Creative Campaigns by Children to Combat Child Sexual Exploitation

Circle of Rights activities are unfolding in Brazil with great success. CPP partner, Bianka Reis of Plan Brazil, shares some of the extrordinary and creative strategies that children and adolescents are using in the state of Maranhao, Brazil, to raise adult awareness on issues of ICT, child sexual exploitation, child labour and child abuse.  
 
Children and Adolescents Denounce Child Labour and Sexual Abuse in Peritoró, Brazil: December 14, 2010
Strategic points on roads, a bridge, and federal highways that cross the city of Peritoro, were occupied by dozens of children, youth and adults on December 14 to raise awareness about child labour and sexual abuse to passing by vehicle drivers.
 
Highways 135 and 316 (at mile 230) near the bus station in Peritoró were marked with banners and leaflets, handed out by children and adolescents located in strategic points on the respective roads, denouncing the abuse and sexual exploitation in the city. The intended audience of the awareness campaign are the drivers who travel daily past the site, coming from different cities in Maranhao and other states. The children were supported by a sound truck and the Highway Federal Police who collaborated with the day's activities.
 
Besides the city of Peritoró, Codó communities also participated in the action, which also had the support of the Secretariat of Social Assistance Peritoró and community councils of Codó Peritoró.

The idea of the awareness campaign of these children and adolescents is part of the Circle of Rights project "Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Combating Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children." The children involved in the project identified the highway, the road and bridge as critical landmarks in child labour, exploitation and sexual abuse.
 
"Are You Sure You Know Who You're Talking to?": Timbiras, December 1, 2010
In Timbiras, theater plays entitled "Are you sure you know who you're talking to?" are being presented in local schools. Adolescents that participated in CPP Circle of Rights activities wrote the script, designed the costumes, and make up the majority of actors in this unique play that addresses privacy and awareness in online communications. The first shows were performed on Dec 1st, 2010 to two schools with 200 adolescents present at the plays. 
 
Participation in the Municipal Book Fair, promoted by City Hall, Sao Luis: November 12 - 21, 2010
Circle of Rights children and adolescent participants presented their Circle of Rights projects and discussed the issue of ICT safety and the importance of juvenile prominence at the Municipal Book Fair in Sao Luis in November. The presentation was included in the "House of Youth" stand and was coordinated by Forum DCA.
 
On Nov 16, during the afternoon, approximately 150 young people gathered at the Fair, and then broke into several small groups to discuss the issue of ICT safety.

"Community Movie" in Codo: December, 2010.
In an attempt to create a unique activity and as a fun way to attract community members, Circle of Rights youth used films that harness ICT to address the issue of ICT safety and awareness. 
 
Because Codó does not have movie theater, a TV company gave the involved children and adolescents a big screen TV and sound system to use.
 
In five communities, the youth held five film exhibitions (two of which took place at local schools) where approximately 100 people per session watched Avatar and Iron Man – two films that are linked to ICT but which were also attractive to community members.
 
After the showings of the films, the youth discussed the influence of technology in their lives, on adolescents, parents, and their community.
 
These are just a few of the many examples of how children and youth involved in Circle of Rights and CPP activities are driving the initiative of raising awareness about both the harms and benefits of ICT.
 
- Bianka
 
See other stories of child-led solutions in CPP activities!