The Observatory of the Child and Youth Population in Contexts of Violence (OBIJUV/UFRN), linked to the Psychology Department of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), received honor in the 15th edition of the Neide Castanha Award, national recognition aimed at people, collectives and institutions that work to defend the human rights of children and adolescents and combat sexual violence in Brazil.
The award ceremony took place on the night of May 18th, at the Museu da República, in Brasília (DF), during the III Brazilian Congress to Combat Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents, held in reference to the National Day to Combat Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents.
OBIJUV was honored in the Special Tributes category for its contribution to the review process of the National Ten-Year Plan to Combat Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents (PDNEVSCA).
Coordinated by professor Ilana Lemos de Paiva, the group develops, in partnership with the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (Conanda) and the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC), the review process of the National Plan, “ensuring a democratic, participatory and dialogued construction”, as highlighted during the award ceremony.
Throughout 2025 and 2026, the initiative mobilized state forums, regional meetings, free forums and listening sessions with different social segments across the country.
Researchers and technicians linked to UFRN directly participate in the project: Ana Ludmila Freire Costa, Fellipe Coelho Lima, Gilliard de Medeiros Laurentino, Isabel Maria Farias Fernandes de Oliveira, Jenair Alves da Silva, Lívia Cirne, Manuella Fernanda Medeiros Guedes, Victor Varela, Lizianne Martins, Gabriel Mattos and Raiano Tavares.
The opening of the III Brazilian Congress brought together representatives of the Federal Government, researchers, social movements and members of the Rights Guarantee System from across the country. Present were the Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Janine Melo; the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes; the Minister of Racial Equality, Raquel Barros; the national secretary for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, Pilar Lacerda; and the president of the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (Conanda), Deila Martins, among other authorities.
During the congress, professor Ilana Lemos de Paiva also participated in the official delivery of the Technical Glossary on sexual violence against children and adolescents, one of the products prepared within the scope of the National Plan review project. The material was presented to the ministers present in the event program.
Created in 2000, the National Plan to Combat Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents is a reference for formulating public policies aimed at comprehensive protection. The current review seeks to update guidelines, strategies and action flows in light of the social and technological transformations of recent decades, including issues related to violence committed in digital environments.
For professor Ilana Lemos, “Receiving the Neide Castanha Award is a very significant honor for our team, especially at a time when we are involved in the collective construction of the review of the National Ten-Year Plan to Combat Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents”.
She adds that “the award symbolizes the recognition of a historical trajectory of struggle in defense of the rights of children and adolescents and reaffirms the importance of strengthening networks, public policies and intersectoral protection actions”.
The III Brazilian Congress on Combating Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents continues until this week, bringing together researchers, public managers, protection network professionals, social movements, adolescents and civil society organizations in debates on prevention, protection, accountability and strengthening of public policies aimed at children and adolescents.
Programming
May 18th (Monday) | National Museum – Brasília/DF
● 09h to 19h – Start of activities of the 3rd Brazilian Congress● 11h – Accreditation● 14h – Official opening● 16h – Debate table: “At what point are we in combating sexual violence against children and adolescents?”● 18h30 – Neide Castanha Award May 19th (Tuesday) | University of Brasilia (UnB)
● 9am to