The path to “Integral Protection”: The evolution and challenges of child protection in Brazil

Abstract

Brazil, one of the largest countries in the Global South, has significantly grown in protecting the rights of children and adolescents, but it still faces significant challenges. This article describes the current child protection system and the systems that affect children and families, and it highlights priorities and challenges in the child protection context in Brazil. Historically, child protection in Brazil was marked by the exclusion and marginalization of children and adolescents, with public policies focused on the punishment and institutionalization of children and adolescents. Brazil's 1988 Constitution and the 1990 Child and Adolescent Statute were legal milestones that transformed children into rights holders, changing the public's perspective on what constituted children's rights and the mechanisms that secured them. In Brazil, this is referred to as the Integral Protection doctrine. The current Brazilian child protection system includes various agencies and services, such as the Unified Health System and the Conselho Tutelar, which play crucial roles in protecting and reporting cases of violence. In the past 20 years, legislation expanded the definitions of child maltreatment and established specialized procedures for assisting child victims. However, challenges persist, such as insufficient funding and unequal distribution of professionals, as well as difficulties in protecting children with disabilities. In this sense, future strategies should focus on educating and training involved professionals and improving the protection network and accessibility to services, especially in remote areas. Strengthening citizenship and effectively implementing public policies are essential to ensure Brazil's comprehensive protection of children and adolescents.