The state of Rondônia has taken a decisive legislative step to protect its youngest residents. Governor's office officials have officially sanctioned the 'Marta Isabelle Law,' a new public policy designed to systematically locate children and adolescents who are not enrolled in school. This proactive measure directly responds to a horrific crime that exposed critical gaps in the system.
The law draws its name and its urgency from the case of Marta Isabelle dos Santos. Investigations revealed the teenager had been removed from school by her father and stepmother, who then held her captive and subjected her to torture until her death. Her isolation went unnoticed, highlighting a dangerous lack of mechanisms to track students who disappear from the educational environment.
At its core, the new legislation establishes a formal 'active search' protocol. Its primary objectives are to identify all children of mandatory school age who are not registered in either the public or private school networks. Furthermore, it mandates the location of students who have abandoned their classrooms and the immediate notification of the responsible authorities.
Once a child is identified as missing from the school system, the law outlines clear next steps. Teams are required to develop and implement strategies for the student's safe reintegration into the classroom. This process includes consistent monitoring of attendance and measures to guarantee the student's continued presence in school moving forward.
Effective implementation of this search policy relies on a coordinated, multi-agency approach. The law encourages integration between various state sectors, including education, social assistance, health, and public security. To broaden its reach, the state government is authorized to form agreements with municipalities, federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, churches, and community associations.
Responsibilities are clearly defined for different stakeholders. Public and private educational institutions must actively monitor student attendance and track transfer processes to confirm enrollment at destination schools. Civil society organizations, health entities, and philanthropic groups are tasked with requesting identification and current enrollment proof for minors in their care.
Even community and religious organizations have a role. Churches, sports projects, and cultural centers are now expected to request a school declaration from participants for social, recreational, or sports activities, or for the receipt of donations and benefits from their own social programs. This creates multiple checkpoints to identify children outside the system.
A critical component of the law is the mandatory reporting protocol. All involved parties are legally required to communicate any inconsistencies, signs of school abandonment, or situations of violence to the Child and Adolescent Protection Council (Conselho Tutelar) with the utmost urgency. Upon receiving such a report, the Council and public security agencies must immediately initiate a search for the student and take measures to ensure their safe return to school.
Based on reporting from g1.