Majority of Sexually Abused Children in Brazil are Under Six Years Old

By Xiu Ying, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Between 2011 and 2017, 184,524 cases of sexual violence were reported in Brazil, 58,037 (31.5 percent) against children and 83,068 (45.0 percent) against adolescents, accounting for 76.5 percent of cases reported in these two age groups.

The data refers to an Epidemiological Bulletin released by the Ministry of Health. This edition has analyzed sexual violence against children and adolescents in Brazil in the period from 2011 to 2017.

This dismaying data becomes all the more alarming when we look at the profile of the victims.

The assessment of sociodemographic characteristics of children victims of sexual violence showed that 43,034 (74.2 percent) were female and 14,996 (25.8 percent) were male.

Of the total, 51.2 percent were between one and five years of age, 45.5 percent were black, and 3.3 percent had some disability or disorder.

The data reveals the suffering of Brazilian children in the country. Among female children with reported sexual violence, it is noteworthy that 51.9 percent were between one and five years old, and 42.9 percent between six and nine years.

Besides, 46.0 percent were black, and notifications were collected in the following areas: Southeast (39.9 percent), South (20.7 percent), and North (16.7 percent).

Among the male children with a report of sexual violence, 48.9 percent were between one and five years and 48.3 percent between six and nine years old, 44.2 percent were black, and the reports were collected in the Southeast (41.8 percent), South (24.6 percent) and North (12.7 percent) regions.

Among female children, the examination of reports on sexual violence showed that 33.8 percent were repeated.

The main places in which they occurred were at home (71.2 percent), at school (3.7 percent), and 61.0 percent of these were reported as rapes.

Among male children, the observation of reports of sexual violence showed that 33.2 percent were repeated, and home (63.4 percent) and school (7.1 percent) were also the main places of occurrence.

In general numbers, 33.7 percent of sexual violence events against children had a recurring character, 69.2 percent occurred at home, 4.6 percent happened at school, while 62.0 percent were reported as rape.

When comparing the years 2011 and 2017, there was an overall increase of 83.0 percent in reports of sexual violence and an increase of 64.6 percent and 83.2 percent, respectively, for reports of sexual violence against children and adolescents.

Denouncing any form of violence against children and adolescents is crucial. Dial 100 is free and confidential. Call and report any act you deem odd, such as children constantly crying or displaying bruisings without plausible justification.

Many children are unable to tell what they are experiencing, whether due to factors such as age or fear, and it is essential that adults help them.