The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity stated in Horta that prevention policies to protect and promote the rights of children and young people will be a priority in the Regional Government's intervention.
 
Andreia Cardoso spoke at the Legislative Assembly, adding that the Government, recognising that remedial measures are essential in the lives of children and families, also acknowledges that prevention and early intervention will be awarded priority status in the future."
 
In this regard, among the measures envisaged, the government official stressed the reinforcement of the Parental Education Programme and the consolidation of primary prevention of sexual abuse on children and young people.
 
The Regional Secretary stated that Parental Education, so far implemented on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial, will be extended this year to the island of Pico. Moreover, she stressed the improvements "in increasing positive parenting practices and reducing the number of behaviour problems among children and young people."
 
According to Andreia Cardoso, the Government will consolidate this year the actions for the prevention of sexual abuse. The intervention will comprise schools, especially in the middle school level, and the network of residential shelter homes for children and young people on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira. The intervention also includes the implementation of the Affective -Sexual Education and Abuse Prevention Programme, covering children aged 6 to 12.
 
The Secretary for Social Solidarity also stressed the implementation of two specialised shelter houses for teenagers with behavioural and mental health problems. This response is targeted to the male population; its implementation is scheduled for the beginning of the second half of 2017.
 
Andreia Cardoso assured that the Government of the Azores "is fully committed to improving planning coordination, monitoring and evaluation tools for child protection public policies. In this regard, she recalled that the recommendations of the Final Report drafted by the Working Group of the Committee on Social Affairs for the Analysis of Regional Child Protection Policies, approved unanimously, were adopted into all the guiding documents of the Regional Government's intervention for this legislative period.
 
"I would, therefore, reiterate that the Government of the Azores will never neglect its role and its responsibility in the creation and improvement of infrastructures and responses for all children and young people in the Region that need them in various contexts," said Andreia Cardoso.