Children and teenagers sleep in the empty space of Masp; MP opened an investigation

Dozens of children and teenagers, appearing between the ages of 5 and 17, live in the open space of the Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP) without the care of guardians or adults to supervise them. Last Wednesday, the São Paulo Public Ministry launched an investigation, at Masp’s request, to investigate the situation of minors and request protective measures for the group.

According to social workers from the São Paulo City Hall who followed the case and spoke with the mayor Estadao Many of these minors, on condition of anonymity, have a permanent home and family members, but “prefer street freedom”. Some could also come from high social-deficit homes or abusive contexts. The situation worsened during the pandemic.

Camping in tents in the open area of ​​Masp and lying on the cardboard-covered floor, they take turns going down Avenida Paulista to demand food, money, and boxes of candy or chocolate to sell. Reports are that some live on the east coast and others come from cities like Franco da Rocha and Praia Grande.

“They say they don’t want to leave because ‘Paulista is paying’ and they won’t go back to the area they came from,” said one child counselor.

for Estadao, one of the minors living there said that his father lived in the east and his mother lived with his grandmother in Minas Gerais. He left the east side each day to sell candy on Avenida Paulista and returned home at night. That’s when he met other kids who were selling candy there and decided not to return home to live in the empty space of Masp. “My mom lives far away and my dad fights me a lot,” she said.

Traders, workers, residents and street vendors in the area said some minors had committed petty thefts and robberies by taking wallets, strings, purses, bags and even bicycles on the street.

They also underlined that not everyone participated in these actions. “You also have to think about the social and human aspects of all this, not just the violations,” says Raphaela Galetti, lawyer, head of the Movpaulista association. This brings together residents, merchants and service providers in the area.

According to São Paulo City Hall data released in January this year, the homeless population in the capital increased by 31% between 2019 and 2021. The municipal government estimates that in total more than 31,800 people live on the streets and viaducts. city.

deportation

Yesterday afternoon, Estadao The tense moments of an adult vs. group were witnessed, as well as a street situation. About ten children and adolescents drove the man away with sticks and stones, amid attacks and threats.

They would also camp in the emptiness of Masp, as they felt safer thanks to the square’s security cameras and the Military Police Station on the other side of the street, according to the group. Even so, they say they are constantly attacked at night and organize themselves to have someone watching the area at all times during the night.

Not all of those present built permanent residences there. Some spend a day or two and then return home. Others have been in this state for over a year.

The Masp administration told the Public Ministry that the group was seen “propagandizing for fights, attacks and intimidation” and using “legal and illegal drugs”. The museum also warns that “the group’s actions are becoming increasingly violent” and that “the lack of group guidance jeopardizes the fundamental rights of its members to safety, dignity, education, family and community life.” Rights”.

DIMENSIONS

In the legal investigation opened by the Capital Child and Youth Prosecutor’s Office, the Deputy touched upon the rights of housing, security, education, health and family, which are guaranteed by the Federal Constitution and the Status of Children and Adolescents (ECA). life. “This is not an isolated issue,” explains Prosecutor Fernanda Riviera Czimmermann.

“Children cannot be trapped in these centres,” says Fernanda.

The São Paulo Public Ministry has given institutions such as the Municipal Relief and Social Development Secretariat, the Bela Vista Guardian Council, the São Paulo State Military Police and the Metropolitan Civil Guard 15 days to report what protection and maintenance measures have been taken. in place. taken with the group. Masal did not comment.

The City Hall reports that the socio-educational consultants of the Special Social Approach Service (Seas) apply daily approaches to children and adolescents in situations of social vulnerability in all parts of the city of São Paulo. In the central region, the environment was carried out in the first quarter of the year, which includes the approaches Bela Vista and Consolação – Avenida Paulista – 491. 61 children and adolescents were referred to social assistance services. The region also has a total of 30 service areas and one unit of Family Acolhedora with a capacity of 30 children and adolescents, and two units of Institutional Housing Service for Children and Adolescents (Saica).

The information is taken from the newspaper. State of Sao Paulo.