Association of Mothers and Friends of Children and Adolescents at Risk – ‘Amar’
The protagonist role of mothers in the fight against institutional violence in juvenile detention centers in the Federal District
Distrito Federal
Amar has the mission of ensuring and widening the participation of the community and relatives of adolescents while they are subjected to socio-educational measures as a means of social monitoring and fighting against institutional violence within the socio-educational units. The goal is to enforce the provisions of the Statute for Children and Adolescents – ECA, increasing the chances of reintegration of youth into society and reducing recidivism rates.
Founded in 1998 in São Paulo, Amar was established in the Federal District (DF) in 2003. Since then the organization has been monitoring the socio-educational centers and reporting violations of adolescents’ rights, as well as offering psychological support and guidance to the relatives and providing adolescents and their families with legal advice through partnerships.
From 1998 to 2011 Amar expanded its activities to 11 cities in different states of the country. Amar-DF integrates the National Forum for Children and Adolescents’ Rights and the Juvenile Justice Network.
Context
Brazil has advanced laws regarding the protection of fundamental rights. In respect of children and adolescents, Brazilian laws ensure special protection and absolute priority in the formulation of public policies. However, the reality is still very different and far from what the law says. Children and adolescents are a group particularly vulnerable to human rights violations regarding violence, poverty and discrimination. Disrespect for rights is even more striking when it comes to adolescents deprived of their liberty for having committed offences. In Brazil the systematic and institutional practice of torture, maltreatment and summary executions persists. The State itself – which should protect rights – is the greatest violator. Apart from this, there are numerous reports of lack of medical care, education and professional training, among others.
The Project
With the project supported by Brazil Fund Amar intends to strengthen and widen the forms of social control through the monitoring of the implementation of socio-educational measures in juvenile detention centers in the Federal District – Caje, Ciago and Ciap. It also wants to combat institutional violence within those centers by improving the monitoring, the complaints and the filing of lawsuits.
Additionally, the group aims to create, with the mothers of adolescents subjected to socio-educational measures, a network for mutual support and to carry out educational activities related to the respect for the rights of adolescents and their relatives. The network will be mobilized to promote the control of the situation in the units and to fight for the implementation of human rights.
The group estimates that approximately 600 adolescents and their families will be direct beneficiaries of the project.
Funding Line
Annual Call for Proposals
Year
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Total Granted
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Duration
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Main Themes
The rights of children and adolescents