Murders

The right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights. For this reason, CEDECA-BA has the opposition of murders of children and adolescents as their first mission. Since the Center was founded in 1991, Bahia has been one of the Brazilian states with the highest levels of murders of minors under the age of 18. Violence is institutional in many cases, carried out by State agents.

Activities developed by CEDECA-BA in this area have the objective of breaking the cycle of impunity and promoting access to the legal system. Through access to the legal system, support to victims’ families, circulation of the Statute for Children and Adolescents and social mobilization, CEDECA-BA believes that they are contributing to the construction of a new culture for rights.

Sexual Violence

While boys are the main murder victims, girls are more vulnerable to sexual violence. They are abused, raped and exploited. When sexual violence does not cause death, it leaves serious physical and psychological consequences. Factors such as gender and social class contribute to the occurrence of abuse and sexual exploitation.

CEDECA-BA works in this area, recovering the self-esteem of boys and girls who are in situations of sexual violence, strengthening their families, demanding responsibility from their aggressors and activating society to oppose the problem. Negligence and fear are the principal characteristics allied to those who abuse and sexually exploit children and adolescents.