Introduction to Children’s Rights
In celebration of the 18th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was formally adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on November 20, 1989; and Brazil’s own Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA) which was implemented as National Law in July of the following year, this page hopes to act as a public space to both celebrate and publicize the rights of children everywhere.
Children living in Rio’s most impoverished favelas are no different and need to be treated with equal care and attention as those children who have been blessed with unlimited love and financial resources in any other city or country respectively. This page in particular hopes to call attention to the very basic human rights of children everywhere.
The ComunidadeSegura website, out of necessity and urgency, focuses its work on children to issues concerning human security. In particular, this means security from armed conflict which is tragically so prevalent here in Rio and thus so relevant to their human security work as a whole.
In the field of Human Rights, this work is generally referred to as Peacekeeping, in that it aims to aid or modify an existing human rights abuse. To compliment this dedicated work from the team at ComunidadeSegura, this page; instead, aims to focus on the fundamental rights of children and hopes to become a Peace building and educational tool for the general public.
Education
ABOVE: Children studying at Spectaculu, an NGO that offers Media courses to young people here in Rio.
The Rights to a “free and compulsory” education aimed at “the development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities” (CRC Articles 28, 29) are clearly stated in both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Statute of the Child and Adolescent. The necessity of these rights to a child’s development towards adulthood, and to becoming an active and contributing member of society, have been clear to human and children’s rights scholars since the original Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by the United Nations in 1948. The ECA guarantees these same rights in articles 4, 53, and 54.
Here in Brazil the National Economy is currently booming, in theory this economic growth should eventually spread throughout the country and help alleviate the country’s poverty and inequality problems. While this idealistic view is certainly contingent on a variety of factors, the education of Brazil’s youth going forward needs to be a top priority for government and civil society if this dream is ever going to be fulfilled.
One project here in Brazil aimed at promoting Education is Bolsa Familia. Simply stated, the program was implemented in 2003 by President Lula in collaboration with the World Bank, and aims to lift families out of poverty by giving them small subsidies to buy food and other essentials. In exchange for these subsidies, the families are required to keep their children in school. While this program does have its critics, its general goals to narrow the inequality gap by lifting society’s worst off populations through educational efforts is certainly a step in the right direction.
Further Reading:
Below is a link for a recent article from the New York Times about Brazil’s recent economic resurgence. The article highlights the Bolsa Familia program as being a powerful tool in bridging the country’s inequality gap.
Strong Economy Propels Brazil to World Stage
We’d like to hear our readers suggestions and comments about the Educational System here in Brazil. Below is a link for an article from comunidadesegura about one particular educational program in Salvador, Bahia.
From pre-school to the job market
Links in reference to the above article:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Rights to Recreational and Cultural Activities…
ABOVE: Children playing soccer at the Crianca Esperanca center in Cantagalo, Rio de Janeiro.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child was a landmark achievement for the United Nations in that it was able to not only guarantee children their most basic of human rights; (Shelter, Food, Security, etc.) but also extended these, by also granting them rights to recreational and cultural activities as well. Specifically, Article 31 states that children have the right to leisure, play and participation in cultural and artistic activities.
Here in Brazil, these sorts of rights are oftentimes overlooked because of the amount of attention needed to provide the most basic rights to children living in impoverished areas. Government and civil society alike must not forget these sorts of rights as they are essential to the full human development of children. The Statute of the Child and the Adolescent echoes these rights as well, stating in articles 4, 58, and 59 these sorts of rights to sports, leisure, recreational and cultural activities.
The CRC and ECA were sure to include these kinds of rights, in addition to the basic rights stated above, because of their vital importance to the physical and mental growth of children into adulthood. Participation in recreational and cultural activities teaches children things they cannot learn in the classroom.
Sports, for example, teach lessons such as teamwork, respect for authority and elders, and the general importance of physical fitness. Involvement in cultural activities allows children to slowly integrate themselves into society in their own unique way. Being able to learn from those who have come before them can give them a vision for progress going forward.
One group here in Brazil doing this kind of work that I have been able to visit in my short time here was Crianca Esperanca. They dedicate their work to providing sports and cultural activities to kids who would not have them otherwise. This organization builds public spaces in favelas around Brazil, providing children with a safe place to develop outside of the classroom environment.
Again, we’d like to encourage further input from our readers about other organizations doing this kind of work.
Further Reading:
Below are some interesting articles from comunidadsegura, both relating to giving children access to recreational and cultural activities to not only aid their human development, but to keep them away from violence as well…
Hip Hop and the Art of Peace in Curitiba
‘Unite for Children, Unite for Peace’, a joint UNICEF and FIFA campaign uses soccer to foster peace and tolerance among teens
In the ring for peace
Further information on Crianca Esperanca:
‘Neglected Children’
Unfortunately, in Rio de Janeiro in particular but in other major cities around the world as well, street kids are looked at as a problem or a nuisance to the rest of those living and working in the cities respectively. Instead of viewing these kids as problems, their presence in the streets should be reason enough for both government and civil society alike to immediately stand up for their rights.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child states clearly in article 3 that when parents fail to fulfill the basic needs of their children such as food, shelter and basic safety that, “The State shall provide the child with adequate care when parents, or others charged with that responsibility, fail to do so…” Article 20 continues this when it states clearly “The State is obliged to provide special protection for a child deprived of the family environment.”
Here in Brazil, the rights stated above are clearly echoed in the Statute of the Child and Adolescent, stating in Article 4 that it is, “…the duty of the family, community, society in general and the public authority to ensure, with absolute priority, effective implementation of the rights to life, health, nutrition, etc…” Both legislations are direct and clear about the necessity for the State and general public to look out for children who are not given the proper love and care from their families for whatever reason.
Street kids are the most visible representation of the failures of both the state and civil society to defend these very basic rights of children, but the problem is much bigger than just the street kids. Millions of kids in Rio and throughout Brazil are living in poverty and while their families may provide a roof to sleep under, they deserve much more than just shelter.
Fortunately, here in Rio and around the globe there are many people fighting for the rights of children whose families have neglected them and we must celebrate their achievements and work here. One group in particular doing work like this is Sao Martinho, whose headquarters is in the heart of Lapa outside of the center of Rio de Janeiro. Sao Martinho works around the clock as a social and education center for the children of Rio. This center works on a variety of projects with the goal of re-integrating children to society and reuniting them with their families.
Projeto Uere does similar work in Mare, one of Rio’s largest favelas, concentrating on fulfilling the rights of children to receive an education which aims to “develop the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to the fullest extent” (CRC, article 29).
In addition to these two bigger, higher profile organizations; there are hundreds of similar groups working tirelessly on defending the most basic rights of children here in Rio. We invite our readers to comment here on the site about organiazations in their own communities doing work like this.
Further Reading
See the below link for a fascinating article from comunidadsegura on this subject:
Brazil: Lack of family structure is leading cause of violence among youths, according to study
Links to further information on both Sao Martinho and Projecto Uere: