by Maria Rita Vilella and consultancy by Denise Fonseca.

Delivery of the Faith in the Climate Declaration to the Minister of the Environment in a ceremony at PUC Rio.

Receipt of a letter from Pope Francis thanking him for sending the Faith in the Climate Declaration to the Vatican, mediated by the Archdiocese of Rio.

Presentation of the Research Religious Assistance in Prisons in Rio de Janeiro, from the perspective of prisoners, penitentiary agents and religious. Coordination by Clemir Fernandes and consultancy by Ana Quiroga.

International Meeting on Climate and Religion with the participation of Catholics, Evangelicals, Muslims, Jews, indigenous peoples, African religions and more.

Faith in Climate Meeting at COP 22 – UN Conference on Climate Change

Publication of the book "Along the paths of truth: an analysis of the experiences of truth commissions in Latin America“, coordinated by Amy Jo Westhrop, Ayra Garrido, Carolina Parreira and Luciana Chernicharo (Eds.)

Publication of the book "The recommendations of the National Truth Commission: assessments on its implementation two years later” by Amy Jo Westhrop, Ayra Garrido Carolina Parreira and Shana Prado dos Santos

holy land – global multi-religious and social event in environmental defense, promoted in Brazil by ISER, with support from MIR, Koinonia, Ibase, Religions for Peace, GreenFaith and others.

Publication of the research “Impartiality or Blindness: a study on provisional prisons and penal alternatives” in ISER Communications nº70, which discussed over-incarceration in Rio de Janeiro

we are dignity – Social and inter-religious movement promoted Dignity Vigil in a critical perspective to the 2016 Olympics. With active participation of ISER and other partners, under the leadership of Koinonia.

Publication of the book "Religion and Politics: social fears, religious extremism and the 2014 elections”. by Christina Vital, Paulo Victor Leite Lopes and Janayna Lui

Águas Sagradas Convergence – Faith in the Climate, an interreligious training meeting for young people from dozens of Latin American countries, promoted by ISER and GreenFaith, in Rio de Janeiro. closing with Ritual Walk and Blessing of the Waters, in Guanabara Bay.

At the Religion and Politics Program, Meetings with Conservative Evangelicals: pastors, parliamentarians and rights activists.

Academic meeting at ISER to celebrate the journal's 40th anniversary Religion & Society.

Production of the Minidocumentary “Temporary Prisoners”

The activities developed by ISER are now guided, above all, by themes such as Religion and Politics, Religion and the Environment, Public Security and Access to the Justice System.

Publication of the booklet "Homicides in Rio de Janeiro: it is possible to reduce, it is possible to prevent!”; and the book Execution, Torture and Enforced Disappearance: Racism and State Violence Today, by Ivanilda Figueiredo, Noelle Resende and Maria Julia Reis.

ISER Communications dedicate a number to Homicides in the Baixada Fluminense; and another with reflections on the answers to the State violence in Rio de Janeiro

ISER develops the research Evangelical Candidates in the 2018 Elections, coordinated by Ana Carolina Evangelista, Felipe Lins, Clemir Fernandes and Christina Vital.

After years of construction with the active participation of ISER, the first State Council for the Promotion of Religious Freedom (Coneplir), linked to the State Secretariat for Human Rights, is created and takes office. ISER, represented by Clemir Fernandes, and MIR are part of the Board.

Participation of Fé no Clima in the G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires

ISER coordinates in Brazil the Interfaith Initiative for the Protection of Rainforests (IRI), United Nations global program, GreenFaith, Religions for Peace and Rainforest Foundation Norway. Coordination by Clemir Fernandes and Pedro Strozenberg.
Partnership with Conectas DH for the issue of Revista Sur dedicated to “Religion and Human Rights” (No.29), guest editors: Paul Freston and Magali Cunha.
Legal Outputs I and II Project focusing on networks to reduce mass incarceration and pre-trial detention, coordinated by Paula Jardim; Renata Neder and Natasha Neri
Provisional Prisoners Project, coordinated by Paula Jardim in partnership with the Brazil Human Rights Fund.
The 3rd Fé no Clima Meeting was held in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together religious leaders and with the participation of Antônio Nobre, André Trigueiro and Marina Silva.
At the Brazilian Conference on Climate Change and in partnership with the Centro Brasil no Clima, Fé no Clima held the interreligious act in the oldest synagogue in the Americas, Kahal Zur Israel in Recife.
During the UN Climate Week for Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Salvador, Fé no Clima promoted the debate “Faith and climate change: religion, environment and preservation” at the White House, bringing together Mãe Flávia Pinto, Ekedy Neci Neves, Pastor Joel Zefferino and Ane Alencar, Director of Science at IPAM.
Participation of ISER – Fé no Clima in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP 25 in Madrid.

ISER celebrates its 50th anniversary with Cycle of Virtual Meetings It is digitization of the collection of research, curated by Felipe Lins and Regina Novaes.
Helena Mendonça, who was admitted to ISER in 1989, continues to work at the house and is a great reference, in terms of work and affection, for all ISER generations over the last 30 years.
Beginning of research on confessional parliamentarians in the Federal Legislative and religious Parliamentary Fronts. Coordination by Ana Carolina Evangelista and consultancy by Magali Cunha.
Research Religion and Covid-19, in progress, facing the challenge of the global pandemic.
Project Strengthening networks to reduce mass incarceration and pre-trial detention, in partnership with the Brazil Human Rights Fund.
Covid in Prisons website
The IV Fé no Clima Meeting was held in virtual format, with important contributions from former Minister of the Environment Izabella Teixeira, environmentalist Sérgio Besserman and the participation of Karenna Gore, director of the Center for Earth Ethics – Union Theological Seminary in NY.

Cycle of virtual meetings “ISER 51 years”, with the aim of promoting interlocutions that contribute to the renewal of the debate on the place and role of religious beliefs in Brazilian society.
Launch of the reformulated version of the Religion & Power Platform, which offers open data, analyzes and reports on the interface between religion and institutional politics and also on the role of political agents with religious identity in the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches.
Participation of Fé no Clima in the COP 26 United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland, accompanying inter-religious movements and establishing strategic connections with groups of different spiritualities.
Completion of the digitization process of all editions of Revista Religião e Sociedade, and creation of the website www.religiaoesociedade.org.br for full and free availability of its entire collection.
The 5th Faith in the Climate Meeting brought together around 50 religious leaders from different beliefs and regions of the country, representatives of traditional peoples, researchers and specialists on the Brazilian climate agenda.

Start of the project “Faith in the power that comes from the grassroots”, an intervention and advisory project offered to Christian leaders committed to the defense of rights and the promotion of citizenship in territories of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro.
Launch of the first edition of the “Faith in Climate Guide: reflections on climate change for religious communities” (https://fenoclima.org.br/guias-fe-no-clima/).
Cycle of Debates “The Novo Nascimento survey 30 years later: new evangelical configurations”
Launch of the Popular Public Security Forum, in Rio de Janeiro.
Participation of Fé no Clima in the Pan-Amazonian Social Forum in Belém do Pará.
Legal and Social Assistance Task Force. Care for family members and prison survivors, Rio de Janeiro.
Launch of the results of the survey “Women Evangelicals, Politics and Daily Life”, carried out by ISER.
Beginning of the Warriors for Release Training Cycle: Legal-Political Training in the Criminal Justice System and Rights of Prisoners, in Petrópolis, RJ.
Documentary release: “Faith for the Climate: Youths and Environmental Action” in Recife.
Beginning of the partnership with Nexo Public Policies, the newspaper's academic-journalistic platform nexus, which publishes the production of important research centers in Brazil and around the world.
Participation of ISER – Fé no Clima at COP27, in Egypt.
Holding of the VI Meeting Faith in the Climate, in Rio de Janeiro.

*This timeline is under construction – and always will be. Would you like to correct or suggest any information? Please contact us at iser@iser.org.br