“This year we have seen situations of abuse not only in the family environment, whose figures did not fall below 80%, but have also been made visible in schools. Hence, the methodological tools that we have to work in each space are very important”, said Teresa Martínez, Minister of Children and Adolescents during the presentation of the cartoon.
Look at me
a proposal to raise awareness and reflect on sexual abuse, its prevention and approach that will reach communities, educational institutions and health services.
“As citizens, as Paraguayans, we have to show that we are not cannibals and that we do not consume children. So it is a task for all of us to get going to be able to defend this and promote that no child or adolescent is a victim of these acts. That is the essential mission that we have, that is why the visibility, and that is why we have to talk in schools, homes and communities. What results most is community involvement to become watchdogs of the physical and mental integrity of children and adolescents,” said Martínez.
Look at me
is part of the actions of the Ñañangareko campaign undertaken jointly by the Ministries of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPyBS), Children and Adolescents (MINNA), Education and Sciences (MEC), and Labor, Employment and Security Social (MTESS), with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the cooperation of the Government of India.
through drawings,
Look at me
describes a story that reflects hundreds of other stories and lives affected by sexual abuse, and the role of adults in prevention, reporting and restitution of rights.
The cartoon invites you to report any case of child and adolescent abuse or violence. It is accompanied by a methodological guide aimed at adult facilitators who will coordinate participatory processes of analysis, reflection, awareness and learning with children and adolescents from 12 to 17 years of age, their families and communities.
SOME PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES
Rocío Galiano Marés, representative of the UNFPA, highlighted the importance of the intersectoral effort that is carried out in pursuit of the prevention of sexual abuse and care for victims. One of the consequences of sexual abuse is early pregnancy. In this regard, the results of Ñañangareko, which implemented a pilot plan in the district of Caaguazú, are encouraging. This area saw a reduction of between 19% and 21% of registered live births in girls between the ages of 10 and 14. At the national level, meanwhile, registered live births in girls and adolescents between 15 and 19 years old decreased by approximately 27%. “These are some data that illustrate that we are on the right track and that the actions require sustainability to continue having an impact at the national level. The task is hard, but we have seen that working in an intersectoral manner, involving families and communities, it is possible to have these results”, she pointed out.
On behalf of the MEC, Zulma Morales, general director of Educational Development, offered a few words, who referred to the role of education in the prevention of sexual abuse. “The violation of the rights of children and adolescents not only impacts at the time the events occur, but also in their future lives,” she mentioned. Therefore, “the commitment of the MEC is to ensure and demand that the rights of our children and adolescents are fulfilled, and that they also recognize what their responsibilities are.”
The Minister of Health, Julio Borba, for his part, recalled that sexual abuse is a matter of public health. Annually “448 years of potential life and 376 years of potential productive life are lost in Paraguay due to deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents. Pregnancy, pregnancy and childbirth in adolescence involve medical risks greater than those that an adult woman is exposed to,” he said.
According to Borba, each year USD 6.7 million dollars are allocated to attend adolescent pregnancies and births. “This investment could be used in other health programs to the extent that we eliminate the conditions that underlie and allow the naturalization of sexual abuse and its consequences.”
Carla Bacigalupo, minister of the MTESS, highlighted that her ministry joins the initiative of
Look at me
, bringing this material closer to all the training programs it promotes, and which have more than a million students. “We want to reach out to them with this proposal and this guide that intend us to look at the Paraguayan reality, embrace this initiative and with the 147 complaint line and this inter-institutional approach we can overcome social problems,” he mentioned.
Yoge Shwar Sangwan, Ambassador of India to Paraguay, also offered a few words. He highlighted the efforts made by his country to improve the quality of life of people around the world, especially women and girls, “who must be able to handle the responsibilities of their cities and lead the country.”
The closure was in charge of Vice President Hugo Velázquez, who, in his capacity as host, thanked the international support and the joint effort that has been made in the prevention and care of children and adolescents. “As a State we have established the National Plan for Children and Adolescents and other programs, but we must carry them out together: family, society and State, we must all be involved,” he stressed.
EXPERIENCE WITH GIRLS, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
During the launch of
Look at me
25 girls, boys and adolescents from 12 to 17 years old and 25 fathers, mothers and guardians who are members of the Federation of Parents’ Associations of Public Schools of Paraguay (Fedapy) received the cartoon printed in color format and also in black and white to color.
Together with the technical staff of the four ministries, they developed some of the activities proposed in the methodological guide that accompanies
Look at me
. This guide
It has differentiated resources for groups of girls, boys and adolescents and for fathers, mothers and caregivers. At the same time, it has guidelines to be applied both in face-to-face and virtual meetings.
The first edition of
Look at me
includes 30,000 copies that will be distributed free of charge in communities, educational institutions and health services in the country.
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In addition to prevention, efforts are focused on denaturalizing situations of sexual abuse, raising awareness of the need to address this issue as something real, close and very serious, which cannot continue to occur or go unpunished. Hence the importance of reporting any suspicion of sexual abuse on the 911 and 147 Help Phone lines.
All these initiatives are part of the Project for the prevention of sexual abuse and pregnancy in girls and adolescents, which is developed in the Caaguazú district, with the support of UNFPA and the Government of India.
