Photo of the month: January - Peru

22 Jan 2009 Juvenile justicePeru

The photo
“In the suburbs of Lima, the police station in the Agustina quarter is showing pioneer spirit. A brightly lit, white-painted room has replaced the usual dark, narrow cell for those remanded in custody. When a minor is arrested, the police are asked to contact a member of Encuentros, Tdh’s partner there, and the public prosecutor. Together they take charge of the prisoner and start talks with him and with his victim. The aim of this is to avoid the young person being imprisoned and so coming into close contact with ‘real’ criminals. During these talks, Encuentros can get to know him and his family situation and his needs.
At an initial stage, the delinquent is left alone in the white room so he can cool down and start to look at things more calmly. Then he is taken to a second room where the walls are covered in happy, coloured pictures, making him feel reassured. This warm atmosphere helps the youth begin a dialogue with the psychologist, the social helper, a lawyer or the prosecutor. With disconcerting simplicity, this procedure seems to prove particularly efficient, and permits setting up a network within the social system as well as getting closer to the families, so as to offer them help.”

The author – Mélanie Rouiller
A professional photographer living in Vaulruz in the canton of Fribourg, Mélanie Rouiller has carried out several photographic jobs for Terre des hommes in Switzerland, particularly on the occasion of the World Food Day in 2007, and at the beginning of 2008 during the traditional sales of oranges. In November 2008 she went to Peru for the first time to visit field projects of Tdh.
Mélanie Rouiller also works freelance for some journals (Migros Magazine, La Gruyère, La Liberté) and does publicity work for Fribourg firms.
You can see some of her work on: www.kokochkacreation.ch

The project – Peru

• Juvenile justice
  Since 2003, Terre des hommes has been holding training courses for prosecutors, judges, lawyers, police, prison governors, psychologists, social workers and youth workers, so as to find alternatives to prison sentences.
  With its partners, Encuentros, Tdh guarantees immediate, effective protection for a young person in conflict with the law from the time of his arrest at a police station, and then ensures support and reintegration of the youth in his family environment.

• Emergencies
  After the earthquake in Pisco, rebuilding wells, constructing latrines for families and community reservoirs of drinking water were the main challenges for Tdh, together with encouraging hygiene for children and their families.
  Psychosocial activities were set up for 500 children traumatised by the loss of relatives and homes.

• Nutrition
  Tdh and its partners Niñez y Vida work in villages to help mothers exchange experiences on feeding and get advice from other women who have been trained in health and nutrition.