Rio launches campaign against child abuse during World Cup

The Protection Committee for Youth impacted by Mega Events in Rio has begun a campaign against sexual exploitation of children and adolescents during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The initiative was launched during a seminar on Wednesday (Apr. 7) organized by Rio de Janeiro's Committee on Mega Events.

“This strengthens the coordination between federal, state, and Rio's [local] efforts on the issue. We are partnering with all World Cup cities so we can work together to protect, prevent, and report sexual exploitation and violence against our children and adolescents,” explained the Chief Minister of the Human Rights Secretariat of the Presidency, Ideli Salvatti.

A UNICEF-sponsored app called Proteja Brasil (“Protect Brazil”) was also promoted in the event. Designed for smartphones and tablets, the application allows users to easily report violence against children, listing telephones and addresses of organizations that protect children's rights.

“This app is really amazing. You just need to download it to your smartphone, and it helps you can locate all kinds of enforcement agencies in the vicinities dealing with violence and exploitation of children, right out of the box,” the minister explained.

According to the chairman of the Foundation for Children and Adolescents in Rio de Janeiro, Clovis Paradela, the Month Against Sexual Abuse of Youth will be marked by a number of initiatives: “On May 27, there will be another seminar, and similar initiatives will take place in various cities to raise general awareness of the issue. And of course, [there's] the National Day against Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children on May 18. Any concerns should be reported on the Disque 100 [Dial 100] hotline,” he noted.

Translated by Mayra Borges