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Description
The AGENTES DE TRANSFORMAÇÃO 3C’S project stems from a social diagnosis emerging from a social and community intervention project that identified the safeguarding of the rights of children and youngsters with imprisoned parents as a problem. This project seeks to raise awareness and empower young people in the area of human rights, particularly the rights of young children with imprisoned parents, promoting intervention with their peers. This awareness is intended to be extended (i) to legal and educational professionals, providing them with skills that allow them to act more effectively, respecting and safeguarding the rights of children and youth; and also (ii) to parents in prison, in order to raise awareness of the rights of their children to positive parenting. Workshops, awareness campaigns and training for professionals will be carried out.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to increase awareness and support for human rights, with a particular focus on the rights of children and youth whose parents are incarcerated. By empowering diverse stakeholders to act as agents of change, the initiative used a collaborative networking model to highlight, support, defend and strengthen the protection of human rights.
Through actions divided into four main components:
- Awareness-raising and training of young people: 90 young people were involved and a manual of good practices and an illustrated book were produced.
- Training of professionals: 111 professionals from the justice, security, education and social sectors were trained. A training plan was jointly developed and implemented, and the toolbox, a theoretical document, was co-constructed.
- Mediation and parental empowerment: An action research methodology was used to work with 30 parents of prisoners in Coimbra Prison.
- Management component: 3C''s was recognized as a national good practice by the General Inspectorate of Justice Services. This recognition led to CASPAE becoming a member of Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) and being invited to join the Up Families platform.
In quantitative terms, the following was achieved:
- 90 youths mobilized by NGOs to engage in human rights work;
- 111 professional staff trained;
- 96% share of target group showing concern for human rights.
In terms of capacity building, the promoter had already developed an action plan based on a needs assessment conducted during a previous ACF project. Accordingly, a strategic plan was developed and training provided on management tools/techniques and human resources initiatives, including mentoring and team building, for 31 professionals.
Summary of bilateral results
Through the Norwegian partner organization For Fangers Pårørende, the project benefited greatly from learning about Norwegian best practices in human rights and child protection. The advanced Norwegian practices in social inclusion and human rights are seen as models to be replicated in Portugal. It is therefore expected that this fruitful partnership will continue in other projects.