Ana Paula Portella (PhD in Sociology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil) is a consultant for the development and monitoring of projects and public policies. She has coordinated and integrated various research teams using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, including national and international multi-centric investigations on different topics in the areas of reproductive health and sexual rights, gender, violence against women and public security. She develops and applies educational methodologies to work with gender and has coordinated training processes for different audiences, including training public servants in the areas of health, security, justice, and women’s policies. She is currently a researcher at the Center for Studies on Public Security Policies at the Federal University of Pernambuco. She is the fieldwork manager for the DZC Project.
Heloína Paiva (Master’s in Animal Biology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil) is a social research coordinator, with extensive experience in various national and international projects primarily focused on issues related to sexual and reproductive rights, public health, and social policies for women, children, adolescents, and other vulnerable populations. Her work integrates practices and methodologies aimed at social inclusion and the strengthening of public policies. Furthermore, she has made contributions to publications focused on the prevention of sexual exploitation and the promotion of human rights. She is a fieldwork coordinator assistant for the DZC Project, where she contributes to the development of research protocols and instruments, provides assistance to the coordination of the team, manages logistical operations, and supports the planning of data collection in the field.
Estefani Santos (Bachelor’s in Social Work, Brazilian University Center, Brazil) is a member of the Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous Studies Center at the Catholic University of Pernambuco and of the Conceição Evaristo Study Group, both in Brazil, where she conducts research focused on issues of gender, race, and class. She has experience as a supervisor, researcher, and interviewer in field research aimed at combating and preventing sexual exploitation, promoting human rights, and also contributing to sustainable development in urban settlements. She is a fieldwork supervisor for the DZC Project.
Rafaela Melo is an undergraduate student in Psychology at the Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP), with an expected graduation date in the first semester of 2025. She has experience in field research and works on projects focused on the socioemotional development of adolescents and the prevention of gender-based violence. She participated in the “Crescer Sem Violência” Project (Growing up without violence), serving as a field research supervisor. At the Education Secretariat of Recife, she worked as a tutor in a socioemotional project for students of the municipal school system. At the Women’s Secretariat of Recife, she contributed to the “Empodera Mulher” Project (Empower Women), aimed at preventing gender-based violence among adolescents. As an extension student in the SIC Project at UNICAP, she participated in welcoming incoming Psychology students. She is a fieldwork supervisor for the DZC Project.