The Ministry of Children and Adolescents (MINNA) led a rescue operation that removed 42 indigenous children and adolescents from the streets of Ciudad del Este, in the Alto Paraná region. The action took place in response to the extreme vulnerability in which the minors found themselves, exposed to cold and nighttime risks.
Teams from the Immediate Response Device (DRI), known as “Chalecos Rojos,” and the Comprehensive Care Program for Indigenous Children (PAINI) of MINNA participated in the operation, together with the Paraguayan Institute of Indigenous Affairs (INDI), the Government of Alto Paraná, the local Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (CODENI), prosecutors from the Childhood Court, and agents from the 3rd Police Precinct.
During the verification, authorities identified diverse and complex family situations. Three adolescents were wandering without any adult companion or guardian. Additionally, the case of a recurrent indigenous woman in a street situation, accompanied by her seven children, was recorded. Given the severity, the Ombudsman for Children and Adolescents of Ciudad del Este ordered the immediate transfer of the entire family to the MINNA Open Shelter Center, where they will receive temporary shelter.
The other minors underwent medical examinations before being sent back to their communities of origin, located in the departments of Guairá, Caazapá, and Alto Paraná. MINNA confirmed that the return process has already begun.