Marist Solidarity Network of the Province of « Brasil Centro-Sul »
The Marist Centre for the Defence of Children, a social unit forming part of the Marist Solidarity Network of the Province of « Brasil Centro-Sul » (PMBCS), attached to the Cultural Association of Paraná, began its operations on 17 August. The speaker invited for the event was the procurator of Justice of the State of Paraná, Olympio de Sá Sotto Maior.The Centre is based in Curitiba, capital of the State of Paraná, and is designed to develop and accompany actions directed towards children for guaranteeing and reinforcing their rights and making effective recognition of children and adolescents as an absolute priority of public politics. According to the co-ordinator of the Centre, Geliane Quemelo, « actions and discussions must be upheld in the Statute of the Child and Adolescent and in the International Convention for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, in order to guarantee their rights and values inasmuch as they are subjects of rights. »The Centre will work with government and non-government institutions, and with public bodies looking at appropriate policies in the domain of childhood and adolescence, such as Councils and Forums. Among the activities carried out are the gathering and analysis of data and research into the situation of children?s rights in Paraná, participation in the strategic areas which touch on the rights of children and adolescents, such as forums and councils, the holding of courses, conferences and seminars to contribute to the model of integral protection outlined in the International Convention for the Rights of the Child and the Statute of the Child and Adolescent, and the performance of actions deriving from the increase of financial investments in public policies for children and adolescents.Centre of Defense ? Co-ordinationThe co-ordinator of the Marist Centre for the Defence of Children is Geliane Quemelo, social assistant, a specialist in the management of policies, projects and special programmes, a professional woman experienced in the areas of discussion of public policies in the domain of children and adolescents, such as the Municipal Council of Children and Adolescents of Curitiba, on which she represents the Marist institution as councillor.You can obtain further information on the site www.solmarista.org.br_________« Assessoria de Imprensa APC? and Irene Elias Simões