II SERIES OF LATIN AMERICAN DISCUSSIONS ON SOCIAL WORK WITH CHILDREN'S FAMILIES

On May 30 and 31, the 2nd Series of Latin American Discussions on social work with children's families was carried out. The event, organised by Terra dos Homens, received support from various organisations, including Family for Every Child, RELAF, the National Movement Pró-Convivência Familiar e Comunitária, PUC Minas, Famiglia Materna and Dayrell Hotel.

The discussions revolved around the prevention of separation of children from their families. Several global organisations sent representatives who spoke about local and regional experiences. Viviana González, from Argentina, took part in the meeting on behalf of RELAF. She is the Coordinator of Misiones' Alternative Childcare Programme, under the orbit of the Misiones Ombudsman's Office for Children and Adolescents, which is also under the authority of the province's Vice-government. She delivered a presentation on networks of actors and stakeholders who work to guarantee the right to family and community life in Latin America, particularly in Uruguay, Paraguay, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. 

The speakers' presentations revealed that the problems faced in each country were similar.

We would like to highlight the presentation delivered by Colombian representatives, which included requests to give visibility to the issue of children who live in areas involved in armed conflict and featured an awareness video with messages of children kidnapped by guerrilla groups.

Moreover, Mexican delegates lectured on the work that has been carried out with children in the first years of their lives and their families. They also made presentations focusing on the work necessary to raise awareness of the new role of extended families and of the responsibility of fathers, all in a context of neo-male chauvinism that can be seen in Latin American societies. Guatemala presented the work done there with aboriginal people and manifested their need to increase the participation of the State in the prevention of the separation of children from their families of origin.

The event included artistic performances by children's choirs and circus and capoeira groups, with the participation of children from vulnerable neighbourhoods of Belo Horizonte, where the protection offices are located.

In general, some of the conclusions derived from the event regarding lines of work to concentrate on are as follows:

1. To promote the networking of governmental and non-governmental entities
2. To generate interdisciplinary work teams with innovative premises in preventing the violation of rights
3. To work with a rights-based approach
4. To train professionals committed to the proper development of childhood (human potential)
5. To create spaces where children can participate and be heard (with a playful approach)
6. To coordinate and interconnect local and zonal projects with international organisations
7. To promote integrative and inclusive universal public policies