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| Photo credit: Lidiane Dias cbnrecife.co |
Equity for Children, in partnership with the RNPI (Red Nacional Primera Infancia; National Network for Early Childhood), launched the Protection and Prevention of Violence in Early Childhood Handbook, created as part of an initiative to broadly communicate about early childhood issues. Its objective is to disseminate the 13 actions of the National Plan for Early Childhood in Brazil to a wide audience and obtain support from the general population for its implementation. The handbook offers public administrators and others information and suggestions for action that fosters, supports and guarantees the right of children to protection against violence.
The Protection and Prevention of Violence in Early Childhood Handbook contextualizes the problem of violence against children in its different manifestations. It outlines the judicial framework of protection both in Brazil and internationally and provides essential requirements and practical suggestions to ensure effective results addressing this issue. It also highlights resources and references if readers desire additional information about the topic.
The handbook results from inter-sectoral cooperation between the RNPI, Equity for Children and the partners listed below, all of whom participated in the November 20 and 21, 2014, “Colloquium on Violence and Child Development: Historical and Contextual Reflections, Child Protection Considerations, and Public Policy” in Recife, Brazil. The event fostered discussion about violence, its complex causes and manifestations as well as its impacts on early childhood. It emphasized effective practical experiences, actions and public policies. The colloquium welcomed 175 attendees including practitioners, students and academics from various regions of Brazil.
Panel discussions highlighted topics related to the prevention of violence and the protection of children within public, private or institutional environments. Participants spoke about the strategic role of the media in building citizenship among young children, while they also recognized existing challenges in Brazil. A conference roundtable focused on building and implementing local early childhood planning across Brazil, in Fortaleza, Coxim, Corumbá and Nova Iguaçu. Discussants also addressed the importance of public security in protecting and promoting children’s human rights.
Main themes included:
- Domestic violence
- Children and their families’ perceptions of violence in the community
- Family support services caring for and protecting children effectively
- Child protection on the international agenda within the scope of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participants shared good practices in violence prevention. The panel entitled, “On the Radio Waves: Prevention of Violence against Boys, Girls and Adolescents” by the Ministry of Health, provided input for training communications professionals on the promotion of rights. The RNBE (Rede Não Bata, Eduque; Don’t Hit, Educate Network) described its work to promote and pass the Menino Bernardo Law, prohibiting the use of physical punishment and cruel or degrading treatment in education and the care of children and adolescents.
The symposium was produced by the RNPI and included the participation of numerous partners: Equity for Children, AVANTE, Plan, Promundo, Visión Mundial, Rede Não Bata Eduque, IFAN, Intendencia de Sorocaba, Xuxa Meneghel Foundation, the State Network for Early Childhood of Pernambuco and supporters: Plan, Visión Mundial, Promundo, Xuxa Meneghel Foundation, UNICEF, Save the Children, Bernard van Leer Foundation, and, the European Union.
To read the Protection and Prevention of Violence in Early Childhood Handbook in Portuguese, click here.
For additional information on the Colloquium in Portuguese, please click here.
