May 18th is Brasilian National Day to Combat Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Teenagers, with the aim of raising awareness of people about a reality that violates the innocence of childhood.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, between 3 and 4 children suffer sexual abuse per hour in Brazil.
Unfortunately, a significant part of the abusers are relatives and close people. Each day, Disque 100 (Brazilian number to call to make a complaint) receives at least 50 calls with child abuse reports, 70% of which occur within the home where the child lives.
“The place where the child should be protected and loved, he has been raped and his innocence has been stolen. That is why it is important to work with prevention and we need to bring information to the children, so that they learn to react and that they can count if something happens ”, says Renata Siscar, from the Reaja project.
How to create a space of love and welcome to break the cycle of violence? First of all, questioning the child about the abuse directly is not an option, as it is difficult for him to assimilate the situation and this can inhibit him from demonstrating or reporting the abuse.
Not all violence prints visible signs on the child’s body. Especially because, in addition to physical abuse, sexual abuse does not always involve malicious touching, forced intercourse, attempted sexual intercourse and sexual exploitation, but exposure to pornography also. There is also moral abuse (such as neglect and abandonment) and psychological abuse (such as threat and manipulation).
Some signs that can help to identify an abuse are: the child’s low self-esteem, learning difficulties, aggressiveness, relationship difficulties, regressed or eroticized behaviors, feelings of fear and guilt.
When identifying abuse, it is possible to report it by calling Disque 100 or by contacting the services of the Guardianship Council, specialized police stations, health units, police stations, or other public services specialized in child care.
We will protect the children. To learn more, also listen to the Ciranda Podcast episode (in portuguese), with Andréa Espírito Santo from Espaço de Proteção:
