Community leaders are trained to promote the prevention of Sexual Exploitation against Children and Adolescents

On March 20th and 26th, Promundo held training workshops with around 50 community leaders to promote the prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents (ESCCA).

ESCCA is quite common in popular spaces and is often silenced out of fear or because residents think they should not get involved because the agents are often the victim's own family. The workshops sought to demystify these taboos and clarify the concept of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, pointing out the different forms of commercial exchange for sex and some ways to combat ESCCA.

Workshop participants are community leaders who are part of the Healthy Communities Network, a network that works to prevent HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and promote health. They are reference people in their territories and will be promoters of ESCCA prevention.

Each participant will receive materials developed especially for this project: an informative serial album to approach the public, comic books with stories on the topic and bracelets that represent the commitment to preventing sexual exploitation.

“We are going to hold conversation circles with guardians of children who participate in social projects in the community and we intend to take the discussion to the daycare and school meetings as well,” said Zoraide Ferreira, community leader of Morro dos Prazeres.

Márcia Helena, from Morro dos Macacos, said that preventing ESCCA only complements the work they already carry out in the community through Camelô Educativo, a methodology adopted by the Rede de Comunidades Saudáveis, which is a type of stand that provides informative materials and where leaders address the public about prevention, condom distribution and other topics relevant to the community.

The materials produced reinforce the idea of community mobilization to prevent sexual exploitation, calling on everyone to be aware of violations against children and adolescents. Another important aspect that the material addresses is the importance of not blaming children and adolescents, since what allows them to be in a situation of sexual exploitation is not their will, but the immense social vulnerability to which they are subject.

“This workshop brought us more knowledge so that together with the whole of society we can seek solutions that can protect our children and adolescents”, said Sonia Regina da Silva, from Morro do Urubu.