Programa Na Mão Certa
Paths walked
The results from that study, called Profile of Truck Drivers in Brazil, were paramount in initiating the discussions pertaining to the On the Right Track Program. Among other interesting conclusions, it provided statistics for a scenario which was already believed to exist on Brazilian roadways: approximately 37% of the interviewees admitted to having had sex with children and adolescents, and 67% of them claimed to know fellow truckers who had acted likewise (see Survey); truck drivers don't see themselves as abusers; they regard it as a normal thing to do and regard poverty as the cause of this malady.
Truck drivers circulate through all rings of the production chain and are integrated in a system that does not value or even acknowledge them. In addition, they are under pressure by bad work conditions, being, therefore, susceptible to the offer of cheap sex. Based on this, Childhood Brasil (Instituto WCF) established as its first objective to transform these professionals into safeguards of the socially at-risk children and adolescents.
During 2005, Childhood Brasil organized Focal Groups to study the situation and define the program's principal guidelines to be applied by 2010. This endeavor involved the work of 42 experts of important organizations such as the Ethos Institute For Business and Social Responsibility, Associação Brasileira de Organizações Não Governamentais (Abong) [Brazilian Association of NGOs] the Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) [Getúlio Vargas Foundation], the Serviço Social do Transporte (SEST) (Transport Social Service) - Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem do Transporte (SENAT) [Transport National Learning Service], and the Rede Agência de Notícias dos Direitos da InfânciaI (Andi) [Childhood and Adolescence Rights News Agency Network], among others. The most significant conclusions were that there are many initiatives in place dealing with this issue; the phenomenon is permeated with complex social dynamics which involve several different audiences; and it is necessary to align and advocate both the actions and the actors.
Based on this analysis, three important objectives were pointed out:
- to form a critical mass of truck drivers that are aware of their role as protection agents;
- to develop good practices systems within the private sector to sensitize all rings within the transportation chain; and
- to transform the cause of fighting against child and adolescent sexual exploitation on Brazilian roadways into a topic of corporate social responsibility.
The action plan for 2006 to 2010 stemmed from meetings with these groups is based on the following macro-guidelines:
- Advocacy: Childhood Brasil as a mobilizing agent providing information to governments, companies and non-governmental organizations.
- Education: to w ork with the entire transportation chain in order to reach truck drivers with a positive approach.
- Protection: to develop prevention campaigns and to support projects that cares for children and adolescents.
