On 5 August 2026, Brazil, the European Union and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) formally established the Steering and Technical Committees of the 'Protegendo Futuros' project in Brasília, a decisive step to prevent and respond to the recruitment and exploitation of children and adolescents by armed and criminal groups. The committees, meeting for the first time, validated a set of strategic priorities for the project's first year of implementation. The initiative is backed by the EU through the European Commission's Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) service.
according to the Brazilian Forum on Public Security (FBSP), 2,079 children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 were victims of intentional violent deaths in Brazil in 2025. Evidence indicates that criminal groups are increasingly recruiting minors through online environments, including encrypted communication channels and digital platforms. 'Protegendo Futuros' is a three-year project designed to address both the root causes of recruitment and the needs of affected individuals, treating children primarily as victims rather than perpetrators. Its integrated approach combines prevention, child-sensitive justice, rehabilitation and reintegration.
During the first year, the project will conduct a national research study on the trajectories of adolescents in the socio-educational system, a technical review of legal frameworks and public policies, multi-sectoral training workshops for professionals in social, education, justice and public security sectors, and community-based prevention initiatives. Participants include representatives from justice institutions, public security and child protection bodies, civil society organizations, research centers, UN agencies, and the Adolescent Participation Committee of the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (Conanda).
The Steering Committee will guide strategic decision-making, focusing on key determinants and vulnerabilities that expose children to risk, effective community-based prevention approaches, and gaps in institutional responses to strengthen protection, rehabilitation, reintegration and access to justice. The phased approach aims to build a solid evidence base, strengthen institutional and community capacities, and lay the groundwork for more targeted and sustainable interventions.
The project builds on long-standing cooperation between the Brazilian government, the EU and UNODC, leveraging Brazil's recognized leadership in child protection and its national practices. It also opens opportunities to highlight Brazil's achievements internationally. UNODC supports over 60 member states in preventing and addressing violence against children through its Global Programme to End Violence against Children, launched earlier. The project's first-year roadmap was validated at the inaugural committee meetings, signaling a concrete start to implementation.