Government establishes policy to combat child sexual abuse

Standard published in the “Official Gazette” establishes principles for comprehensive protection actions for children and adolescents in the country

The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship created the National Policy for Preventing and Combating Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents. Ordinance No. 836 was published this Tuesday (May 19, 2026) on Official Gazette of the Union. Ice cream a (PDF – 120 kB).

The standard establishes objectives, principles, guidelines and strategies for the development of .

They are 9 guiding principles:

  • the best interests of the child and adolescent;
  • comprehensive protection;
  • the recognition of children and adolescents as people with a peculiar developmental condition;
  • respect for freedom, dignity and human rights;
  • absolute priority;
  • privacy, confidentiality, secrecy and protection of intimacy;
  • equity and non-discrimination;
  • shared responsibility between the family, the community, society in general and public authorities;
  • anti-capacityism and ensuring accessibility.

The ordinance lists 8 objectives to be achieved by the national policy. Ensuring specialized and networked care for children and adolescents, in addition to their families, in situations of sexual exploitation is among the priorities. Improving the management of prevention and combat actions is also one of the goals.

The initiative aims to encourage the implementation of actions that guarantee the effective accountability of perpetrators of violence. The measure aims to strengthen the prevention of all forms of sexual violence, in addition to promoting the creation of spaces for family and community coexistence that favor the prevention, protection and overcoming of situations of violence.

To ensure the effectiveness of the actions, permanent public campaigns will be carried out to raise awareness and change social, cultural and behavioral norms that naturalize sexual violence. The policy also establishes the promotion of educational and pedagogical actions.

Support for structuring and strengthening immediate care for the physical and mental health of children and adolescents in situations of sexual violence was also determined, including the provision of prevention and psychosocial care actions, ensuring humanized and unconstrained interventions.

The policy establishes the strengthening and expansion of Integrated Care Centers and other care services for children and adolescents who are victims or witnesses of sexual violence.

The National Policy for Preventing and Combating Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents will be implemented in a decentralized manner between the Union, States and municipalities. The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship will coordinate the policy.

The policy will be financed through allocations from the Union Budget directed to participants in the National Plan. Resources allocated by state, district or municipal public administration bodies and entities may also be used, in addition to donations.