Brazil

Social Reintegration of Children in Street Situation

Active in Brazil since 1982, Terre des hommes (Tdh) did run projects dealing with health, nutrition and today child protection. In 2010 more than 67,000 people benefited from these activities.

Context

Brazil is the largest Latin American economy; however, wealth is distributed unevenly between the geographic zones of the country, the arid zone of the North East being notorious for its high poverty rates. Human trafficking, forced labor, forced prostitution and the narcotics trade are the main areas of concern. Many children have lost their parents and live on the streets, or are forced to work or beg due to the poor economic background of their families. These children are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation, often within the framework of sex tourism, and to forced labor. It is therefore of paramount importance to protect them, to provide social and professional education and reintegration measures and to combat exploitation. Another priority is to raise awareness for alternative measures to detention for juvenile offenders, applying restorative justice.

Our intervention

Juvenile Justice – Tdh is a pioneer organization in the fight for the establishment of restorative juvenile justice in Latin America. Started in Brazil in 2009, this project profits from the experience and results recognized in other countries. Tdh set up the first Brazilian conference on restorative juvenile justice in partnership with the institutions of Maranhão and the Ministry of Justice. To reduce violence in schools, Tdh does prevention work by making teachers and headmasters aware of restorative conflict resolution practices.

Social Reintegration of Street Children – Tdh and its partners provide social, educational and artistic activities to strengthen the street children’s own abilities to express and to look after themselves. With greater self-confidence they can envisage new perspectives for their future. Tdh also lobbies national authorities to promote these children’s access to health services, education and professional training.

Combating Exploitation – Tdh is increasing its fight against trafficking and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. Tdh gives technical support to its partners in networks and in state institutions for prevention against child abuse and for intervention when abuses are committed.

Follow the Terre des hommes delegation in Brazil on their blog and on Twitter (in Portuguese)

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  Fortaleza

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  São Luís

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  Rio de Janeiro

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  Queimados