Since the beginning of the 21st century, the month of April has been considered: the International Month for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment.

This campaign aims not only to mark, but mainly to raise awareness and alert for the prevention of ill-treatment to which many children and young people are still subjected.

The "Blue Ribbon Campaign" was born in 1989 in Virginia, USA. This movement tells the story of Bonnie W. Finney who took the initiative to put a blue ribbon on the antenna of her car in order to show her grief at the tragic events that had befallen her grandchildren.

 

The children had been abused by their mother (Bonnie's daughter) and her boyfriend, and the blue represented the bruises on the delicate little bodies. One of the children is said to have died from the beatings.

 

The Casa de Acolhimento CAIC "A Gaivota" embraces the cause every day and joins the Laço Azul campaign along with other institutions in the Municipality of Tavira.