On National Day to Combat Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, this Monday (18), entities launched a guide to strengthen the protection of minors at major events and popular parties in Brazilsuch as cultural and musical festivals and religious celebrations.
The letter, which was called “Quick Guide for Municipalities – Protection of Children and Adolescents during Major Events and Popular Festivals”, brings together guidelines from step by step to advance planning of the most diverse sectors of events until the strengthening local protection networks (in areas such as social assistance, health, education, public security, Guardianship Council, Justice System, civil society and the private sector).
The measure was launched by Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund) and Childhood Brasil — a pioneering non-profit organization in tackling these violations —, with the support of MDHC (Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship).
According to Unicef, the document, which has already started to be implemented in Parintins Festival, in Amazonas, and the June celebration of São João de Caruaru, in Pernambucoalso has checklistsrecommendations and practical examples aimed at municipal teams.
The material, presented during the III Brazilian Congress on Combating Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents, in Brasília, was prepared based on tests carried out in different contexts, such as the Proteja Brasil Convergence Agenda, focused on mega sporting events, and international meetings, such as COP 30.
According to the entity, these major events tend to intensifysuch as the growth in the flow of tourists, the circulation of cash, the consumption of alcohol and other drugs, the disorderly occupation of territories and the expansion of informal activities.
Child abuse
According to data from the Panorama of Lethal and Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents in Brazil report, prepared by Unicef in partnership with the Brazilian Public Security Forum, between 2021 and 2023, More than 165 thousand children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 were victims of violence in Brazil.
In a recent survey carried out by the MJSP (Ministry of Justice and Public Security), an average of 150 cases of rape of vulnerable people were recorded per day in the first quarter of 2026 in Brazil. In all, there were 13,462 occurrences until March.
Furthermore, the MJSP survey showed that the amount has more than tripled in the last ten years. In 2015, more than 19,400 cases of rape of vulnerable people were recorded. In 2025, the total jumped to more than 59.3 thousand. Look:
In 2025, São Paulo was the federation unit with with 12,239 occurrences. The lowest was Acre, with 482. Data for Rio de Janeiro were not released.
Data from the NGO Maio Laranja, an organization specializing in the subject, shows that, every hour, three children are victims of abuse in the country. Of this total, around 51% are between 1 and 5 years old.
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The NGO also states that, every year, around 500,000 children and adolescents are victims of sexual exploitation in Brazil. According to the organization, only 7.5% of cases are reported to the authorities.
