Children as Rights Holders
Under Article 227 of the Federal Constitution and the Statute of Children and Adolescents, established in 1990, children and adolescents are recognized as full rights holders. They are entitled to priority access to the means for their complete development and comprehensive protection from their families, the federal government, and society. This legal framework commits us all to the welfare of all children and adolescents. With the passage of the Legal Framework on Early Childhood in 2016, it became explicitly mandated that the Brazilian government must create public policies, plans, and services for children up to six years old to ensure their complete development. Today, children are acknowledged as active rights holders.
The Distinctive Nature of Early Childhood
The first six years of life are a period of profound development. During this time, their brain is undergoing complete construction, forming up to one million synapses per second. This stage is characterized by a remarkable openness to new experiences and an ability to rapidly absorb new knowledge and skills.
The surrounding environment, their interactions with others, and their play activities all significantly shape their physical, cognitive, and emotional development. To achieve their full potential, children require love, care, stimulation, and protection.
A Multifaceted
Early Childhood
Landscape in Brazil
How can the rights of over 18.1 million Brazilian children in early childhood be safeguarded in a country marked by profound socio-economic, ethnic-racial, regional, and gender disparities? While Brazilian legislation upholding the rights of boys and girls is acclaimed globally, the stark realities we face present deep and structural challenges. These are exacerbated by the absence of developed or implemented public policies that genuinely support families and children.
Desigualdade e violências
Poverty
10 milhões de crianças na primeira infância
(55,4% do total da população) vivem entre as famílias de baixa renda
Fonte: Perfil da Primeira Infância no Cadastro Único – FMCSV e Ministério do Desenvolvimento Social / 2024
Structural Racism
71% das crianças
na primeira infância em situação de baixa renda são negras
Fonte: Pnad Contínua 2022 – IBGE
Food Insecurity
Uma em cada três crianças
de 0 a 4 anos convive com algum grau de insegurança alimentar
Fonte: Pnad Contínua / Segurança Alimentar 2023 – IBGE
Access to and Quality of Public Policies for Early Childhood
Early Childhood Education
441 mil crianças
entre 4 e 5 anos não frequentam a pré-escola, etapa obrigatória da educação
Fonte: Pnad Contínua / Educação 2023 – IBGE
Educação Infantil
38% das crianças
entre 0 3 anos estão matriculadas em creches
Fonte: Pnad Contínua / Educação 2023 – IBGE
Vaccination Coverage
Entre 2002 e 2022
A vacinação com imunizantes fundamentais, como BCG, tríplice viral, pentavalente e hepatite B caiu de 100% para 78%
Source: Brazil’s Ministry of Health / ‘Todos Pela Educação’ 2024 Survey
Prenatal Care
A mortalidade infantil no Brasil
é de 13,3 para cada 1000 nascidos vivos
Source: ‘Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde’ (‘Institute for Health Policy Studies’ / IEPS) – 2022
Prenatal Care
68% das mulheres negras
realizam pré-natal com número adequado de consultas. Entre as mulheres brancas, esse índice é de 81,2%
Source: ‘Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde’ (‘Institute for Health Policy Studies’ / IEPS) – 2022
Poverty
Source: ‘Perfil da Primeira Infância no Cadastro Único’ - FMCSV and Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development / 2024
Poverty
Source: ‘Perfil da Primeira Infância no Cadastro Único’ - FMCSV and Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development / 2024
Structural Racism
Source: Brazil's National Household Survey (PNAD) 2022 - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE)
Structural Racism
Source: Brazil's National Household Survey (PNAD) 2022 - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE)
Food Insecurity
Source: PNAD / 2023 Food Security – IBGE
Food Insecurity
Source: PNAD / 2023 Food Security – IBGE
Early Childhood Education
Source: PNAD / 2023 Education – IBGE
Early Childhood Education
Source: PNAD / 2023 Education – IBGE
Vaccination Coverage
Source: Brazil’s Ministry of Health / ‘Todos Pela Educação’ 2024 Survey
Vaccination Coverage
Source: Brazil’s Ministry of Health / ‘Todos Pela Educação’ 2024 Survey
Prenatal Care
Source: ‘Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde’ (‘Institute for Health Policy Studies’ / IEPS) – 2022
Prenatal Care
Source: ‘Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde’ (‘Institute for Health Policy Studies’ / IEPS) – 2022
Investing in Early Life
Ensuring full development from an early age helps dismantle inequality, break cycles of poverty, reduce various forms of violence, and cultivate a healthier society.
Research underscores that the benefits of early interventions extend beyond childhood, influencing health outcomes, emotional connections, educational achievements, and future employment opportunities. Investing in the early years of life is an investment in the present and future well-being of society.