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Brazil's Street Children and the Candelária Massacre
Brazil's Perception of "Street Kids"
Brazil's Street Children and the Candelária Massacre
By: Christine Andre
- Most children are viewed as "public scandel" and "an inconvenience"
- invisible in the favela, but a problem if seen elsewhere
-pollution to the good communities
- "little criminals"
- most children do commit petty crimes, mostly for survival
-public views them as "dangerous" (especially the black adolescent male)
-"something must be done," supportive of police brutality
Inadequate Social Institutions
- School Systems
-primary school was free, but children not required to attend
-many teachers kicked students out who appeared to live on the streets (this was illegal)
- Government
- lack of government funded relief programs/shelters
- Juvenile Detention Centers
- do not meet standards of basic hygiene and health
-overcrowded
-frequent abuse from guards
My Argument
Due to the apathetic attitude Brazilians had towards street children, the corruption of the Brazilian police force, and a variety of inadequate social institutions, the Candelária Massacre was an unavoidable chain of events that led to the deaths of eight victims.
What is a "Street Kid?"
- Estimated 80-110 million street children throughout the world; majority in Asia, Africa and Latin America
- Term "street kid" has proved difficult to define; definition varies due to culture, age, gender, and "hierarchy of street use"
- Marcelo Diversi explained the following categories:
- completely abandoned
-semi- abandoned
-vagrant
- working
July 23, 1993
- Eight children were killed on the front steps of the Candelária Cathedral
- they belonged to Brazil's "street kid" population
- eight police officers, along with one Brazilian civilian, were responsible for the murders; only three officers found guilty
- Massacre was said to be "one of the most horrific death squad operations against street children in Brazilian history."
Corrupt Police/Death Squads
Since the Massacre
- Police brutality was no secret
-ideal of "private justice"
- Police often part of death squads
- privately hired men for political/social issues
-merchants and store owners frequently hired them to go after the "little criminals"
- William R. Long's interview with street child, A.G.
- New wave of shelters/relief center
- International recognition
- Investigations
- Violence still exists