RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, December 1 (UNHCR) – Refugees from a deprived area of the coastal Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro are using drama and comedy to open a debate on difficult social subjects such as HIV/AIDS and sexual and gender-based violence.

On a recent evening, UNHCR joined an audience of about 100 refugees of different nationalities at a presentation of "O Auto da Maré Alta" in the grounds of Caritas of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro. UNHCR and local non-governmental organization Ação Comunitaria provided funding for the show.

Executive summary

This report covers the period 01 January 2011 to 30 June 2011.

In brief

Programme outcome: the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies‘ secretariat (IFRC) is committed to supporting the National Societies to do more, do better and reach further in order to address the humanitarian challenges faced by the Red Cross Societies in the Americas. The support provided by the IFRC‘s Americas zone office focuses on mainstreaming compliance with the Inter-American Plan and working towards full alignment with the IFRC‘s Strategy 2020.

Executive summary

Armed conflict and violence take a heavy toll on children’s lives in different parts of the world. Not only do children suffer from the direct consequences of war and armed violence (recruitment in armed forces or groups, physical injuries, death), they are also indirectly affected by displacement, loss of relatives and the trauma associated with witnessing acts of violence.

7 novembre 2011 – Le Programme alimentaire mondial des Nations Unies (PAM) et le gouvernement du Brésil ont lancé dimanche une nouvelle initiative pour aider des pays à établir leur propre programme national de distribution de repas dans les écoles afin d´améliorer la nutrition et l´éducation des enfants.

Salvador de Bahía, (Brasil) – El Programa Mundial de Alimentos de las Naciones Unidas (PMA) y el Gobierno de Brasil inauguraron hoy el Centro de Excelencia contra el Hambre que busca ayudar a los países a mejorar, ampliar y eventualmente ejecutar sus propios programas nacionales de alimentación escolar y así promover la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional, junto con la educación de los escolares.