Government of Pará expands actions for the protection of childhood and adolescence
Protection program ensures safety and specialized support for young people in vulnerable situations in the Pará territory
The Government of Pará, through the Secretariat for Racial Equality and Human Rights (Seirdh), has been strategically acting in the institutional management of the Program for the Protection of Children and Adolescents Threatened with Death (PPCAAM), a federal initiative created for the prevention and protection of children and adolescents threatened with death.
Created in 2003 and officially instituted by Federal Decree No. 6.231/2007, the PPCAAM's main objective is to protect the lives of children and adolescents in situations of serious threat, offering emergency measures and specialized support. In Pará, the direct execution of the program is carried out by the Movimento República de Emaús, an organization selected through a collaboration agreement, with joint funding from the Federal Government and the State Government.
Currently, the program protects 40 people in the State of Pará. Seirdh not only ensures coordination with the agencies of the Rights Guarantee System but also presides over the Management Council of the PPCAAM in the State, an inter-institutional body responsible for monitoring the execution and establishing guidelines for the program.
“The Government of Pará has been making a continuous effort to strengthen and expand the PPCAAM, integrating it into new territories and reinforcing the mechanisms for the protection of childhood and adolescence, especially in the most vulnerable areas. Our mission is to ensure that no young person is left behind in the face of a threat to their life,” emphasizes the coordinator of Seirdh's protection programs, Roberta Damasceno.
Expansion and Interiorization - Focusing on institutional strengthening and the interiorization of actions, the State Government, through Seirdh, has been articulating new strategies to expand the program's coverage, such as thorough and confidential analysis for the inclusion of new territories, meeting goals for program dissemination through visits to the territories by the technical team, and improving inter-institutional coordination mechanisms.
The goal is to ensure the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents throughout the Pará territory, especially in historically neglected regions. “Pará is committed to an effective public policy for protection. The expansion of the PPCAAM reflects our commitment to human rights and the lives of our children and adolescents,” states Edilza Fontes, head of Seirdh.
How the PPCAAM Works
Entry into the PPCAAM can occur through four entry points: Guardianship Council, Public Prosecutor's Office, Public Defender's Office, and Judiciary. These agencies fill out a pre-assessment form and forward it to the PPCAAM/PA team, composed of professionals trained to act in contexts of extreme risk.
After analyzing the case, an evaluation interview is conducted, and subsequently, an opinion is issued regarding the inclusion or not of the child or adolescent in the program. Protection can occur in different modalities, such as: family protection (with family members); individual protection in shelter (without the guardian); and independent housing (for young people aged 18 to 21).
Upon entry, the person served and their family will reside in a safe and confidential location, where they will undergo secure social integration and access to their fundamental rights. The entire process takes place with the support of an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary team.
The management of the program considers the voluntariness of the threatened individual and their family members and is aligned with the legislation provided in the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (Law No. 8.069/1990).
