Experts of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Commend Brazil’s Programmes to Improve the Situation of Children in Alternative Care, Raise Questions on Combatting Racism in Schools and Child Food Insecurity
The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its review of the combined fifth to seventh periodic reports of Brazil under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and its initial report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Committee Experts commended the State on programmes developed to improve the situation of children in alternative care, while raising questions on how Brazil was combatting racism in schools and addressing the high levels of food insecurity in the country, particularly for children.
Bragi Gudbrandsson, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said there were three public comprehensive polices or programmes which had recently been introduced in Brazil to strengthen the family and improve the situation of children placed in alternative care. These were wonderful programmes; were they coordinated in terms of implementation at the federal, state and municipal levels?
Faith Marshall-Harris, Committee Expert and County Taskforce Coordinator, said the federal law 10639/2003 was very impressive as it sought to change a culture of racism and teach Afro-Brazilian history in schools. However, 71 per cent of municipalities had failed to comply with this. What means did the State have to ensure compliance? Cephas Lumina, Committee Vice Chair and Country Taskforce Member, said there was information that education in Brazil was not fully inclusive; what steps were being taken to enforce the law which mandated the teaching of Afro-Brazilian culture in primary education?
Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said 33 million Brazilians were believed to be living in food insecurity. What was being done to reduce social inequality, guarantee access to decent housing, and combat food insecurity? Did the State party have a multidimensional measure on child poverty? Ms. Marshall Harris also said Brazil had become the leading donor in the Global South. However, it was concerning that charity was not starting at home, as there were many children that were hungry. These children needed to be looked after first.
The delegation said the State was committed to implementing the law 10639/2023. In the first year of functioning, 97.3 percent of municipalities had committed to participating, which did not reflect the 24 per cent suggested. Public schools aimed to promote Afro-Brazilian teachings and Quilombola culture throughout the school curriculum. It was ensured that these topics were reflected in teaching materials and throughout the school programme. In August this year, 150,000 basic educational professionals would be trained in ethnic and racial relations.
The delegation said Brazil understood the importance of addressing the situation of hunger affecting children. According to data from the United Nations Children’s Fund in 2023, the number of those suffering from hunger dropped to around five per cent compared to around seven per cent in 2018. Policies such as the Bolsa Familia programme had been improved and were used as a key tool to identify and reach the most vulnerable families. Brazil had been investing in data systems for years and used this information to flag the levels of vulnerability in families and maximise the allocation of resources, ensuring it reached those who needed it most.
Introducing the report, Macaé Maria Evaristo Dos Santos, Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship of Brazil and head of the delegation, reiterated the Government’s commitment to the protection and promotion of the rights of children and adolescents in Brazil, which was the duty of the country. In 2025, Brazil was commemorating the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Statute of the Child and Adolescent. Since 2023, under President Lula, essential public policies, which had been dismantled, were put back in place, giving priority to human rights in public policies, and guaranteeing broad social participation, respect for diversity, and implementation of efforts to overcome inequality on the basis of class, gender, religion and other factors.
In closing remarks, Ms. Marshall Harris said Brazil’s star was on the rise and the country was fast becoming a world leader in many areas, including agriculture, technology, and research. However, if the State continued to disengage, disinherit and decimate children of African descent and other ethnic groups, there would be nothing left for anyone to inherit. Brazil needed to urgently invest resources in nurturing all children in the country, not just some of the children. The Committee was confident this could be done.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Evaristo dos Santos said Brazil was proud of recently adopted public policies and believed that these would help young Black people and other marginalised groups to achieve their dreams. Inequality remained the main challenge in Brazil, and it was important to ensure that State policies addressed the most vulnerable. The country was determined to build on the progress presented over the past two days.
The delegation of Brazil was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship; the Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Racial Equality; the Ministry of Social Assistance and Development, Family and Hunger Relief; the Ministry of Women; the National Council of Justice; the National Data Protection Authority; and the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s ninety-ninth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 5 p.m. on Friday, 30 May to close its ninety-ninth session.
Reports
The Committee has before it the combined fifth to seventh periodic reports of Brazil (CRC/C/BRA/5-7), and its initial report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC/C/OPSC/BRA/1).
Presentation of Reports
MACAÉ MARIA EVARISTO DOS SANTOS, Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship of Brazil and head of the delegation, reiterated the Government’s commitment to the protection and promotion of the rights of children and adolescents in Brazil, which was the duty of the country. Brazil did this through the Constitution, laws, plans, initiatives and programmes. In 2025, Brazil was commemorating the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Statute of the Child and Adolescent.
The census of 2022 showed there were 52 million children and adolescents in the country, making up 25.4 per cent of the population. The indigenous and Quilombola populations had a bigger percentage of children and adolescents, 35 per cent for the indigenous population and 29 per cent for the Quilombola population. In 2022, there were 80,000 complaints made, with 41 per cent of them affecting children and adolescents.
Since 2023, under President Lula, essential public policies, which had been dismantled, were put back in place, giving priority to human rights in public policies, and guaranteeing broad social participation, respect for diversity, and implementation of efforts to overcome inequality on the basis of class, gender, religion and other factors.
In 2022, the National Council for the Rights of Adolescents was established, and the twelfth national conference on the rights of the child and adolescent was implemented in 2024. Democratic policies, with direct participation of children and adolescents, had resumed through the participatory committee for adolescents. The comprehensive protection of children was a key factor in all State policies in a decentralised manner. A comprehensive agenda for children and adolescents had been created up to 2027, with 109 relevant actions. These efforts had been designed to ensure the right to food and minimum income. The income transfer programme had contributed to decent living standards, giving access to health, education, social assistance and poverty eradication.
The social assistance system had different areas of action for vulnerable families and established social centres, which were refuges providing social assistance for street dwellers. A national care policy had been established in 2024, focused on children with disabilities, older persons and women. As for food security, there was a national school food programme which supported over 38 million school children. Assistance was provided regarding basic education to vulnerable students, with the goal to achieve another four million enrolments by 2026.
The child literacy programme, present in 29 states, sought to increase the child literary rate from 36 per cent in 2021 to 56 per cent, recovering to pre-COVID-19 levels. A programme was in place to support children in middle school with monthly bursaries, assisting four million young people in low-income families in 2024. The implementation of the national equity policy for education for children, including the Quilombola and indigenous education programme, sought to invest by 2027 in these populations.
Brazil had a comprehensive public health system which provided primary care to the vast majority of the population. The State sought to reduce child mortality, promote breastfeeding, and ensure early childhood development, including ensuring vaccination and combatting disinformation. As a result, Brazil was no longer on the World Health Organization list of countries with least vaccination rates. Brazil also sought to reduce maternal mortality, particularly among black women, and organise and ensure effective pregnancy, birth and post-partum care.
A digital health book for children had been created to ensure childhood development. There had been investment in the healthcare of indigenous children in 2024 through vaccinations, treatment from malaria, and the construction of new health facilities. As for children with disabilities, in 2024, a new plan was implemented with measures to create specialised rehabilitation centres and a plan for special and inclusive education. A ministerial working group was established for children diagnosed with autism. The State was investing heavily in services for children with disabilities.
In 2025, the fourth national action plan to prevent and eradicate child labour would be published, and the State would create a national unit to support children involved in child labour. This year, the State celebrated 25 years of combatting the abuse and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. The notification of cases of sexual violence had increased and there was a greater awareness of this phenomenon. Over 500 units and 30,000 professionals were trained to address this, including educators, judges, police officers, and volunteers in child rights centres, among others. This was part of efforts to prevent violations of child rights. In 2017, the law on protection was adopted and response centres had been established, including in the Amazon, which provided safe care to victims of violence. The centres provided psychological assistance, medical evaluations, health care and access to the justice system.
The Black Youth Alive Programme covered several ministries seeking to protect this vulnerable population group. Strong action was being taken to protect lives and promote cultural rights among young people. A national judicial policy had been created for young children, which sought to broaden access to justice and promote collective actions. Brazil was committed to overcome the obstacles that still affected the full enjoyment of the rights of all children in the country.
Questions by Committee Experts under the Convention
FAITH MARSHALL-HARRIS, Committee Expert and County Taskforce Coordinator, said she had great respect for the plans outlined by Brazil, which were well drafted and creative. Additionally, the Statute of the Child and Adolescent was one of the earliest documents of its time but also one of the most advanced. However, its implementation was lagging behind the goals that the country had set out, which was a shame. What was the reason for this lag? Was it because of State resistance or due to a lack of resources? Where was the gap?
The federal law 10639/2003 was very impressive as it sought to change a culture of racism and teach Afro-Brazilian history in schools. However, 71 per cent of municipalities had failed to comply with this. What means did the State have to ensure compliance? The size and complexity of Brazil was difficult. However, not enough strides had been made concerning what the State had set out to do and what had been done.
The multi-year plan to 2027 included children but was not specifically about children. Would this be revised to target children specifically? What efforts were being made to coordinate civil society to achieve outcomes for children? To what extent were civil society members engaged by the Government? It was concerning that investment in education seemed to be decreasing, according to reports. Could this be explained? The school feeding programme was very admirable; however, why were so many children still hungry in the country? It was concerning that the data being received was not disaggregated. The State was urged to do more in the way of data collection.
HYND AYOUBI IDRISSI, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, thanked the Minister for the introduction. Discrimination was everywhere, affecting many groups, including indigenous children, children of African descent, and those who were economically vulnerable. What measures were being taken to ensure there was a comprehensive law which prohibited all forms of discrimination? Were there measures being taken to implement mechanisms for appeals and reparations? What was being done in terms of prevention? What assessment was conducted on the best interest of the child? What was being done in terms of the participation of children below the age of 12?
Progress had been made to combat child and infant mortality since 2016, but there was still a persistence in deaths, particularly of indigenous children under four, due to respiratory diseases from deforestation. Violence was very present and was a worrying phenomenon. Between 2021 and 2023, there had been more than 15,000 murders of those under 19 years old, with 17 per cent of deaths due to the actions of law enforcement agencies, with most victims being black teenagers. What was being done to tangibly remedy this situation? How were these deaths being prevented? How could the State put an end to the disproportionate use of force? Had any independent enquiries been carried out? If so, what were the results? Had any reparations been provided?
There had been a rise in deaths of children aged zero to four and between the ages of five and nine due to domestic violence. What was being done to tangibly combat this? Each hour, 13 children and adolescents were affected by violence in Brazil; what measures were being taken to implement the relevant legislation? What measures were being taken to end child marriage? What measures were being taken to prevent sexual violence? How was it ensured that the reporting mechanism would be accessible for children and adolescents? What was there in terms of rehabilitation? Was there statistical information on the number of prosecutions? What reparations were being taken regarding these children?
CEPHAS LUMINA, Committee Vice Chair and Country Taskforce Member, said data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics showed a notable rise in birth registration for indigenous children. However, the region in the north still lagged behind the national average. What steps was the Government taking to strengthen efforts to achieve national birth registration? The preliminary ban on data for the use of artificial intelligence systems was welcomed. What efforts was the Government taking to strengthen regulations around data for children? What steps was the Government taking to ensure that regulations in the digital environment safeguarded children from harmful materials? Were there any established procedures and mechanisms for prosecuting instances where children’s rights were violated? Were there any avenues for seeking redress in this regard?
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said there were three public comprehensive polices or programmes which had recently been introduced in Brazil to strengthen the family and improve the situation of children placed in alternative care. These were wonderful programmes; were they coordinated in terms of implementation at the federal, state and municipal levels? If so, how was this managed? Were these programmes evaluated regularly? Did they address the systematic racism across sectors? How was it ensured that they equally benefitted all children in all states and municipalities in Brazil.
It seemed there were around 46,000 children in institutions in Brazil and 4,000 foster parents; were these figures correct? Would the State work to improve data on out of home placements? How were municipalities supported in recruiting foster families, particularly in rural areas? Was there support, training and counselling for foster parents? Were there quality standards for residential care institutions? Were the monitoring reports systematically established and published? Did children have safe spaces to report abuses in the institutions? Had there been awareness campaigns to promote domestic adoption for children permanently denied of parental care?
The law which allowed incarcerated mothers to care for young children under house arrest was often not applied correctly; was there a monitoring mechanism for this law? Did legislation provide for psychosocial assistance for children whose parents were incarcerated?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Brazil was a federated republic and was dealing with states and municipalities, which was why there were some difficulties in implementing policies. The Federal Government co-financed activities which were priorities, including on early education. In Brazil, there was a fund which financed basic education and it had resources drawn from taxation. Co-financing was a key element in reducing inequalities.
There needed to be huge efforts made to implement legislation. The Black and indigenous populations had been exploited over hundreds of years, and progress had only begun to be made this century. Brazil was now playing an important role in reaffirming the value of democracy and multilateralism and promoting a society free from racism. There had been efforts made to set up the Ministry for Women and the Racial Equality Ministry, which had made major strides for the Quilombola population. The children living in these areas often suffered from violence.
The Human Rights and Citizenship Ministry had been destroyed under the previous administration and a number of agendas were now being rebuilt. For the first time in the country, there was now a Ministry for Indigenous Peoples which was a major step forward. It was important to recognise the crucial role played by indigenous populations in defending the land and protecting nature. Brazilian and transnational companies sought to move into the disputed lands. It was vital to protect these traditional lands and communities.
The plan on violence and sexual exploitation, the plan on the care for young children, and the plan on addressing child labour were currently being implemented among all federal states. Civil society participated in building public policies. The cross-cutting agenda to 2027 brought five agendas in all public policies. There had also been a twelfth national conference on the rights of children and young people in April, which discussed COVID-19 and needs for reparations and health, among other topics. There were a lot of proposals adopted and 47 young people participated in the conference.
The unified social assistance programme was decentralised and worked as a system of protection. There were around 9,000 centres of reference which worked with vulnerable families carrying out prevention campaigns on sexual abuse. In 2024, care was provided to 58,000 adolescents and children who were victims of violence, as well as 35,000 victims of sexual violence.
There were many children involved in the deinstitutionalisation process. The State was aiming to have more children in foster care. There had been a 405 per cent increase in the number of services. A joint recommendation had been made, aimed at increasing the number of foster care places.
Research had been conducted to understand what was happening with co-funding. It was determined that this was not a well-known area. A guide for fostering had been introduced, with more than 35,000 copies disseminated. National and regional seminars had been held to inform people, along with online courses. This would ensure that the more far-flung regions of the country could be reached. The aim was to have 25 per cent of children in foster homes; however, much remained to be done in this regard. All institutions were monitored at the federal level and municipal councils were also responsible for monitoring. It was important to hear from the children and teenagers themselves to determine if any violations had taken place.
The National Council for Justice was a public institution which aimed to perfect the judiciary’s work in Brazil. A range of judicial decisions had been adopted to protect children and adolescents. Resolution 299/2018 established specific methods for specialised listening of the testimony of children who were witnesses or victims of crime. It aimed to ensure children’s testimonies were only heard once, so the child was not revictimised. In Brazil, there were 187 minor courts which were exclusively for crimes against children and adolescents; 817 new rooms had been implemented for children to make testimonies.
It was important to incorporate a racial dimension to legal sentences. A protocol was developed to combat racism within the judiciary, aimed at strengthening equitable practices within the justice system. It also highlighted the need to address the specific vulnerabilities of children and adolescents in judicial cases. The National Council had a campaign regarding registration, aiming to increase access to documents for the most vulnerable. Psychosocial care could be provided to children or adolescents if their parents were incarcerated. The National Council always conducted its operations with the best interests of the child in mind.
The national education system was a key tool to secure the rights of children, ensuring all children in all territories had access to quality, public education. The school census of 2024 found that there were 47 million enrolments in 179,000 primary schools. Programmes had been designed to ensure comprehensive child education, including one which aimed to have a million new registration enrolments every year. School attendance was a condition of receiving the cash transfer. A programme had been created for an allowance, which could only be withdrawn when a child had finished middle school.
A law was introduced this year which prohibited the use of smartphones in schools, even in breaks, except in exceptional circumstances. This initiative had meant there was more social interaction and led to better mental health for students. The connective schools programme provided resources to ensure that connectivity in all schools was prioritised, and that all pupils had access to different technologies. Efforts had been made to train teachers through continued education.
A statement had been published stating that any data processing should seek the best interest of the child. A regulation was being drawn up with an article regarding the processing of data on children. The biometric data regulation applied to facial recognition and was used often in schools for monitoring security. A guide was being provided for high-risk data processing and other instruments. The data protection law guaranteed citizens’ rights, including children, to have clear information on the processing of their personal data.
Questions by Committee Experts under the Convention
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said there were two significant plans regarding the rights of persons with disabilities. It was understood that there had been issues in implementing these plans; could more information be provided? What was the State doing to overcome these challenges? Did the Government have plans to address inadequacies in funding in the healthcare sector? The family health service was a fundamental measure that ensured family health care access. However, only 60 per cent of the population enjoyed these services; what measures were being undertaken to expand and strengthen the service? Were there plans to address the issue of child mortality? Was the State party aware of shortcomings in the mental health services? Was there a strategy to address these?
It was concerning that there was a rise in the numbers of suicides and self-mutilation; what were the explanations for this and how were these issues being addressed? It was noted that hormone blockers were now banned and treatments for transgender children was being delayed from 16 to 18. It was clear that the current situation for many was a life-threatening situation. Did the Government have plans to support the trans children and adolescent community by ensuring access to support? How was it ensured that children received comprehensive reproductive materials? Access to abortion was not ensured across the State and other services were extremely lacking, which needed to be addressed; was the State aware of this? Could pregnant girls rely on support from the authorities if consent for abortion could not be obtained from their parents? Were there any plans to prohibit non-consensual therapies against intersex children?
HYND AYOUBI IDRISSI, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said 33 million Brazilians were believed to be living in food insecurity. What was being done to reduce social inequality, guarantee access to decent housing, and combat food insecurity? Did the State party have a multidimensional measure on child poverty?
CEPHAS LUMINA, Committee Vice Chair and Country Taskforce Member, said the Committee was concerned about the issue of environmental degradation, particularly deforestation in the Amazon. Children in rural communities were disproportionately affected by climate change. The insufficient participation of children in climate policy was also a concern. What steps was the Government taking to combat environmental degradation? How were children’s needs and views considered in the development of climate change programmes? What measures was the Government implementing to tackle the issue of toxic pesticides?
What steps was the Government taking to address the disparities in education quality between public and private schools, and ensure that private schools were fully integrated into the national education system? There was information that education in Brazil was not fully inclusive; what steps were being taken to enforce the law which mandated the teaching of Afro-Brazilian culture in primary education?
How did the State plan to address the disparities in access to educational opportunities between Black students and their peers? The Committee was concerned about the dropout rates of girls; how was the Government tackling this issue?
FAITH MARSHALL-HARRIS, Committee Expert and County Taskforce Coordinator, said the State had previously welcomed a large amount of Venezuelan and Haitian children, but this had recently been halted. In terms of immigration, there needed to be a reform, so that children did not end up trafficked or on the street. How many children were being denied their ancestral rights, including to inherit the lands their parents grew up on? Were the lands still being sprayed by pesticides? It was concerning that children were drinking contaminated water due to the extractive industries. It was hoped the State would address this.
The access to justice for indigenous children seemed limited; how was the State party teaching them their rights? There needed to be official statistics for street children; what was the State doing for these children? Child labour was too high in Brazil. Were labour inspections undertaken? Domestic servitude of Black girls was worrying and needed to be addressed. What had happened to the Black Youth Alive strategy? Was the State as concerned as the Committee about what was happening to Black youth, including shootings of Black youth in the favela areas by police. It seemed that Brazil did not have an age of criminal responsibility.
Questions by Committee Experts under the Optional Protocol
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said the first national strategy to protect children from violence, crimes and drugs had been launched; did this include issues covered by the Optional Protocol? Did it target children in the most vulnerable situations? How was awareness raising of the Optional Protocol conducted? The Committee was concerned about rising cases of children trafficked for illegal adoptions, often facilitated through digital platforms. Was the State aware of these concerns? What measures had been taken to address them? The tourist law was a wonderful law; however, there were concerns that child exploitation continued to occur in tourist areas. Had measures been taken to identify child victims of sexual tourism? Some 87 per cent of parents believed that companies were not doing enough to protect children online; how was the State addressing this concern?
ROSARIA CORREA PULICE, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked how Brazil was specifically criminalising cybercrimes? What were the specific penalties and sanctions regarding the production and distribution of child sexual material, used to extort children? What would be the specific penalty in this regard? Regarding child sex abuse in sport, there was not much data in this regard, leading to underreporting. The highway police had identified 9,000 areas along the federal highways where there could be child sexual exploitation; however, there was no further information as to the outcome of this programme. What cases had been heard? What cases had been prosecuted? How many convictions had there been? There had been an operation which led to the detention of 470 adults and the rescuing of 80 minors; what had happened with this operation? Where did it lead to? Had there been studies conducted on the victim profile? The tourist law regulated other forms of abuse, including applications like AirBnB. How was this regulated?
Questions by a Committee Expert under the Convention
FAITH MARSHALL-HARRIS, Committee Expert and County Taskforce Coordinator, said Brazil had ratified nearly every human rights treaty, but it was shocking that it had not established a national human rights institution. When would the country do this? Brazil had become the leading donor in the Global South. However, it was concerning that charity was not starting at home, as there were many children that were hungry. These children needed to be looked after first. With the business sector, it was important to establish regimes to eliminate child labour, and to establish impact assessments for industries harmful to children like the extractive industries. The State should carefully examine access to justice in terms of the marginalised communities. Were all professionals working with children trained in the area of child rights?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Brazil understood the importance of addressing the situation of hunger affecting children. According to data from the United Nations Children’s Fund, in 2023, the number of those suffering from hunger dropped to around five per cent compared to around seven per cent in 2018. The State recognised there were still challenges and was targeting specific efforts for people of African descent, but there was a positive downward trend.
Policies such as the Bolsa Familia programme had been improved and were used as a key tool to identify and reach the most vulnerable families. Brazil had been investing in data systems for years and used this information to flag the levels of vulnerability in families and maximise the allocation of resources, ensuring it reached those who needed it most. The Food and Agricultural Organization had noted a drop in overall food insecurity in 2023. Brazil shared its technical knowledge with other countries who were facing similar issues of food insecurity.
There were more than 300 ethnicities of indigenous peoples all across Brazil. Significant work was being done to train indigenous teachers, who organised their own schools with their own languages, using their own educational process. It was important to respect the self-determination of these populations. The position of President Lula was to defend indigenous territories and their populations.
The right to health was ensured through the universal health care system. The family health care units consolidated and rolled out public health care in Brazil, and the number of teams caring for vulnerable populations had significantly increased. Investment in primary health care had been increased to 2.82 billion dollars in 2024. The national comprehensive childcare policy aimed to promote and check the health of children. Deaths of children under the age of five had dropped from 16 per 1,000 live births, to 12.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023. Brazil still faced many challenges, including regional disparities.
The State was increasing funding to the neonatal units and human milk banks, and was setting up proper day clinics to assist Black mothers. A national movement for vaccination had been launched to combat disinformation. A National Committee on Breastfeeding had been established. Around 325 centres in the country were authorised for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. A national action plan had been developed which outlined more centres to be developed and care to be increased.
A health booklet for young people and adolescents was available digitally. Health professionals were trained to prevent teen pregnancy, with a national week established in this regard, promoting long-term campaigns focused on reproductive health. As a result, there had been a reduction in teen pregnancies to 12 per cent in 2023. However, teen pregnancies among girls between the ages of 10 and 13 years in Brazil were still a real concern.
“Sinan” was the notification system used to monitor and prevent violence. It had information disaggregated by race, colour, gender identity, sexual identity and other details, including the place where the violence occurred and the type of violence. In 2023 in Brazil, there were 37,000 cases reported of sexual violence against children and adolescents. In seven per cent of cases, these were adolescents and children with disabilities.
The Health Ministry recognised underreporting of violence in the health system. In 2023, there were 419 deaths at the hands of law enforcement. Efforts had been made to improve the registration of deaths by external cause, through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice. There had been a rise in the number of suicides recorded in recent decades, which was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Brazil reaffirmed its commitment to addressing violence affecting young people in the country and recognised that this was a serious issue affecting public health.
Brazil had a psychosocial care network within the health system, which provided decentralised care in psychosocial care centres and residential care centres. There were more than 3,000 psychosocial care centres, with more than 300 which were just for young people. These centres promoted comprehensive mental health care with a focus on deinstitutionalisation and strengthening family links.
It was not possible to confer that 24 per cent of schools were not upholding the law to teach Afro-Brazilian history. The State was committed to implementing the law 10639/2023. In the first year of functioning, 97.3 per cent of municipalities had committed to participating, which did not reflect the 24 per cent suggested. Public schools aimed to promote Afro-Brazilian teachings and Quilombola culture throughout the school curriculum. It was ensured that these topics were reflected in teaching materials and throughout the school programme.
In August this year, 150,000 basic educational professionals would be trained in ethnic and racial relations. The indigenous and Quilombola schools were still a challenge for the Federal Government. Since 2012, there had been national guidelines on human rights education, designed for basic and higher education.
Poverty and equality were among the key challenging issues in Brazil. The Bolsa Familia programme was the biggest cash transfer programme which had lifted millions of families out of poverty. The new design launched in 2023 had brought significant results in combatting hunger. The programme prioritised women and children and aimed to strengthen the access of families to basic rights such as social assistance. There were conditionalities to accessing the programme, such as children being required to attend school.
Brazil had a law which considered the dual vulnerability of teenagers and girls. The State was proud of this law which was popular and well understood throughout the country. It prevented domestic and family violence against women, aiming to eradicate and punish this scourge. Brazil had been investing in ongoing training of those who took calls to hotlines, to provide humane treatment and recognise the different kinds of sexual and family violence against girls and women. Work was being done to monitor misogyny in the online space.
Many initiatives had been developed to combat hunger and poverty, with a focus on gender and race. Many of the recipients of the Bolsa Familia programme were headed by women. The national care policy recognised care as something which needed to be provided by the State, not just women, and recognised care as a fundamental right.
Questions by Committee Experts under the Convention
FAITH MARSHALL-HARRIS, Committee Expert and County Taskforce Coordinator, said it was concerning that there were reports of a high rate of suicide and alienation of indigenous children, and a significant amount of poverty. Could the work of the National Foundation of Indigenous Persons be clarified? Was it working for indigenous populations? Was there a national Ombudsman for children?
It was concerning that there were no definitive statistics on how many children were in detention. The age of criminal responsibility in the State seemed to be from around 10 to 12 years, as children could be sentenced to some form of detention. This was concerning, as this was not keeping in line with the recommendations of the Committee. The Committee would recommend that the State ensure the age of criminal responsibility was from the age of 14 and upwards. Were children who were recruited by criminal gangs assisted and offered rehabilitation support?
HYND AYOUBI IDRISSI, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said there were several questions, including on deaths of children, teen unions, and allegations of degrading treatment which had not been answered. The Committee had read substantial information on social educational centres, where there were many allegations of cruel and degrading treatment. Could the delegation comment on these allegations? What was being done to support intersex children?
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, asked if a Black 13-year-old girl became pregnant, did the social protection system automatically become involved? Did the different agencies responsible collaborate on these cases? The child interview suites were a positive initiative; did they prevent the revictimisation of child sexual abuse victims? Did the children still have to go to court? How did these suites work in practice?
ROSARIA CORREA PULICE, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, said impunity was a major concern. What happened when complaints were lodged? Were teen pregnancies under the age of 14 investigated? There were many issues, including around human trafficking, sexual exploitation in sport, and offences related to extradition, which needed to be clarified. Were reparations really provided? If a victim could not be identified in the first place, how could they access services? Was there specialised defence when it came to cases of organised crime?
CEPHAS LUMINA, Committee Vice Chair and Country Taskforce Member, said he had heard that a bill had gone through the National Congress this week concerning environmental licensing. This would represent a reversal, and it was hoped that the Executive would do all it could to ensure that such a bill was not enacted. What plans did the Government have to translate commitments into tangible outcomes for children?
A Committee Expert said Brazil was grappling with how to protect children in the digital environment. A bill was drafted in 2024 mandating companies to provide parental controls. Was there a definitive date for the enactment of this legislation? What current measures was the Brazilian State taking to ensure children were protected from child labour, gambling and harmful impacts of artificial intelligence?
Another Expert expressed concern at the high level of pregnancies of Black teenagers up to the age of 14 years. Were there measures being taken to reduce this? Was there a national prevention strategy? Were there measures being taken to train teachers to ensure access to comprehensive sexual education? Could teenagers access emergency contraception? What was stopping teenagers from having access to sexual and reproductive health information?
A Committee Expert asked what happened to young people who were not imprisoned or institutionalised; there were gaps in the data.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said all teenagers in Brazil had access to the Primary Healthcare Unit. The State was trying to invest in sexual and reproductive health education. Brazil had made significant progress in combatting the issue of sexual exploitation of children. Integrated care centres offered humanised and multidisciplinary care for victims. A programme launched this week addressed sexual violence online. The Secretariat for Media had released a guide on digital devices, based on best international practice. This highlighted a collective commitment to address sexual exploitation and abuse. It was expected that by 2026, there would be a national policy to address sexual violence.
Combatting child labour was a priority for the Federal Government, and a programme and national commission were in place in this regard. About 40 million children and adolescents in Brazil were exposed to multiple climate and environmental risks. Guidelines had been established to consider the social and environmental rights of children. The national plan for climate adaptation would include a specific plan for children, adolescents and young people. Brazil would host the national conference for children, youth and the environment, which involved 20 million people, with dialogue and meetings, based on critical, participatory and transformative environmental education. It aimed to ensure that schools could become educational spaces which were resilient.
Brazilian legislation did not allow for the detention of children under 12; this would be completely unacceptable. These children were not arrested, but socio-educational measures were applied. There were no cases of overcrowding in prisons.
The Office of the Public Prosecutor had special offices for children, ensuring they received the care required. Hearings were regularly held which assessed the deprivation of liberty measures throughout the national territory, ensuring that the views of incarcerated teenagers were upheld. The presence of an interpreter was obligatory. Protection measures had been established, including to protect victims from aggressors in the home.
Rates of illegal adoption were relatively low in Brazil. The justice system had undertaken a child-friendly paradigm, acting for and with children and teenagers. The best interests of children were considered a Constitutional priority in Brazil. A programme had been rolled out to integrate youth and prevent the adverse use of alcohol and drugs, and violence and crime in the context of drug policy. It provided prevention methodologies in families, schools and communities and allowed studies on organised crime groups and children and adolescents.
The Mappia programme of the highway police was created in 2025. It identified areas where children were at risk of sexual exploitation and planned preventive actions. The safe paths programme had saved almost 100 children and young people from sexual exploitation. In 2024, the Federal Police carried out more than 1,000 activities to combat sexual abuse and exploitation on the internet. A strategy had been developed to strengthen the safety of children and adolescents online, by strengthening the national policy, implementing the national compact on protection, and strengthening police cooperation and protocols to support victims.
The Black Youth Alive programme created in 2024 sought to reduce the inequalities and violence experienced by young Black people. This had 217 activities and was developed through a participatory approach involving around 6,000 young people. Addressing police violence against Black youth was a priority in public policy.
The national and socio-economic data bank had launched the public tender of 26 million dollars to restore indigenous land in the Amazon; this was the biggest land restoration project in the country. The largest culture budget in history had been granted in Brazil, and signified the State’s commitment to promoting cultural diversity for historically invisible groups. The Living Culture programme strengthened cultural networks and had a network of over 7,000 cultural focal points, including in indigenous communities.
A resolution was published which protected the rights of children and adolescents in the digital environment.
Closing Remarks
FAITH MARSHALL-HARRIS, Committee Expert and County Taskforce Coordinator, said Brazil’s star was on the rise and the country was fast becoming a world leader in many areas, including agriculture, technology, and research. However, if the State continued to disengage, disinherit and decimate children of African descent and other ethnic groups, there would be nothing left for anyone to inherit. Many Black children could not grow up with dignity; they needed rescue and redress in the present. Brazil needed to urgently invest resources in nurturing all children in the country, not just some of the children. The Committee was confident this could be done.
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Country Taskforce Member, thanked Brazil for the dialogue and the engagement of the country’s civil society organizations with the Committee. Brazil had challenges and it was hoped these could be overcome.
MACAÉ MARIA EVARISTO DOS SANTOS, Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship of Brazil and head of the delegation, said there were 186 investigations underway regarding cases of trafficking. In the last 10 years, the State had been attentive to the rights of domestic workers, including children. There were many children being rescued from slavery and domestic servitude. Brazil was committed to human rights law and policies which placed human dignity at the centre.
Ms. Evaristo dos Santos thanked the Committee, her delegation and everyone else who had made the dialogue possible. Brazil was proud of its recently adopted public policies and believed that these would help young Black people and other marginalised groups achieve their dreams. Measures including the Happy Child programme sought to uphold the rights of young children. The Government had made efforts to strengthen the health system, the social assistance system, and to combat multi-dimensional poverty. Inequality remained the main challenge in Brazil, and it was important to ensure that the State’s policies addressed the most vulnerable. The country was determined to build on the progress presented over the past two days. Children and adolescents needed to be at the heart of the country’s efforts.
SOPHIE KILADZE, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the dialogue and recognised the political will of Brazil. The Committee would consider all the points made and do its best to formulate the best recommendations possible.
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CRC25.015E