April 19, 2023, 7:10 AM
April 19, 2023, 7:10 AM
The Public Ministry recognizes 38 infanticides during the 2022 administration. In that same year, an average diary of 110 cases of psychological, physical or sexual violence against minors. Girls, boys and adolescents have become a sector of the population that suffers a constant violation of their rights. The restitution of the same, becomes an uphill path.
Consuelo Torrez, an expert lawyer in childhood and adolescence issues, assures that the protection system of boys and girls has established, although with many shortcomingsa critical path of attention to this vulnerable sector of society.
Torrez, who works as Professor of Law at the Franz Tamayo University, Unifranz, marks the first step on this critical path. For her, the beginning goes through notify the protection body of the violation of the rights of that minor.
The complaint can be verbal or written. Although due to usage and customs and legal idiosyncrasies, they always receive the complaints violation in writing, We can do it verbally. It is simply to activate the protection system that must be very summary and fast due to the principle of speed (…) ”, affirms the lawyer.
Unfortunately, the parties present appeals, the judges have no experience. There it begins to expand and this critical path presents several gaps that leaveagain, in a situation of vulnerability to the victims of violence.
Law 548 responds to the current needs of society
The Girls, Boys and Adolescents Code (Law No. 548) establishes procedural deadlines for the protection and defense of children’s rights. However, they are not met. Irregularities in the processes delay them and prevent the exercise of prompt justice.
The parties present incidents, do not go to the hearings, the protection instances do not arrive, the hearings are suspended or the agendas of the interdisciplinary teams are congested, among other factors.
“Due to the passage of time, many times children, who have a great capacity for resilience, even forget the emotional damage they have suffered. Other times the judges take vacations or permits and processes are stretching (…)”, he complements.
The most recurrent type of offenses against girls, boys and adolescents is psychological violence. Then comes physical violence and not far behind sexual violence. The use of children in adult conflicts, for example, in cases of divorce and guardianship, is also considered a form of violence.
Many of the cases of violence are not reported or registered by the system
Weak culture of respect for children
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), in Bolivia, the culture of respect for the rights of children is weak. As a result of this ignorance, the causes of violence are often ignored or justified.
“Daily life reflects the perception of children as objects and not as holders of human rights. The poverty and high levels of alcoholism they make children live in environments where they are vulnerable and unprotected”, indicated the international organization.
In the country, only a fraction of the cases of violence, abuse, abandonment or exploitation of children and adolescents are reported. The official data does not reflect the seriousness of a life full of violence for them. It is urgent to invest in their protection in order to prevent long-term psychological damage and, at the same time, guarantee that children and adolescents are safe and develop their full potential.
Addressing the consequences of a child who does not have access to strong systems of protection, due to family breakdown, exclusion, homelessness, poor physical or mental health, and substance abuse is very costly and, such time, with irreversible consequences for thousands of children who find themselves in this situation.
