UNICEF in Brazil
Encyclopedia
The mission of UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) is to ensure that the rights of each and every child
and adolescent are fulfilled, respected and protected. Established in 1946 to help in the reconstruction of countries that had suffered most during the Second World War, UNICEF started to work in other countries four years later. Today, UNICEF is the leading advocate for children’s rights, active in 190 countries through country programmes and National Committees.
UNICEF has been working in Brazil
since 1950, in partnership with municipal, state and federal governments, civil society
, religious groups, the private sector, the media, and international organization
s, including other United Nations
agencies, to defend the rights of all Brazilian girls and boys.
UNICEF’s work includes a substantive contribution to development through the articulation, monitoring and evaluation, and promotion of public policies
for children and adolescents. UNICEF carries out its role objectively and responsibly, guaranteeing the transparency of its actions and developing its programme based on up-to-date survey data. These data enable UNICEF to carry out an accurate diagnosis and analysis of the current situation of children and adolescents in the country.
(MDGs) used as a benchmark for UNICEF’s work during the five year period of the Programme.
To establish goals, targets and cooperation priorities with Brazil for the 2007–2011 period, UNICEF set up a highly participative programme involving partners and actors who are relevant to the ‘childhood rights guarantee system’. Due to the vast, continental size of the country, a series of regional meetings were held with the aim of constructing an overview of how children and adolescents live in the different regions of Brazil. The programme fits within the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
, which aims to bring synergy and strengthen partnerships and joint programmes undertaken by UNICEF and other United Nations agencies that operate in the country.
During the process of defining solutions for childhood-related problems, the Country Programme goals and objectives for 2007–2011 converged directly with the recommendations expressed in national policy documents designed to positively transform the lives of Brazilian children and adolescents. The partnership between UNICEF and the Brazilian government, with its focus on childhood
and adolescence
, reflects the commitments of the Millennium Declaration, the MDGs, the ’Pacto Pela Paz’, and the Child Friendly President's Plan of Action.
rate. Therefore, it is UNICEF’s priority to guarantee that 21 million Brazilian children, from the prenatal stage up to 6 years of age, are ensured their rights to survive, to have a birth certificate
, to be given care and protection, and to fully develop. Investing in early childhood has a decisive impact on children’s survival, growth and on the development of their learning potential. Studies have shown, for example, that for every dollar invested in early childhood, seven dollars will be saved in public compensation and social welfare policies.
. However, there are still 660,000 boys and girls who are not attending school, of whom 450,000 are afro-descendant children. Therefore, the country has to meet the challenge of effectively universalizing the right to access quality education
, and also to ensuring that every child and adolescent has his or her right to learn guaranteed.
/AIDS
has been recognized as one of the best in the world. Major challenges remain, however, and these must be faced to ensure the universal coverage of prevention, treatment and care for Brazilian children, adolescents and their families.
, and those living in the poor communities of large urban centres. UNICEF works to mobilize governments and society to transform this situation. In addition, UNICEF has supported improved reporting systems and stimulated specialized care, which strengthen both family and community life.
of all children and adolescents. This is why UNICEF works to mobilize society to listen to and give opportunities to adolescents, and to teach adults to monitor and evaluate the correct allocation of resources going towards child and adolescent budgets in the federal, state and municipal level of government. This programme component has the clear goal of influencing the adoption of affirmative public policies to improve gender, race and ethnic equality.
These areas are:
UNICEF works throughout the country, but puts the majority of its human and institutional resources in these three priority geographical areas, to strengthen and stimulate Brazilian citizens to exercise their citizenship rights, transforming them into politically and socially active actors who can participate in the search for solutions to the problems affecting Brazilian children and adolescents.
This is why UNICEF works on leveraging and mobilizing the resources and experience of a variety of different actors to help guarantee the rights of each and every child and adolescent in Brazil.
Around 50% of UNICEF’s budget in Brazil is obtained from the support of companies and individuals through donations, the purchase of UNICEF greeting cards and gifts, and other related actions.
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
and adolescent are fulfilled, respected and protected. Established in 1946 to help in the reconstruction of countries that had suffered most during the Second World War, UNICEF started to work in other countries four years later. Today, UNICEF is the leading advocate for children’s rights, active in 190 countries through country programmes and National Committees.
UNICEF has been working in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
since 1950, in partnership with municipal, state and federal governments, civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
, religious groups, the private sector, the media, and international organization
International organization
An intergovernmental organization, sometimes rendered as an international governmental organization and both abbreviated as IGO, is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states , or of other intergovernmental organizations...
s, including other United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agencies, to defend the rights of all Brazilian girls and boys.
UNICEF’s work includes a substantive contribution to development through the articulation, monitoring and evaluation, and promotion of public policies
Public policy (law)
In private international law, the public policy doctrine or ordre public concerns the body of principles that underpin the operation of legal systems in each state. This addresses the social, moral and economic values that tie a society together: values that vary in different cultures and change...
for children and adolescents. UNICEF carries out its role objectively and responsibly, guaranteeing the transparency of its actions and developing its programme based on up-to-date survey data. These data enable UNICEF to carry out an accurate diagnosis and analysis of the current situation of children and adolescents in the country.
UNICEF’s Programme of Cooperation with Brazil (2007–2011)
In the countries in which it operates, UNICEF builds its five-year Programme of Cooperation together with government, civil society, and children and adolescents. UNICEF Country Programmes aim to provide positive, sustainable solutions to the problems faced by children and adolescents in the country, with the Millennium Development GoalsMillennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
(MDGs) used as a benchmark for UNICEF’s work during the five year period of the Programme.
To establish goals, targets and cooperation priorities with Brazil for the 2007–2011 period, UNICEF set up a highly participative programme involving partners and actors who are relevant to the ‘childhood rights guarantee system’. Due to the vast, continental size of the country, a series of regional meetings were held with the aim of constructing an overview of how children and adolescents live in the different regions of Brazil. The programme fits within the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
The United Nations Development Assistance Framework is a programme document between a government and the United Nations Country Team that describes the collective actions and strategies of the United Nations to the achievement of national development. The UNDAF includes outcomes, activities and UN...
, which aims to bring synergy and strengthen partnerships and joint programmes undertaken by UNICEF and other United Nations agencies that operate in the country.
During the process of defining solutions for childhood-related problems, the Country Programme goals and objectives for 2007–2011 converged directly with the recommendations expressed in national policy documents designed to positively transform the lives of Brazilian children and adolescents. The partnership between UNICEF and the Brazilian government, with its focus on childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
and adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
, reflects the commitments of the Millennium Declaration, the MDGs, the ’Pacto Pela Paz’, and the Child Friendly President's Plan of Action.
Priorities for 2007–2011
To help Brazil advance towards the universalization of the rights of every girl and boy, and to strengthen the capacity of the social actors involved in guaranteeing these rights, UNICEF continues to work with governments, civil society, the private sector, the media, and other international organizations to realize the right of each and every Brazilian child and adolescent to:Survive and develop
This goal is directly linked to UNICEF’s mission to help reduce the infant mortalityInfant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
rate. Therefore, it is UNICEF’s priority to guarantee that 21 million Brazilian children, from the prenatal stage up to 6 years of age, are ensured their rights to survive, to have a birth certificate
Birth certificate
A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a child. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensuing registration of that birth...
, to be given care and protection, and to fully develop. Investing in early childhood has a decisive impact on children’s survival, growth and on the development of their learning potential. Studies have shown, for example, that for every dollar invested in early childhood, seven dollars will be saved in public compensation and social welfare policies.
Learn
Brazil has a high rate of children who have access to schoolSchool
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
. However, there are still 660,000 boys and girls who are not attending school, of whom 450,000 are afro-descendant children. Therefore, the country has to meet the challenge of effectively universalizing the right to access quality education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, and also to ensuring that every child and adolescent has his or her right to learn guaranteed.
Protect oneself and others against HIV/AIDS
The Brazilian response to HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
has been recognized as one of the best in the world. Major challenges remain, however, and these must be faced to ensure the universal coverage of prevention, treatment and care for Brazilian children, adolescents and their families.
Grow up without violence
Violence against children and adolescents can be found in the family, the community, the school and in socio-educational institutions. Many cases are neither reported nor investigated. This vulnerability is even greater amongst children and adolescents with special needs, as well as others, including afro-descendants, indigenous people, adolescents in conflict with the law, street childrenStreet children
A street child is a child who lives on the streets of a city, deprived of family care and protection. Most children on the streets are between the ages of about 5 and 17 years old.Street children live in junk boxes, parks or on the street itself...
, and those living in the poor communities of large urban centres. UNICEF works to mobilize governments and society to transform this situation. In addition, UNICEF has supported improved reporting systems and stimulated specialized care, which strengthen both family and community life.
Be first priority in public policies
For there to be a true social transformation in the lives of children and adolescents, public policy priorities must include improving the lives and well-beingQuality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
of all children and adolescents. This is why UNICEF works to mobilize society to listen to and give opportunities to adolescents, and to teach adults to monitor and evaluate the correct allocation of resources going towards child and adolescent budgets in the federal, state and municipal level of government. This programme component has the clear goal of influencing the adoption of affirmative public policies to improve gender, race and ethnic equality.
Regional Disparities
The efforts put into guaranteeing children’s rights must also be understood from the point of view of historical regional disparities. Therefore, one cannot forget that to universalize rights, it is necessary to focus on the geographical areas of Brazil where the worst social indicators are concentrated, and where between 60% to more than 70% of children and adolescents live in poverty.These areas are:
- The Brazilian Semi-Arid Region, home to 13 million children and adolescents, of whom more than 70% live in povertyPovertyPoverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
- The Amazon Region, home to 9 million children and adolescents with considerably different ethnic and social backgrounds, who live in vast, sparsely occupied areas in which economic, social and institutional development is precarious
- Poor communities in Brazil's large urban centres, home to 9 million children and adolescents, and where high levels of violence against children prevail.
UNICEF works throughout the country, but puts the majority of its human and institutional resources in these three priority geographical areas, to strengthen and stimulate Brazilian citizens to exercise their citizenship rights, transforming them into politically and socially active actors who can participate in the search for solutions to the problems affecting Brazilian children and adolescents.
Resources
UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.This is why UNICEF works on leveraging and mobilizing the resources and experience of a variety of different actors to help guarantee the rights of each and every child and adolescent in Brazil.
Around 50% of UNICEF’s budget in Brazil is obtained from the support of companies and individuals through donations, the purchase of UNICEF greeting cards and gifts, and other related actions.
External links
- UNICEF in Brazil (in Portuguese)
- UNICEF's Brazil page