Child Sexual Abuse in Peru reaches more than 10 cases a day

June 14th, 2011 by Toybox

According to EFE (leading Spanish language news agency), more than 1,300 cases of sexual abuse of minors were reported in the first four months of this year. In 70% of cases, the offender was a relative or someone close to the victim.

This was announced by the Minister for Women, Virginia Borra, in Lima at the launch of “Yo acuso el abuso” – I acknowledge abuse – a movement which seeks to curb such violence in the South American country.

Borra said the 1,300 cases reported in Peru’s Women’s Emergency Centres are only representative of the unknown number of cases where children do not report abuse “because of fears that the attacker will find out.”

The minister said that there are cases where a mother ignores the actions of a father for fear of being left financially unprotected, or from the fear of abandonment.

“We have to raise the quality of life that a child should has. With this campaign we want to avoid sexual abuse, we want emotionally balanced children without psychological problems.” said the minister.

The campaign aims to increase school participation, encouraging children to speak out about their experiences, as well as highlighting the role of parents in a family that is free from violence.

© EFE – full article

For street children, sexual abuse and domestic violence are some of the key factors that push them to run away from home and take to the streets. Toybox-supported projects and churches are working every day to try and break those cycles of abuse, and encourage families to stay together, free from violence and neglect.

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