São Paulo city signs deal to curb violence against young blacks

The São Paulo city government and the state's Public Prosecution Office signed Wednesday (Jul 29) an agreement aimed at preventing violence against black youths from the impoverished outskirts of the city. According to Mayor Fernando Haddad, the partnership is expected to strengthen the participation of various city departments in Youth Alive (Juventude Viva), an initiative launched by the federal government. The program was designed to provide psychological and social assistance to violence victims, offer free WiFi as well as options for leisure and culture, and promote campaigns against racism and prejudice.

According to the Violence Map, 56,337 people were murdered in the country, of whom 30,072 were aged between 15 and 29, and 77% (23,160) were black.

The mayor says the deal will make data from public prosecutors available to officials, which should ensure a more accurate problem diagnosis and indicate how and where authorities should focus their work, as “they have information that's not always available to us—but now it will be.”

In the view of journalist Gabriela Valim, who works as a facilitator with Youth Alive in Itaquera, in west São Paulo, urging people to participate in such projects is crucial. “The government and society should communicate so our policy may be a successful one, which actually reaches out to us, who are far from the city center,” she noted.

Youth Alive Policy Coordinator Cláudio Aparecido da Silva pointed out that the program takes a preventive approach and aims to forge a new path for young people, offering them more public spaces and the chance to become involved in artistic and cultural activities.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

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