Débora Lira de Lacerda

Débora Lira de Lacerda

Débora Lira de Lacerda is a lawyer specialising in International Human Rights Law and Transitional Justice, with consultancy experience for organisations such as Oxfam Brazil and Guardians Worldwide. She holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from University of Galway. Her research sits at the intersection of human rights and environmental law.

Under the supervision of Dr Anita Ferrara, her PhD explores whether and how the Brazilian government and society addressed the environmental impacts that were caused by the state policies and practices during the military dictatorship. She holds the 2025 Travelling Doctoral Studentship in Humanities and Social Sciences.

The study aims to advance transitional justice theory by examining mechanisms designed to ensure accountability, justice, and reconciliation, and their response to the environmental crisis resulting from the political agenda of authoritarian regimes. In doing so, it aims to deepen our understanding of how environmental harm can be integrated into broader efforts to pursue justice and reconciliation after authoritarianism.

Email: d.liradelacerda1@universityofgalway.ie

Working Topic: Rights, Reparation, and Resilience: Transitional Justice and Environmental Recovery in Brazil

Supervisor: Dr Anita Ferrara

Scholarship: Travelling Doctoral Studentship in Humanities and Social Sciences

Publications

Book Chapter

Lacerda, D, ‘The (un)conventionality of artisanal small-scale gold mining in the Amazon: A study of the legislation in the states of Amazonas, Rondônia, and Pará’, in Silva Filho E and others (Eds.), Artisanal and small scale gold mining in the Amazon: Major socio-environmental impacts and multidimensional human rights violations (Editora UEA, 2024).

Loureiro, S and Lacerda, D, ‘The socio-environmental impacts of mining in the Amazon and Brazilian law’ In Silva Filho, E, and others (Eds.), Impactos socioambientais da mineração sobre povos indígenas e comunidades ribeirinhas na Amazônia (Editora UEA, 2020).

Article

Rodrigues, A, Aguiar, D, and Lacerda, D, ‘Principle of Self-determination for demarcation of indigenous territories in Manaus’ Nova Hileia Revista Eletrônica De Direito Ambiental Da Amazônia. ISSN: 2525 – 4537, 15(4). Retrieved from https://periodicos.uea.edu.br/index.php/novahileia/article/view/2926