|
Title |
Unprecedented partnership between UNODC and the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security focuses on the protection of Children and Adolescents |
|
Month/Date |
July 31 2024 |
|
Location/Office |
Brasilia, Brazil |
|
Beneficiaries |
Children and adolescents, Brazilian Government |
|
Funding source |
EndVAC (UNODC), CHAMPS (UNODC), Brazilian government |
|
Partners |
UNODC Global, National Secretariat for Drug Policy and Asset Management (SENAD) and Secretariat for Information and Digital Health (SEDIGI) of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), Federal Police (PF), Federal Highway Police (PRF). |
|
SDGs |
16 and 17 |
STORY
Historic Collaboration Between UNODC and Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security to Protect Children and Adolescents
On 31 July 204, the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) signed a letter of intent to develop the Strategy to Eliminate Violence Against Children and Adolescents (EndVAC) and to establish the Comprehensive Prevention Services for and with Children and Adolescents (CHAMPS) initiative in Brazil. Brazil will be the first country in the world to enter into this type of partnership with UNODC.
The Minister of Justice and Public Security, H.E. Ricardo Lewandowski, stressed the importance of structural policies to solve the issue of crime, especially when it comes to protecting children and adolescents. “We are talking about the future citizens of this country. The fight against crime and drug use is not just about repression, but also about prevention, training, education and long-term programs that go beyond the generations and administrations that are transitory,” H.E. stated at the opening of the ceremony at the Palace of Justice, in Brasilia.
The National Secretary for Drug Policy and Asset Management, Ms. Marta Machado, stressed that protecting children and adolescents from violence is a priority for the MJSP. According to her, there are already actions underway, but joint planning will increase the efficiency of the efforts. “The strategy brings the areas together and makes us all sit down together to coordinate actions. It has already been proven that this coordination makes each individual action much more effective,” she said.
For the Digital Rights Secretary, Ms. Lilian Cintra de Melo, the development of the Strategy will make it possible to integrate different Ministry actions under a common vision. “Especially with regard to the digital environment, coordinating our efforts is fundamental to eliminating violence, responding to conduct that affects children and adolescents, and preventing the risks that emerging technologies can pose,” she said.
The program also included a technical meeting to discuss the development of the Strategy with contributions from teams from National Secretariat for Drug Policy and Asset Management (SENAD) and Secretariat for Information and Digital Health (SEDIGI) of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), Federal Police (PF), Federal Highway Police (PRF), as well as UNODC representatives from HQ and COFRB. The debates were divided according to the axes that make up the plan, namely: Contexts of High Vulnerability, Contexts of Justice, Digital Protection, and Journeys in Vulnerability.
