The next Brazilian president should give priority to education and employment and income generation policies, said nearly 1,000 young people aged between 15 and 21 who participated in discussion groups organized by Agenda 227, a civil society movement.
For them, the future president must invest in the quality of teaching, value teachers and improve infrastructure in schools, in addition to including initiatives to combat discrimination and urgently invest in employment and income generation programs for those who have completed the high school. Young people also advocate equal opportunities for all.
Participants in Agenda 227 discussions further maintain that the next president must effectively combat child labor and prevent violence. For them, the greatest violations of the rights of young people are registered in education and also occur with the exploitation of child labor and discrimination, in public safety and health. Many remember those who need to stop studying to work and help support the house.
“Adolescents and young people urgently demand measures that guarantee quality, inclusive and non-discriminatory education. It is necessary to listen to them and guarantee their fundamental rights, as Agenda 227 has defended with the presidential candidates”, said Marcus Fuchs, who is a member of the movement’s executive group.
To combat violence, the interviewees suggested that community spaces be created for welcoming and guaranteeing protection for children and adolescents, as well as initiatives that support them in cases of abandonment and domestic violence.
According to Mario Volpi, coordinator of the Adolescent Citizenship program of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in Brazil, the research also highlights the interest of youth in being part of public management.
“The consultation showed that adolescents and young people are aware of what is happening in the country and want to get involved and participate in politics and society.” The research also shows that young people need to be heard by managers, that young people are waving at the candidates for the Presidency of the Republic that the focus on education is paramount”, said Volpi, in a note.
A total of 947 adolescents and young people from various Brazilian regions participated in the study, carried out in April and May. The research was conducted by the Agenda 227 Working Group on Professionalization and Access to the World of Work, composed of Unicef, América Solidária, Instituto Aliança com o Adolescente and Rede Cidadã.
The outcome of the discussion groups will complement the Country Plan for Children and Adolescents it’s the site https://agenda227.org.br/propostas/a document with 148 proposals that was delivered to candidates for the Presidency of the Republic.
