Peer-reviewed article

CONSTRUCTION OF INDICATORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A STUDY OF JUDICIAL PROCESSES

Thaíse Urbano Caldas, DOURADO, Ana Claudia de Amorim Gomes, Marcus Vítor Diniz de Carvalho, Arnaldo de França Caldas Júnior · 11 Jun 2023

Abstract

Sexual violence against children and adolescents is considered a serious public health problem. The objective of this study was to analyze the risk indicators associated with child and adolescent sexual abuse. The research included all cases of sexual abuse against children and adolescents that occurred in the city of Recife and were archived from 2015 to 2019 in the high court of the state of Pernambuco. Data on crimes against sexual dignity were extracted from the electronic system used by the Pernambuco court called Judwin. A total of 226 cases were examined following approval by the Local Ethics Committee. This study obtained two hundred and twenty-six cases, and the analysis showed that the most common sexual crime committed against minors was child rape. In 84.1% of the studied cases, the aggressor was from the same social circle as the victim, who was mostly female (71.7%). The geographic distribution of crime scenes showed that sexual crimes were more prevalent in areas of social vulnerability. As a result, 50.4% of defendants were convicted, 30.5% were acquitted of the charges, and in 14.6% of cases, the punishment was waived. The limitation period elapsed in 13.9% of cases. The main risk factors associated with the victim were being a child and female, while for the aggressor, the primary indicators were being a male adult and having social contact with the victim.