The movement also monitors 1,000 primary schools in their settlements, in which 2,000 teachers work with about 50,000 kids. But MST activists have been targeted by the government and land-owners. In the last ten years, more than 1,000 people have been killed as a result of land conflicts in Brazil. Prior to August 1999, only 53 of the suspected murders have been brought to trial. All the cities in Brazil have shantytown areas, homeless families and growing numbers of street children.
Many people lack adequate employment, health services and education.
Over 1,000 children per day die from malnutrition related diseases. Thousands of children survive on the streets, with approximately one child a day being murdered by death squads. The Campaign Against Hunger was formed in 1993, while the National Street Children's Movement fights for children's rights and an end to police violence. CUT, the national trade union movement, was the strongest in Latin America in the 1980s, with over 150 million members, but millions of workers in informal employment continue to have no support. Working conditions are dreadful and accidents are commonplace.