Child Abuse Prevention Month

“Blue works for me as a constant reminder to fight for the protection of children.”

Bonnie W. Finney

The story Bonnie Finney shared with members of her community was tragic: her grandson had died brutally after being beaten by his mother and her boyfriend.

And why blue? Because, although blue is a beautiful colour, Bonnie Finney did not want to forget the bodies covered in bruises. Blue, symbolising the colour of the injuries, would therefore serve as a constant image in her fight to protect children from abuse.

This campaign, which began as a grandmother’s tribute to her grandchildren, expanded and today many countries use blue ribbons during the month of April, in memory of those who died or are victims of child abuse, and also as a way to support families and strengthen communities in the efforts needed to prevent child abuse and neglect.

In Portugal, the campaign, symbolised by the Blue Ribbon, is widely promoted throughout the country by both the National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Young People and the CPCJ, which carry out numerous prevention actions against child abuse.

“I will be what you give me… let it be love” is the slogan of the National Commission.

Watch here the television spots of the campaigns of 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Watch the videos of the blue ribbons that were formed across the country to close the campaign at the end of April, as a result of the work of the CPCJ: Blue Ribbons 2019, Blue Ribbons 2020.

As part of the 2021 campaign, the National Commission presented the song “Take Good Care of Me”, with lyrics, music and performance by Madalena Alberto, musical arrangement by Pedro Alvadia and video by Açucena Olivença Cotrim.

You can watch the opening event of the 2021 campaign here, which took place online and focused on the theme “Take Good Care of Me – The Challenges of Early Childhood”.

Watch here the CNPDPCJ tribute video to the CPCJ, at the closing of the 2021 Child Abuse Prevention Month.

You can watch here the video of the closing event of the 2022 campaign, 5 km Run for Children, which took place at the National Stadium in Jamor on 30 April. More than 400 people ran or walked for the prevention of child abuse, in an initiative of the CNPDPCJ, in partnership with the Portuguese Athletics Federation and with the support of the Municipality of Oeiras, the Jamor National Sports Centre, the National Walking and Running Programme, the Public Security Police and the Portuguese Red Cross.

The closing of the 2023 Child Abuse Prevention Month Campaign featured a giant human blue ribbon at Terreiro do Paço, in Lisbon. This initiative, promoted by the CNPDPCJ in partnership with DGESTE and the Lisbon City Council, involved the participation of around 1,500 children from various Lisbon school clusters.

Watch the video of the event here.

The opening of the 2024 Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign took place at the Pavilion of Knowledge in Lisbon, featuring children’s and youth groups of Alentejo “cante” singing from Barrancos, Beja, Mértola, Moura, Ourique, Serpa and Vidigueira, accompanied by the Baleizão choir. The 130 children sang the CNPDPCJ anthem for the Prevention Month, “Take Good Care of Me”, in a “cante” version. Watch the performance here.