Violence and child rights in Brazil: Can the cycle of violence be broken?

The proposed study aims at examining the impact of exposure to different types of violence (domestic, school and community) in the lives of Brazilian children. It will also ascertain what types of care children exposed to violence are receiving from existing agencies. The conducted Epidemiological study collected relevant longitudinal information from a community-based probability sample of children living in Itaboraí City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ultimately, our goal is to use the international collaboration and empirical data resulting from this effort to propose how a child rights based approach (like the one that uses Guardianship Councils) can buffer the impact of violence and/or prevent the development of violent behaviors in children. The study was carried out by a collaboration between Tromso University, Norway (Dr. John Ronning) and Universidade Federal de São Paulo [UNIFESP], Brazil (Dr. Isabel Bordin). Researchers from Turku University (Dr. Andre Sourander), Columbia University, USA (Dr. Cristiane Duarte), UNIFESP and Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (Dr. Cristiane de Paula) and Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) (Dr. Evandro Coutinho) were also involved in the study. The study fieldwork was carried out by IBOPE, Brazil, one of the most prestigious research poll agencies in the country. This collaboration will produce original high quality data about how local resources can counteract the impact of exposure to violence on Brazilian youth. The Brazilian research team will benefit from the expertise of Norwegian investigators on school violence, service use and the long tradition of using Rights based approach. For the Norwegian team this is a unique opportunity to learn about the existing child-related resources in Brazil and to support the expansion of care for those exposed to violence within an existing right-based framework and service system. All members of the study team will work together in the preparation of the first main scientific publications. Study results will be presented and discussed within Norway and Brazil, and at international scientific meetings. We expect that our research efforts will bring evidence that could influence public policy, help the development of effective interventions and result in positive outcomes for low-income Brazilian children, making the collaboration a learning experience useful for Brazil and Norway.

The proposed study aims at examining the impact of exposure to different types of violence (domestic, school and community) in the lives of Brazilian children. It will also ascertain what types of care children exposed to violence are receiving from exist ing agencies. An Epidemiological Study will collect relevant longitudinal information from a community-based probability sample of children living in Itaboraí City, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A linked Qualitative Study will gather unique information on viole nce and service utilization from youth, parents and service providers. Of particular interest is the impact of a specific child rights based approach (Guardianship Councils) currently disseminated in Brazil and possibly acceptable by other Latin American countries. Ultimately our goal is to use the international collaboration and empirical data resulting from this effort to propose how a child rights based approach (like the one that uses Guardianship Councils) can buffer the impact and/or prevent the dev elopment of violent behaviors in children. The study will be carried out by a collaboration between Tromso University, Norway (Dr. Ronning, Dr. Sourander and Dr. Jenssen), Universidade Federal de São Paulo [UNIFESP], Brazil (Dr. Bordin), Universidade Fede ral do Rio de Janeiro [UFRJ] and Columbia University, USA (Dr. Duarte). The study field work will be carried out by IBOPE, Brazil, one of the most prestigious research poll agencies in the country. This collaboration will produce original high quality da ta about how local resources can counteract the impact of exposure to violence on Brazilian youth. The Brazilian research team will benefit from the expertise of Norwegian investigators on school violence, service use and the long tradition of using Right s based approach. For the Norwegian team this is a unique opportunity to learn about the existing child-related resources in Brazil and to support the expansion of care for those exposed to violence within an exi