Girls in the Brazilian justice system: The necessary debate on sexual and reproductive rights

Abstract

In this article, we present the Brazilian debate on sexual and reproductive rights as political rights, which could bring significant advances in creating and broadening the rights of children and adolescents. By means of a revision of legal milestones and of the literature, more specifically that which relates to girls in the Brazilian justice system, we highlight tensions between sexual and reproductive rights and the respective institutional practices. We consider it crucial to have a protective perspective ensuring conditions for the integrity of their bodies, but that simultaneously guarantees the exercise of rights pertaining to body and sexuality. Coordinating sexual and reproductive rights and sexual and reproductive health may be a promising path, especially for those adolescents who find greater obstacles in exercising these.