This article presents a study about the rights of children and adolescents. It focuses on their application in healthcare, education, social assistance and children and adolescents policies in Brazilian capitals. The objective was to analyze public policies from 2004 - 2007 considering the federal Statute for Children and Adolescents. The document research collected data from the municipal Pluriannual Plans, considering the characteristics and objectives of the actions and the facilities offered to children, adolescents and their families. The information was systematized and analyzed, mobilizing the conceptual and historic base of the issue. The results reveal the heterogeneity of the actions among the state capitals, indicate those municipalities which come closest to meeting the legal forecast and show that education is the public policy with the greatest number of actions. The paper concludes that despite the legal foundation, a priority in public policies for children, adolescents and their families are not expressed in the documents studied.
children; adolescents; social struggles
