From the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD:

(Proclaimed and adopted by the United Nations, on November 20th 1989. Effective in the portuguese law since October 21st 1990)

"States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation including sexual abuse [...]." (excerpt, Article 19 §1.)

Flowers of Brachychiton acerifolium, Esterculiaceae family, mid Jun - Botanical Garden of the National Museum of Natural History, Lisbon.

NOTE: Portuguese criminal court of law suspended the punishment of people charged of sexual abuses on children (in 2004 - 147 guilty as charged, 61 in prison, 86 free).

[originally posted on Jan 28th, 2008]

Category: UNIVERSAL TEXTS