PRONASCI: A Step Forward?
Although affronts to the rights of children persist, the government has recently enacted new legislation that promises to specifically promote violence prevention, public security, and social programs while paying special attention to issues affecting children and adolescents. This National Plan for Public Security and Citizenship (PRONASCI) was enacted August 20, 2007 and represented a hopeful milestone in achieving government initiatives aimed at reducing violence, improving security, and reinforcing the human rights guaranteed in legislation such as the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA). More recently, on June 27, 2008, the government allocated over R$ 600 million to the PRONASCI program which should help guarantee that children’s rights in Brazil will be more effectively protected in coming years.
The PRONASCI represents a hopeful action on the part of the government, however, the current Minister of Justice, Tarso Genro, warns that the improvements to security may not be felt immediately and that it may be three to five years before measurable improvements occur. Even so, he remains hopeful that the PRONASCI will significantly reduce the number of violent deaths in the country from a current average of 29 deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants to an average of 17.
It has now been 18 years since the ECA was originally enacted but nevertheless, Brazil still leads the world in the number of youths killed by firearms. This figure is one example of how the provisions of the ECA have yet to be fully observed in Brazil and attests to the magnitude of government action necessary for ensuring children’s rights will be protected in the future. However, new initiatives such as the PRONASCI provide us with hope that a significant shift for the protection of the rights of children and an improvement in the security of all Brazilians may be occuring. This legislation demonstrates a willingness on the part of government to make the changes necessary for narrowing the gap between what Brazil’s legislation promises, and the rights its citizens enjoy.
Further Reading:
This article details recent efforts of the Brazilian government with regards to improving security and human rights through the PRONASCI.
This article praises the passing of PRONASCI legislation as a historic milestone for human rights and violence reduction in Brazil.
Communidade Segura: Praise for the passing of further PRONASCI initiatives
A news article in Portuguese regarding the most recent PRONASCI initiatives and government expectations for the results.
Over R$ 600 million recently allocated for PRONASCI and improving children’s rights in Brazil
An article regarding the effects of gun violence on youth.
Comunidade Segura: Youth particularly affected by gun violence