Government of Pará, Childhood Brasil, and CNMP establish partnership to combat child violence in Marajó
With the presence of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, the State celebrates the signing of the protocol for the Safe Childhood Boat Project, which will provide integrated and humanized care to riverside communities in the Amazon
The government of Pará celebrated on Thursday (7), in Belém, the signing of the Letter of Intent for the Safe Childhood Boat Project, aimed at protecting children and adolescents who are victims of violence in the Marajó archipelago. The action is the result of a partnership between the state government, the National Council of the Public Ministry (CNMP), and Childhood Brasil, a civil society organization founded by Queen Silvia of Sweden, which is part of the World Childhood Foundation. The ceremony was attended by King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, who participated in the meeting to celebrate the cooperation agreement and reinforce the commitment to protecting childhood in the Amazon.
Governor Helder Barbalho stated that Pará has been seeking to consolidate public policies that transform the state's presence into a real instrument of social protection. "Marajó is a symbol of our diversity and our responsibility. Protecting its children is ensuring the future of the Amazon," he emphasized.
Helder Barbalho also noted that the Safe Childhood Boat represents a way to integrate actions across different fronts — social, security, and citizenship — in a territory that synthesizes the challenges and potential of the Amazon.
Queen Silvia of Sweden, founder of Childhood Brasil, emphasized that joint work between governments and institutions is essential to expand riverside children's access to care policies. "The boat highlights attention and care for those living along the riverbanks in Marajó. It recognizes that all children, in any territory, have the same right to live with dignity. I want to express my deep gratitude," she said.
The event marked the signing of the Letter of Intent for the Safe Childhood Boat Project, which establishes cooperation bases between the government of Pará, CNMP, Childhood Brasil, and the Transportation System. The goal is to provide humanized and accessible care to victims of violence, bringing state public services to Marajó communities — one of the largest regions in the Amazon. Childhood Brasil will be responsible for mobilizing resources for the acquisition of the vessel.
The meeting brought together national and international authorities, including King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, who were received by Governor Helder Barbalho, the First Lady and advisor of TCE-PA Daniela Barbalho, and the Vice Governor Hana Ghassan Tuma, president of the State Committee of COP 30.
"The Safe Childhood Boat is an example of a public policy that arises from listening to the territories and integrating different sectors of the government. The initiative reaffirms Pará's commitment to ensuring that the development of the Amazon goes hand in hand with the protection of our children and the construction of a fairer society," stated Hana Ghassan Tuma.
The vessel will be equipped to function as a floating unit of integrated care, bringing together health, social assistance, public safety, and psychology professionals in one space. The proposal is to ensure specialized care and continuous support for children and adolescents living in isolated areas, expanding the state's presence along the banks of the Amazon rivers.
For the president of Childhood Brasil, Carlos Jereissati, the articulation between the public and private sectors is decisive to expand the network of protection for childhood. "The union of efforts found the same purpose. To bring protection where it is most needed, integrating services and ensuring that no geographical barrier prevents a child's right to be heard, welcomed, and protected," he stated.
Meanwhile, the president of the Transportation System, Vander Francisco Costa, emphasized the importance of the productive sector's participation in the execution of public policies. "Today we take another step in this journey by supporting the project that will provide specialized care to children and adolescents who are victims or witnesses of violence on Marajó Island," he said.
The Safe Childhood Boat reinforces the strategy of the government of Pará to consolidate transversal and integrated policies that bring the state closer to the Amazonian populations, combining inter-institutional cooperation, innovation in public management, and strengthening social policies. The initiative will be presented during COP30 in Belém as an example of collaborative action aimed at protecting childhood and promoting human development in the Amazon.
