Avaliação da política pública de reconhecimento voluntário de paternidade em Goiás

Abstract

Father absence constitutes a significant social and legal problem in Brazil, producing impacts that go beyond the family sphere and affect issues related to social vulnerability, civil identity, psychological development, and the judicialization of family relationships. In this context, public policies aimed at voluntary paternity recognition have emerged, especially those developed by institutions within the justice system, as a means of expanding access to the right to filiation and reducing the need for judicial actions. Given this scenario, this study aims to evaluate the voluntary paternity recognition policy in the state of Goiás at the levels of efficiency, through the relationship between assistance provided and recognitions completed; efficacy, through compliance with established goals; and effectiveness, understood here as the impact on the number of absent fathers and paternity investigation lawsuits. The research is aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 and 10 of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda, which respectively aim to ensure access to justice and reduce inequalities, as well as with Goal 3 of the National Council of Justice (CNJ), which encourages conciliation as a method of conflict resolution. This analysis focused on the programs developed in the state of Goiás: Pai Presente, É Legal Ter Pai, and Meu Pai Tem Nome. The study is justified by the social relevance of the topic and by the need to monitor public policies aimed at guaranteeing the right to filiation, seeking greater effectiveness of public services and social well-being, considering possible consequences of father absence, such as mental illness, criminality, among others. From a methodological perspective, this is a qualitative study developed through literature review combined with documentary analysis of institutional regulations, as well as a quantitative approach based on statistical data related to paternity recognition. The originality of the study lies in the analysis of the programs from the perspective of the public policy cycle, specifically focusing on evidence-based evaluation, an approach not yet identified in current studies encompassing all three programs simultaneously. Regarding practical contributions, the study proposes a bill for the creation of the State System for Paternity Recognition, which would establish goals and incentive mechanisms involving the institutions responsible for paternity recognition in the state, such as the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Court of Justice, and civil registry offices, aiming to increase efficiency, efficacy, and, above all, effectiveness, with practical results for the population. The findings demonstrated that there is no coordination among the paternity recognition programs capable of significantly impacting the practical reality of father absence, since efficiency levels in all programs do not remain stable over time, while the existing goals, although simple, are insufficient to encourage the projects to expand their productivity or reach. Finally, effectiveness proved unsatisfactory, as neither the number of absent fathers nor the number of paternity investigation lawsuits showed a significant reduction throughout the analyzed period.