The pandemic scenario and the imposition of social isolation as a measure to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in Brazil may have masked violations of the rights of children and adolescents throughout 2020. As we move into 2021, cases of violations against this public reported by the Ministry Women, Family and Human Rights (MMFDH) grew by 217,97%. In Rio Grande do Norte, the negative increase was even greater: 257.91%. This percentage is higher than that recorded in acts of domestic and family violence against women. The data was tabulated by the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) and draws society's attention to the issue due to May 18th - National Day to Combat Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents.

“Given that the majority of violations are committed within the family environment, considering the aspect of the pandemic and the fact that families remained in isolation for a longer period of time throughout 2020, it is understood that people who suffer violence, especially sexual violence, they had more difficulty reporting to official bodies as well as communicating with relatives, teachers, people close to them who could provide some support”, analyzes ISD social worker preceptor, Alexandra Lima. When evaluating the numbers, she points out that the flexibility to return to pre-pandemic routines allowed victims and relatives to feel safer in reporting, as they found alternatives for reporting cases without the presence of the alleged aggressors. 

The exposed numbers were gathered through calls made to the Human Rights Hotline – Dial 100, whose database is the responsibility of the National Human Rights Ombudsman of the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights (ONDH/MMFDH). According to the ministerial body, Rio Grande do Norte recorded, in the first year of the pandemic, 935 complaints that amounted to 2,345 violations of the rights of children or adolescents. A report may generate more than one violation. In 2021, these numbers jumped to: 2,096 reports and 8,393 violations. Of the total number of complaints in the year in question, 35,54% are related to sexual violence (physical or psychological) committed against children and adolescents in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. 

Alexandra Lima highlights that sexual violence, in particular, occurs at all stages of life, however, it is more common in the age group of 0 to 10 years. “At this stage of life, the child does not understand or realize that they are suffering a violation of their rights. It is more complex to identify and express what has been suffering, mainly because the alleged aggressors are trusted people who have, over the child, a kind of power, enabling them to keep secrets and not communicate to family members about what has been happening” , highlights the social worker. 

She advises that children must be educated to recognize the signs of violence, what types of attitudes constitute violations of their own body and that secrets between them and their guardians should not exist. “A relationship of trust must be established between children and their caregivers so that they feel safe and protected when reporting situations that cause fear and pain”, emphasizes Alexandra Lima. 

The numbers relating to violations suffered by children and adolescents in Rio Grande do Norte are even higher than those recorded in relation to domestic and family violence against women and elderly people in the state. The MMFDH recorded, throughout 2021 in the municipalities of Rio Grande do Norte, 1,234 complaints and 5,713 violations committed against women. With regard to violations of the rights of the elderly, there were 1,635 complaints and 6,948 violations. Most cases of violence occur in the victim's own home and for a period of time of more than a year until the complaint is registered, according to the ministerial body. Communication of the violent act to the authorities, in most cases, occurs through third parties or anonymous people.

“There has been a huge increase in complaints, mainly through the internet. We migrated a lot to the virtual environment, due to the pandemic, and this allowed for a greater number of reported cases. The internet has enabled greater visibility of the phenomenon of rights violations”, says Manoel Onofre de Souza Neto, prosecutor for the Defense of Children and Youth in Rio Grande do Norte.

Underreporting

According to the latest Out of the Shadows Index (2019) survey created by The Economist Intelligence Unit, with the support of Childhood, OAK Foundation and CarlsonFamily Foundation, Brazil ranked 13th (among 60 countries) in combating sexual violence against children and adolescents.

Even with such a high number of records, according to research (TIC Kids online 2018), it is estimated that less than 10% of cases of sexual violence against children and adolescents are reported to the authorities – which could increase the number of children even higher and sexually abused and exploited adolescents.

Underreporting may also appear in other databases. According to information from the Ministry of Health, between 2011 and 2017, 70% of the 527 thousand people raped in Brazil annually, on average, were children and adolescents. Furthermore, 51% of those who were abused are between 1 and 5 years old.

Numbers

Brazil – 2020

Complaints: 153,183

Violations: 386,747

Brazil – 2021

Complaints: 308,694

Violations: 1,229,760

Variation

Complaints: + 101,51% (in absolute numbers there were 155,511 more)

Violations: + 217,97% (in absolute numbers there were 843,013 more)

Rio Grande do Norte – 2020

Reports: 935

Violations: 2,345

Brazil – 2021

Complaints: 2,096

Violations: 8,393

Variation

Complaints: + 124% (in absolute numbers there were 1,161 more)

Violations: + 257,91% (in absolute numbers there were 6,048 more)

Source: National Human Rights Ombudsman of the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights (ONDH/MMFDH)

Violations

Violation occurs when any citizen's basic rights are denied. Among children and adolescents, the most common violations in Rio Grande do Norte are:

Physical integrity 

Psychic (psychic torture; embarrassment; threat or coercion; affective denial; insult; exposure; defamation; slander);

Physical (mistreatment; exposure to health risks; aggression or acts of violence; material insufficiency);

Patrimonial (individual; collective; cultural). 

Freedom 

Individual rights (autonomy of will; false imprisonment; freedom to come, come, stay; condition similar to slavery; kidnapping; extortion through kidnapping);

Sexual (physical, psychic);

Labor (labor exploitation);

Expression (freedom of conscience and thought);

Religion or belief (non-belief, cult, belief).

Social rights 

Food;

Child protection;

Health;

Security;

Education;

Assistance to the destitute;

Home.

Security 

Physical;

Psychic;

Economic.

Civil rights 

Document retention;

Property (material property; intangible property);

Free exercise of family power;

Access to information;

Nationality;

Participation/Democracy;

Vote and be voted.

Life

Murder;

Incitement to suicide;

Suicide;

Self-mutilation.

Environment

Air;

Water.

Source: Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights (MMFDH)

How to report

In 2021, 48.4% (9,053) of reports of sexual violence against children and adolescents through Dial 100 were anonymous. The Ombudsman's call center can be contacted at any time, 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. 

ONDH also has a website, app (Human Rights Brazil), WhatsApp (61-99656-5008) and Telegram (type in the search “Direitoshumanosbrasilbot”), which offer the same qualified listening services. In the case of children and adolescents, the report can also be made through the Sabe Application – Know, Learn and Protect.

When the victim is a child or teenager, the complaint is forwarded to the Guardianship Council and, in cases where the violation constitutes a crime, to the Specialized Police Station, or to the Common Police Station in the case of non-existence, and to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

May 18th 

May 18th – “National Day to Combat Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents”, established by Federal Law 9.970/00, is an achievement that marks the fight for the Human Rights of Children and Adolescents in Brazilian territory and that has already reached many municipalities in our country.

This day was chosen because on May 18, 1973, in the city of Vitória (ES), a barbaric crime shocked the entire country and became known as the “Araceli Case”. That was the name of an 8-year-old girl, who had all her human rights violated, was kidnapped, raped and killed by upper middle-class young people from that city. The crime, despite its heinous nature, remains unpunished to this day.

The annual proposal of the campaign, which this year celebrates the 20th year of mobilization, is to highlight the date to mobilize, raise awareness, inform and call on the entire society to participate in the fight in defense of the rights of children and adolescents. It is necessary to guarantee every child and adolescent the right to develop in a safe and protected manner, free from abuse and sexual exploitation.