ChildFund Brasil Sustainability Report

44 PRESENTATION MESSAGE FROM MANAGEMENT WHO WE ARE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MARKETING AND MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES CHILDREN'S RIGHTS Advocacy and child protection SOCIAL PROGRAMS HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS GRI SUMMARY When we think about protection, we are talking about all the aspects that involve the life of a child, adolescent or young person. They include: the right to food and decent housing, with the guarantee of a quality education with access to the necessary items for study; and, mainly, protection in the fight to eradicate child violence, whether physical, psychologi- cal, sexual, neglect, or even other struc- tural aspects. To that end, we rely on some actions that guide us in the pursuit of these objec- tives. One of them is advocacy, a strat- egy that seeks to appreciate, promote and protect the rights of children, ado- lescents and young people. Through this practice, we seek to offer long-lasting so- lutions that generate permanent trans- formation in society, besides increasing the relevance of our organization. There are several ways to put advocacy actions into practice, such as political in- cidence with government agents, con- gressmen, and other relevant players involved in decision making for public policies and laws linked to the causes defended by an organization. Since 2018, Child Fund Brasil has been working for a cause that occurs in a va- riety of environments, including virtual ones: child abuse. In the last year, the organization monitored several bills on the subject, contacted several congress- men, and participated in meetings with the National Secretariat for the Rights of Children and Adolescents. Learn more details abut actions in the online envi- ronment on page 44. Social mobilization There is another path that has been trav- eled by several organizations for years, which is social mobilization. The simple action of informing and stimulating civil society to practice acts of citizenship and to get involved with causes associated to the guarantee of the population's rights, in addition to monitoring them, is al- ready a way of exercising advocacy. This is what we have been doing through- out our activities, encouraging and in- viting civil society to join in the fight for the eradication of poverty and for the fundamental rights of children, young people, and adolescents. That is how we can come together and influence the creation of effective public policies that bring benefits to the topics debated and defended by Child Fund Brasil. Through social mobilization, we can also create in- formative campaigns, dialogue, and pro- vide evidence about a specific problem related to a cause of interest to society as a whole. Thus, in addition to public poli- cies, we also influence cultural changes that may affect child protection. WHAT IS ADVOCACY? Advocacy is the practice of defending rights, mobilizing people and influencing the creation of public policies that are effective for an important cause for civil society. Therefore, it is important that advocacy showcases evidence about the importance of the cause and involves all of society in its actions. Network mobilization Together with other organizations, ChildFund Brasil participates in child protection networks and coalitions, such as Joining Forces Brasil, the Brazilian Co- alition to End Violence against Children, the National Network for Early Child- hood, and the National Forum for the Rights of Children and Adolescents. During the pandemic, for example, Child Fund Brasil worked with other or- ganizations to get the federal govern- ment to release funds from the National School Meals Program (PNAE) to buy staple food kits for families in need. Another action was the public note in de- fense of childhood vaccination released at the end of 2021. The document was signed by Child Fund Brasil and other or- ganizations that defend the rights of chil- dren and adolescents. Check it out in our blog. CENTRAL PILLARS OF ADVOCACY FOR CHILDHOOD - 1 influence, monitor, and promote the processes of generating and enforcing laws related to child protection; 2 conduct campaigns to give visibility, raise awareness of the importance and engage society in topics related to children; 3 strengthen alliances and integration with the public and private sectors, as well as civil society organizations. Developing advocacy partnerships The people who work in the Local Partners, who are key to developing Child Fund Brasil's methodologies in the territories where it operates, participat- ed in several training sessions in 2021 on child protection. Issues such as the Child Safeguarding Policy and psychological help were addressed throughout 2021. For ChildFund Brasil's social programs and child protection coordinator, Karla Correa, these moments are essential for advocacy to happen in practice. "As we work on issues related to child protec- tion, the PSOS will advocate together with local representatives, in their terri- tories, to act together with us on causes related to children and adolescents. So much so that employees of some PSOS participate in municipal councils, such as those for the rights of children and adolescents, health, and education, for example." Training is a time to share knowledge and benefit the entire community, pos- itively impacting the integral protec- tion of the child. ChŘldFund. • Sustainability Report Brasil 45

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