This paper describes the state of children's rights as presented in the "Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente". Based on the main set of national statistics, in studies based on these figures as well as in other official data, it analyses the social policies focused on children and adolescents, particularly adolescents in conflict with the law. The paper describes what has changed - and what has not changed - in respect to actions towards these groups as well as in the political culture: this culture establishes rights but allows the continuation of pre-modern values.
Social and subjective rights; Children and adolescents; Social agents
