Brasília, May 18, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - "Youth struggle - for an end to impunity" will be the theme of this year's commemoration of the National Day to Combat the Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Adolescents. The coordinator of the National Committee to Confront Violence against Children and Adolescents, Neide Castanha, considers it possible to eliminate sexual exploitation. But for this to occur, she says, it is necessary to overcome not only impunity but also social inequality and exclusion. "It is of no avail to call a halt to impunity and continue to produce and reproduce boys and girls in conditions vulnerable to acceptance of the sex trade, that is, to offer their bodies as a condition of their survival," she affirmed.

Today the National Congress will receive the file "Araceli Never Again - 30 Years of Impunity in Brazil," containing cases that have gone unpunished since 1973 of sexual violence against children and adolescents. The publication was produced, with the Committee's support, by the National Association of Child and Adolescent Protection Centers (Anced). According to the president of the Association, Renato Roseno, it is not a study but, rather, a warning about the existence of impunity, with suggestions on how to combat this type of crime. "Impunity is the rule, not the exception," he asserted.

The title of the file is a reference to an 8-year old girl, Araceli Santos, who was a kidnap, rape, and murder victim exactly 31 years ago, in Vitória, Espírito Santo. In 2000, on May 18, the anniversary of her death, the National Day to Combat the Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Adolescents was established by law.

QUALIFICATION

One of the Association's suggestions is to update the legislation dealing with sexual crimes. The legislation dates back to the 1930's. "Sexual crimes are currently grouped together as crimes against public morals. This is absurd, because they are crimes against human dignity," Roseno emphasized. He also suggests that the police and the judicial system be trained to handle crimes that involve sexual violence. "If a person is not well received, he or she will be victimized again," he said. He goes so far as to propose the creation of special courts to treat cases of sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adolescents.

Sexual violence against children and adolescents can take various forms. The most common are sexual abuse within the family itself and sexual exploitation for commercial purposes, such as prostitution, pornography, and trafficking.

When sexual violence against children and adolescents is suspected, it can be reported to police stations, Tutelary Councils, or Courts for Children and Youth. The Tutelary Councils visit the families, notify them, and analyze the background of each case. If the accusation is confirmed, the Council passes it along to the Public Prosecutor's Office. The Courts for Children and Youth can receive denunciations in municipalities that don't have Tutelary Councils.

Translator: David Silberstein