Colloquium on Security Policies and Human Rights: Focusing on Early Childhood, Childhood and Adolescence

Objective

The objective for this colloquium is to promote a debate on security policies with respect to their impacts upon the rights of children and adolescents, from a Latin American perspective, namely children and adolescents in the contexts of conflict and violence in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. The meeting is motivated by concerns for the living conditions and multiple forms of violence that directly and indirectly affect children from their first years, as much so as adolescents. In this sense, we will tackle situations such as the lack of visibility for early childhood in the debates about violence and public security, as well as the social visibility of adolescents as agents of violence, and as such, the 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 prioritises 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 national situation with the experiences of other Latin American nations, such as the situation of armed conflict and forced displacement in Colombia and militarisation and drug trafficking in Mexico.

Participants

A multi-sector discussion Academic experts, government representatives and representatives of social organisations will present different perspectives on the living conditions and inequalities that deepen the problematic of violence, and will reflect upon the security policies and programs from a perspective of guaranteeing rights.

Spokespersons from Brazilian organisations 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) will participate as speakers.

Intended audience

The activity is directed towards specialist in the field, academics, professional and staff from programs oriented to the promotion and defense of the rights of children.

Register

For registration and further information: www.equidadparalainfancia.org, www.equidadeparaainafancia.org.

Location

Centro Universitario María Antonia de la Universidad de São Paulo, Brazil

Organisers

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, and has partnerships with the Centro Internacional de Estudios e Inverstigaciones sobre Infancia (CIESPI) and the Red ANDI.