Zulia State authorities attend just 6% of its street children

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Zulia Children's Rights Council (Cedna)  president Edinson Castro says there are 8,000 street children and teenagers, of which 1,000 are located in Venezuela's second biggest city, Maracaibo.  ... "only 482 receive any attention." 

Maracaibo Mayor's Office general director, Francisco Delgado admits that he cannot confirm the above figures because no census has been made to classify street children but maintains that the municipality is organizing a technical team to tackle the problem combining state prosecutors, child protection councils, Cedna, judges, Maracaibo Police (Polimaracaibo), Casa Mia Foundation and the Divino Nino Center. 

• Child Protection Tribunal president, Hector Penaranda reports that Zulia has 4 independent judges that function when the protection councils cannot resolve a problem. 

Tribunal secretary, Angelica Barrios lists housing accommodations for street children: Child Welfare Office (INAM) Casa Hogar Maracaibo and Nido Alegre, Hogamin, Casa "Simon Rodriguez",  Anti-Drugs Jose Felix Ribas Foundation, La Casa Mia, Republica de los Muchachos and Por Amor a los Ninos that have developed special programs for children at risk. 

Zulia University (Luz) criminology studies director Alexis Rodriguez says the Child Protection Law (Lopna) is an efficient instrument to confront the situation of street children, since it also develops a preventive approach.