The abuser destroys lives and child and adolescent sexual abuse constitutes a crime, reads the message of the “#TodosSomosResponsables” campaign, which precisely seeks to denaturalize sexual violence against children and adolescents.
So far this year, the “Fono Ayuda 147” service of the Ministry of Children and Adolescents (Minna) has already reported a total of 350 complaints of sexual abuse towards children and adolescents. On the other hand, the Public Ministry registered during the first quarter, 662 complaints of child sexual abuse, which are currently in the process of investigation and trial.
“Starting with the campaign, which began in 2019, this year we are seeking to point out the damage that the abuser causes to the life of that victim. Sexual abuse truncates dreams and life plans. Therefore, it has to be a wake-up call to the close environment of children and adolescents. We want to work to prevent this form of violence and denaturalize it, pointing out that there is no justification for sexual abuse,” explained Eduardo Escobar, Minna’s Vice Minister of Comprehensive Protection.
Along the same lines, Escobar recalled that in a context of economic vulnerability, the victim’s immediate environment often “consents” to the abuse, since the aggressor disguises the violence with an alleged romantic relationship and becomes “the provider” of the home.
“There is no valid consent or justification for sexual abuse. It’s a crime. Although this kind of violence against minors does not distinguish levels or conditions, the situation of poverty is predominant in most cases. For this reason, with the campaign we aim to make parents jealous of the care of their children, “she said.
UPTURN
This year there was an uptick in the number of reported cases of sexual abuse. While the 147 received 239 reports during 2021, so far this year the service has already registered 111 more cases and there are already 350 complaints of abuse during the first four months of 2022.
“With the pandemic, the cases abruptly decreased, because the quintessential detectors of acts of sexual abuse were the teachers. So, that channel of communication was lost. However, a strange phenomenon arose: the community became stronger and now the neighbors are the ones who denounce.
ABUSE IS IN
THE ENVIRONMENT
On the other hand, the deputy minister of Comprehensive Protection of the Minna pointed out the need to strengthen communication between parents and children in order to give children the necessary tools to “be able to say no, flee or reject the aggressor who wants to persuade them.”
“In 85% of cases, sexual abuse occurs in the family environment. For this reason, it is essential to establish and create bonds of trust with children and adolescents to generate prevention weapons”, she highlighted.
SERVICE
PHONE HELP
Although there are various ways to file a complaint of child sexual abuse such as the Public Ministry or the Ministry of Public Defense, Escobar stressed that the “Fono Ayuda 147” service of the Ministry of Children and Adolescents (Minna) is a free line, It works 24 hours a day and provides assistance from psychologists and social workers.
“The Fonoayuda service is operated by psychologists and social workers, who, in addition to being trained to receive this type of complaint, can provide assistance to the victim or a relative of the affected person who is online, giving them the strength so that they they can continue with the actions”, he concluded.
The #TodosSomosResponsables campaign is carried out within the framework of the National Day to Fight Mistreatment, Sexual and Labor Abuse towards Girls, Boys and Adolescents in Paraguay, which is remembered on May 31, in memory of Felicita Estigarribia, a tangerine seller from Yaguarón, only 11 years old, who was found dead with signs of having been sexually abused.
