Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Apr 1992

Vol. 418 No. 4

Written Answers. - Treatment of Brazilian Children.

Patrick McCartan

Ceist:

187 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the reports that the Brazilian authorities have been making efforts to clean up the streets of Rio de Janeiro by the forced removal of young homeless boys and that some boys have been murdered; if these matters have been raised with the Brazilian authorities; if not, if they will be raised; if the Irish Government will keep these matters under review as having a bearing on whether this country will be represented at the conference as proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which is due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 3 to 14 June, is one of the largest and most significant UN conferences being held this year. Its success will be important for the welfare of the planet and future generations.

The Government are concerned at the situation of the street children in Brazil. Estimates of street children who have been murdered or who have met with violent deaths in recent years range from 2,000 to 5,000. In response to widespread concern about the situation the Brazilian Government recently adopted a series of measures aimed at tackling the problem. These included the adoption of a "Statute of the Child and Adolescent" and the creation of a new Ministry of the Child to implement it, the allocation of US$50 million for a national plan to protect street children, the instigation of a special inquiry by the Minister for Justice, and the establishment of a sub-Commission of the "Council for the Defence of Human Rights" to make recommendations on the prevention of violence against street children.

Ireland however remains concerned at the situation of the street children and we will be continuing to monitor this question closely together with our European partners.