Writing for Rights: Luciene, 17, Brazil
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is celebrating 25 years, and it is thanks to it that children’s and adolescents' rights are guaranteed. Due to this convention, Brazil created the Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA). It is a time to celebrate AND a time to fight too.
We do not have enough kindergartens and schools have low quality. Regarding health, we have hospitals, but with poor service and lack of doctors.
Through ECA we are guaranteed the rights to health and education, which are free to all and where part of the funds raised through taxes is invested.
However, education needs to be improved. We do not have enough kindergartens; and schools have low quality. Regarding health, we have hospitals, but with poor service and lack of doctors.
An important fact is that we have a supervisory agency to guarantee that our rights are not violated. Nevertheless, our children and adolescents who are taken for ‘socio-educational measures’1 have their rights violated. Some of them are being beaten and living like prisoners.
Therefore, we, as members of MJPOP Brazil, demand the following points for more children’s and adolescents' rights:
- Improve teachers’ wages, school structure and food offered to students.
- Expand and improve basic health centres and certify the service providers.
- Improve the socio-educational measures system, so that adolescent offenders are guided and recovered.
Luciene, 17-years-old, Brazil