Brasília, April 4, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Violence and sex, two themes normally exploited on Brazilian television, are under the scrutiny of government officials. From now on, 70 psychologists all over Brazil will analyze the programming of television networks and present technical opinions on the content of the programs that are aired. In São Paulo alone, 45 psychologists will have their eyes on television programming.

For the Chamber of Deputies' Human Rights Commission and the Federal Psychology Council (CFP), partners in the fight against baseness on TV, programming excesses are especially harmful to children and adolescents.

According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for the year 2000, Brazil has 61 million children and adolescents 18 years old or less. These young people are the ones who concern the specialists in the campaign. "Children and adolescents are being increasingly exposed to programs that violate the Statute of Children and Adolescents," affirms Ricardo Moretzsohn, the CFP's secretary of Communication.

For Cleide Souza, technical coordinator of the CFP, among the problems that children may experience as a result of being exposed to the excessive violence shown on TV, "aggressiveness is the most devasting consequence."

In addition to the psychological effects, children and adolescents may also acquire other health problems. "Over the short term, they can suffer from hyperactivity, anxiety, sleep disorder, and obesity, to name a few," emphasizes Adriana Lobo, a pediatrician.

Translator: David Silberstein