Notícias 1 | turismosexual

"A goal to the impunity. For a World Cup without Sexual Violence

During 2013, taking into account the importance that has regionally acquired the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in the context of travels and tourism, the Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN- OAS), through its Inter-American Cooperation Program for the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Exploitation, Smuggling of and Trafficking in Children, developed a study on the subject based on the analysis of “best practices” that some States of the region had and are developing to address this problem.

This study, entitled The commercial sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, constituted the centerpiece of the 13th Report to the Secretary General of the OAS on the measures undertaken by Member States in order to prevent and eradicate the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the Americas1.

Among its final recommendations included one referred to the necessity to assume the responsibilities for the consequences that have the organization of large events on children and adolescents’ Rights:

“The State, in coordination with the business sector, should assume and manage the risk of rights violations involved in the organization of large events or infrastructure works that demand the transfer and temporary settlement of groups of workers. Assuming and managing risk implies designing and implementing child protection plans to minimize these risks and transform events into opportunities to raise awareness among the general population”2.

In few days, the region will be scene of the developed of the FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014. The twentieth edition of the World Cup will take place between June 12 and July 13, being the first time that this event is realized in South America since 1978.

Brazil waits the arrival of 600.000 foreign tourists and the internal displacement of 3.000.000 of Brazilians around the twelve cities venues of the Cup.

This is a clear example of a festive activity worldwide significance that, for legitimate and positive that can be in many aspects, carries risks of violation of rights, and is, at once, an opportunity to transmit awareness messages to promote a culture of respect childhood and social sanction to the abuses.

The experience in Brazil

Different sectors of Brazilian society and international organizations have been mobilized concerned about situations that could occur in the framework of the World Cup, specially the invisibility of the risks for children, remaining overshadowed others issues that mobilize the global interest: security, infrastructure projects, hostels’ offer, publicity of sportive articles, among others.

The celebration of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 increased the crime of human trafficking in the country, especially of women and adolescents, representing the 80% of the victims. With this antecedent, and in order to combat this problem, Brazilian government has created a task force to combat sexual exploitation and violence against women during the World Cup, following the recommendations of UN Women.

The Coordinator of Child Protection of the Ministry of Tourism, Adelino Neto, declared to AFP (Agence France-Presse) that:

“Every tourist who arrive to Brazil will knew that sexual exploitation of children is a crime, they will see in advertisements at the plane, at the airports, station, hotels”.

A National Committee was constituted, including Ministries, bodies of Justice, business, international organizations, national networks of human rights of children and adolescents and non-governmental organizations. The Human Rights Secretariat assumed the Committee’s coordination, initiating the installation of local committees in the cities venues of the Cup.

Thus began the construction of the Convergence Agenda for Protection of children and adolescents in Large Events, that includes a guidance of proposals for the cities venues of the Cup, among which are included:

- Formation of Local Committees;

- Diagnostic of guarantees of rights;

- Coordination of the Information Systems of human rights violations;

- Introduction of the issue of human rights of children and adolescents into

the population segments involved in the Cup;

- Creation of a mobile application of a geo-referenced system “Protect Brazil”, where look for help in case of right violation.

- It had worked on the creation of living spaces and strengthening of street teams attempting the integrated operation of the different sectors of the justice (court, defense, prosecution).

- Support to the construction of call flows with a agreement on the protocols;

- Development of unified campaigns. Note that it was impossible to reach a consensus, so many organism – SESI- “Protect Brazil”, Itaú Foundation, UNICEF, among others- developed their owns campaigns.

For their part, civil society organizations have also developed a set of actions:

Campaign of self protection ANA: Adolescents and Young Connected for a World Cup without Sexual Violence.
Mobilization of the networks to realize the diagnostic and mapping of resources. Actions of capacities’ formation and creation in stakeholders and public employees.
Mobilization of the networks of the local civil society at cities venues of the Cup, trough the realization of workshops.
Monitoring public budget.
Campaign of radio: Introduce Networks Field for Human Rights of Children and Adolescents.

International organizations dedicated to the protection of rights have also done the own. For example, International Solidarity3, with Solidar Suisse, has launched a campaign of warning of the different consequences that can have the World Cup on thousand of persons in Brazil, and makes a series of orders from it.

Meanwhile, the foundation Plan International4 is developing various initiatives to empower youth to say no to the commercial sexual exploitation, both before, during and after the World Cup.

In this sense, has launched the campaign "Copas das Meninas" (Girls’ Cup) which aims to alert the public opinion about the situation of children during the World Cup, in particular as regards the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.

The campaign is spread through advertising in television and movies, magazines, newspapers, graphic material that is distributed in Brazil's main airports and a massive social media campaign (Campaign Site: http://www.copadasmeninas.org.br/)

Regional Impacts: JOAJU campaign in Ciudad del Este and Alto Paraná

The arrival of the World Cup to Brazil has generated effects in Paraguay, that put on alert to the authorities of Ciudad del Este and Alto Paraná by the danger of recruitment of children, adolescents and women for sexual exploitation during the sporting event.

Thus was launched a prevention campaign called JOAJU with flyer distribution and surveillance at the head of Bridge, Bus Terminal, Puerto Tres Fronteras and Guarani Airport.

"Joaju" is a Guarani word meaning together or united, and this is precisely the hallmark of the launched campaign. An interagency committee to combat human traffic was established, integrated by authorities of different institutions related to the problematic.

Attorney Ricardo Gonzalez, chief of staff of the National Secretariat for Children, said that the only way to address this scourge is organizing and coordinating efforts and emphasized the importance of giving answers that show that state and community are organized.

Prevention efforts are focused on areas considered vulnerable, such as the entrance and exit of the Friendship Bridge and Bus Terminal of Ciudad del Este, area of the Port Tres Fronteras, and Guarani Airport.

What do thes experiences leave us?

To summarize, the above shows that different actors have warned on the risks that in an event of this nature are increased facts of rights violations and even a possible setback in relation to rights already conquered. Ultimately, the challenge is to put in the context of an event of this nature the "best interests of the child" over other aspects and interests.

For that, is critical to the joint efforts and commitment of multiple stakeholders generating sensitivities and promoting initiatives to address the actions of organizations that promote the commercialization of children's bodies.

1 Inter-American Children’s Institute (2013), The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in travels and tourism. 13th Report to the Secretary General of the OAS on the measures undertaken by member states in order to prevent and eradicate the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the Americas, Montevideo. Available in: http://www.annaobserva.org/2012/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/13th-

2. Ídem, p. 38-39

3. International Solidarity is a NGO that work for justice, equity, and Human Rights. We try to participate in a social change that result in a more just world in which all people, anywhere in the world, can to exercise their rights (http://www.solidaridad.org/)

4. The Plan Foundation is an organization working since 1962 with the aim of improving the living conditions of children that live in extreme vulnerability. Plan is independent, with no religious or political affiliation. (http://plan.org.co/quienes-somos/que-es-plan)

Publicado em Anna Observa

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