One year before the CRC – in 1988 – the Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil enshrined the right to participation. Verbatim: “Art. 204. . Government action in the area of social welfare shall be (...) and organized on the basis of the following guidelines: I-… II – the participation of the population, through representative organizations, in policy design and in the supervision of action at all levels”. With regard to the rights of children in particular, Art. 227, in its paragraph 7, determines that “In relation to the rights of children and youth, the provisions of Art. 204 shall be adhered to”. The Children’s Statute contains four references to the right to participation, but limited to cases of adoption2. Federal Act Nº 13,257 of 2016, better known as the Marco Legal da Primeira Infância [Legal Framework for Early Childhood]3, stipulates, among other principles for the design and implementation of policies aimed at early childhood: “Article 4. Public policies addressing child rights in early childhood shall be developed and implemented in such a way that they (a) adopt participatory approaches, involving society, through organizations representing professional practitioners, parents and chilBrazil. Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente [Children’s Statute] – Federal Act Nº 8069, of 13 July 1990. Art. 28, § 1st; art. 45, § 2nd; art. 48, single paragraph; art. 51 § 1st, III and art. 100, VII. Available from: http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/L8069.htm 3 Brazil. Federal Act Nº 13,257, of 8 May 2016 Art. 4, with its items II and VI. Available from: http:// www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2015-2018/2016/lei/l13257.htm 2
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