Brasília identifies hotspots for sexual exploitation of children
Brasília - Among the efforts to promote the inclusion of young people is sport. In the Federal District, there are 11 olympic centers attended by 40 thousand people every year, among whom children, adolescents, adults, elders and people with disabilities. 
Around 400 thousand Brazilian tourists and 200 thousand from abroad are expected in Brasília during the World Cup, according to official data. However, authorities fear the influx of tourists may translate into a rise in the exploitation of children and adolescents.
The Federal District reports a few known hotspots for the sexual exploitation of minors. One of them is located on a road in the neighboring city of Valparaíso, an area with heavy truck traffic and several hotels. Many of the tourists will take this road to reach the Brazilian capital. “When we drive through the area at night, we see lots of children and teenagers [being sexually exploited]. I believe the population acts as if they’ve grown accustomed to the problem,” says Rosângela Ferreira, who lives in the region.
A 15-year-old teenager, who lives on the streets, said he was brutalized by the police and that he fears it might happen again this year. “The cops pushed me off the bridge once, because I was on the street. They asked me whether I knew how to swim. I said I did, so he threw me off the bridge. I didn’t get hurt because I managed to turn my body around.”
Mindful of the issue, the Federal Highway Police (“PRF”) has identified the main hotspots for the crime in an attempt to protect the victims. “It’s a large number of children we see in this vulnerable condition, and the Highway Police is concerned with the increase in the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents during the World Cup,” declared PRF Inspector Daniel Bonfim.
The Federal District government, in turn, has brought the Committee for Child Protection back into operation. The Committee was also active last year, during the Confederations Cup, when a high number of human rights violations was reported. Subsecretary for Children’s Policies Maura Souza pointed out that “there were many reports of negligence, some of disappearance, and also alcohol abuse. We had to help these adolescents, send them to health care [agencies], contact their families, get the Guardianship Council involved.”
Another form of violence identified was the removal of homeless people from the center of Brasília, near the football stadium, during the Confederations Cup. A 15-year-old teenager, who lives on the streets, said he was brutalized by the police and that he fears it might happen again this year. “The cops pushed me off the bridge once, because I was on the street. They asked me whether I knew how to swim. I said I did, so he threw me off the bridge. I didn’t get hurt because I managed to turn my body around.”
Brasília - A sponsor has trained teenagers from 13 to 16 years old to work as ball boys in the competition.
Sport and Employment
Illegal child labor is another matter of great concern. The most controversial case took place after the National Justice Council authorized teenagers above 12 to work as ball boys. A World Cup sponsor has trained teenagers from 13 to 16 years old to work as ball boys in the competition.
A teenager selected for work said he would not miss any opportunity to go to the World Cup, “It’s really good to have the chance to take part in the Cup. Who wouldn’t like to be in our position? I think this age debate doesn’t make sense. The age limit should be eight years old, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
Brasília - Teenagers from the Meninos e Meninas do Parque School, which helps the homeless from the area, play football in a local park
Among the efforts to promote the inclusion of young people is sport. In the Federal District, there are 11 olympic centers attended by 40 thousand people every year, among whom children, adolescents, adults, elders and people with disabilities. Ricarda Lima, Coordinator of the sport centers, says that sport is a powerful tool in children’s lives, and a right granted by the Constitution. “I haven’t the slightest doubt that [sport] minimizes their exposure to drugs and helps boost their school performance and self-esteem, not to mention their physical and emotional health,” she noted.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Brasília identifies hotspots for sexual exploitation of children
