rried out in a climate of democratic freedom and high civic expectations and the outcome serves to reinforce the strength of democracy in Brazil. As in other democratic societies, there is an almost permanent political debate in Brazil about how best to deal with the country's social and economic challenges. Areas of special concern are income distribution, fiscal and social securtiy reform, and economic modernization. Finding solutions to these festering problems is not easy. It will require the elimination of the remnants of old political structures inherited from less democratic periods in Brazilian history. President Itamar Franco, who was completed his two-year term with an 86% approval rating from his fellow citizens, and President Fernando Henrique Cardoso have both pledged and worked hard to ensure the modernization of Brazil's political system. According to the Institute for Applied Economic Research ant the Ministry of Planning, one quarter of the 60 million Brazilians aged 18 and younger-15 million children and adolescents-live below the poverty line in family units with a per capita monthly income of US $18.00 or less. One third of these youths do not attend school, even in the age group (7-14) for which school is mandatory. Roughly two million children aged 10-14 work, which is forbidden by law. An estimated 200,000 to 700,000 youth either live on the streets or spend their days there. More that threee million children live in households headed by women. In recent years, this sad picture has prompted a significant mobilization of both government and non-government enities to improve the situation of poor children and adolescents. Not only does human compassion demand attention for destitute youths, but a provision of the 1988 Constitution recognizes that children and adolescents must be the primary target of social programs and public assistance due to their special vulnerability. These constitutional provisions have been f...
