MP mobilizes bodies and civil society to combat sexual violence against children and adolescents

It is necessary to intensify the fight, sensitize society and make it absorb what the Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil determines, in its Article 227 § 4.°. May is orange and requires joining forces to combat abuse and sexual exploitation against children and adolescents, and the Public Ministry of Alagoas (MPAL) begins mobilizations across the interior with the aim of raising awareness among public bodies and society of their respective duties .

According to official reports, since 2011, graphs confirm that around 50% of rape cases in the country are against children, with the attackers very close to them, such as their father, stepfather, brother, uncle, grandfather and also neighbors. In addition to the alarming percentage for individual violence, research shows that collective rape also puts children at the forefront with 43.7%, more than double the amount of violence compared to teenagers, who total 20.1%.

In the municipalities of Água Branca, Matriz do Camaragibe, Pilar and Santana do Ipanema, prosecutors Rômulo Castro Leite, Andrea Teixeira, Sílvio Azevedo and Shanya Dantas initiated an Administrative Procedure to summon state and municipal secretariats to carry out strategic actions in the month of May with commitment to extend them throughout the year.

“As the Public Prosecutor’s Office, we need to take this initiative in an attempt to protect children and adolescents by ensuring that all the rights guaranteed by the Constitution are understood by those who need to create alternatives to combat any type of violence that could victimize them. Therefore, it is necessary to summon representatives of the Executive Branch, both municipal and state, in addition to organized civil society to the fight”, says the public prosecutor of Água Branca, Rômulo Leite.

“The numbers of violence against children and adolescents, more precisely when we look at the issue of sexual abuse and exploitation, are alarming. And we, prosecutors, are guardians of citizenship and this, evidently, encompasses integrity, the protection of this fragile and developing public that lacks a different perspective from everyone”, says the prosecutor of Matriz do Camaragibe, Andrea Teixeira.

“We have an obligation to defend children and adolescents, not only in the month of May, but permanently. However, as the month is to reinforce the fight, we annually remind managers and each citizen of the duties they have to inhibit this criminal practice that still scares the country and, in this context, the state of Alagoas, which still has a high rate in rape numbers that often culminate in the death of girls and boys”, emphasizes the Pilar prosecutor, Sílvio Azevedo.

“The struggle in this context is common and we need to make a commitment, as the Public Prosecutor’s Office, but also make sure that everyone gets involved, thus strengthening the fight against this stupidity that has victimized children of all ages, now, in fact, we have seen the increase in cases of boys aged zero to five. Sexual abuse requires that we protect ourselves, but above all that we find effective means of combating it”, highlights the public prosecutor of Santana do Ipanema, Shanya Dantas.

Annually, in addition to the state Public Security secretariats carrying out their individual surveys, official data on sexual abuse and exploitation against children and adolescents are presented by the Ministry of Health (MS), also by the National Public Security Forum and the Violence Yearbook. Reports of flagrant incidents must be made via Dial 190 (Military Police) or 181 for Public Security. The tool made available by the Federal Government is Dial 100.

After suspicion or confirmation that the child has been abused, it is necessary to prepare a Police Report (BO). Inside, those responsible must go to the police station if the parents are not involved. In the capital, the guideline is that the complaint be made at the Crimes Against Children and Adolescents Police Station (DCCCA).