Brazil, the European Union and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) formally established the Steering and Technical Committees of the “Protegendo Futuros” (Protecting Futures) project in Brasília on 5 August 2026, marking 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 three-year project, supported by the EU through the European Commission's Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) service, aims to address both the root causes of recruitment and the needs of affected individuals, treating children primarily as victims rather than perpetrators. 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, with evidence indicating that criminal groups are increasingly recruiting minors through online environments, including encrypted communication channels and digital platforms.
First-year actions outlined in the project roadmap include a national research study on the trajectories of adolescents in the socio-educational system, a technical review of legal frameworks and public policies, multisectoral training workshops for professionals in social, education, justice and public security sectors, and community-based prevention initiatives. The project will involve 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 is designed to support strategic decision-making and guide implementation, with discussions based on international best practices and focused on key issues such as the main determinants and vulnerabilities exposing children and adolescents to risk, the most effective community-based prevention approaches, and gaps and opportunities 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, and is designed to leverage Brazil's recognized leadership and expertise in child protection and combating transnational organized crime, while also highlighting Brazil's achievements internationally. UNODC supports more than 60 member states in preventing and addressing violence against children through its Global Programme to End Violence against Children.
The establishment of the committees represents a concrete step in the EU's broader engagement in Brazil, where the delegation has been active in supporting social and security initiatives. The project's emphasis on treating children as victims and its community-based approach reflect a policy orientation that prioritizes prevention and reintegration over punitive measures, potentially influencing how similar programs are designed in other regions. The initiative is expected to have a significant impact on vulnerable communities in Brazil, particularly those disproportionately affected by organized crime, while also strengthening institutional capacities and fostering international cooperation on child protection.