Equity for Children hosts Colloquium on Security Policies and Human Rights: Focusing on Early Childhood, Childhood and Adolescence

Discussing the impact of security policies and violence on childhood


Posted on 08-31-2011	Translate this page

Equity for Children has the pleasure of inviting you to  The Colloquium on Security Policies and Human Rights:  Focusing on Early Childhood, Childhood and Adolescence on September 13th and 14th, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.   The meeting, which will take place at the Centro Universitario María Antonia de la Universidad de São Paulo, is organized by Equidade para a Infancia América Latina / Equity for Children, the Arcor Institute Brazil, the Arcor Foundation (Argentina), the Red Nacional Primera Infancia and the C&A Institute. Other partners are the Centro Internacional de Estudios e Inverstigaciones sobre Infancia (CIESPI) and the Red ANDI.    Equidade para a Infancia América Latina / Equity for Children’s objective for this colloquium is to promote a debate on security policies with respect to their impacts on the rights of children and adolescents, from a Latin American perspective.   Among the issues will be  
* Childhood and adolescence for street children in Brazil
* Sexual exploitation 
* The situation of children and adolescents in relation to armed conflict and forced displacement in Colombia 
* Militarization and drug trafficking in Mexico   Children and adolescents in the context of conflict and violence in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico
The meeting focuses on concerns about the living conditions and multiple forms of violence that directly and indirectly affect children from their first years, as well as for adolescents. We will tackle situationssuch as the lack of attention to young children in the debates about violence and public security, as well as easy assumptions about adolescents as agents of violence, and the resulting focus on repression and demands for more severe punishment.   Considering the complexity and relevance of this subject in this region, we propose a space for reflection that prioritizes the need to protect the rights of children and adolescents, whether they are agents or victims of violence. The debate is principally directed at the analysis of the Brazilian reality, putting into dialogue the domestic experiences of other Latin American nations, such as the situation of armed conflict and forced displacement in Colombia and militarization and drug trafficking in Mexico.   Academic experts, government representatives and representatives of social organizations will present different perspectives on the living conditions and inequalities that deepen the problem, and will reflect upon the security policies and programs from a perspective of guaranteeing rights.   Speakers will include spokespersons from Brazilian organizations like Centro de Estudios sobre Violencia de la Universidad de Sao Paulo (The Center for Studies on Violence, University of Sao Paulo, NEV – USP) and the Observatorio de Favelas de Río de Janeiro (Observatory of Favelas of Rio de Janeiro), as well as from other Latin American organizations such as the Observatorio sobre Infancia de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia (the Observatory for Childhood of the National University of Colombia) and the Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Distrito Federal de México (the Human Rights Commission of the Mexico, DF).   The activity is directed towards specialists in the field, academics, professionals and staff from programs oriented to the promotion and defense of the rights of children. Participation is free, but space is limited, so RSVP is required.   For registration and further information: 
www.equidadparalainfancia.org, www.equidadeparaainafancia.org.