Violent crimes against children highest ever

From sexual abuse to grooming, through pornography, rape and sharing of intimate images and harassment: reported sex crimes against children increased almost 50% in a period of three years (2022 – 2024), to a total of more than 5000 crimes, according to the Portuguese Victim Support Association (APAV).

Of these minor victims, 60% were female, and the average age was 11-17 years. In most cases, the father or the mother assume the role of aggressor

‘We are also receiving more cries for help directly coming from children related to sexual violation, in particular online – ranging from cyberbullying and dating violence to the sharing of intimate photos and videos, followed by attempted extortion’ – told Carla Ferreira, technical advisor of APAV, to the daily newspaper Público.

‘The mitigation of risks, obtained when use of smartphones is going to be banned in children under 16 years of age  – as requested in a petition to Parliament –  won’t prevent the child from accessing content to the Internet’, Ferreira explains. ‘The forbidden fruit is always the most desired, especially at these ages,’ she adds.

Although principles of schools – where the use of smartphones is prohibited – report a substantial decrease in the cases of indiscipline and bullying

In its latest Annual Report, APAV reveals that sexual abuse of children, rape and pornography were the ones that registered the highest numbers in 2024.
In sexual abuse the increase was 38%, in rape 20% and in the case of child pornography 14%. Sex crimes were mostly perpetrated by men, either family members or acquaintances of the victim.

Similar figures were released by the National Institute of Health (INE), which in 2024 recorded 3237 violent crimes against children and minors, the highest number ever. Sexual abuse and domestic violence accounted for 32% and 33%, respectively. Men were the ones who committed most crimes, of sexual abuse (94%) and domestic violence (58%).

The good news is that a new risk assessment form for domestic violence is going to include children, that is, the questions that the police officer asks a victim will now include questions aimed at estimating the risk that minors may incur, in addition to the victim.

But, although the new form has already been approved by the Government, it is not yet published in the Diário de República and therefore not officially in force.

Lips
Her face tight of sadness,
without a crease. Her teeth
almost never seen (small as
baby teeth, and just as white). Her mouth
always shut, always fear
in her silence. Someone told that,

one day, a man – her father or her brother,
I don’t know any more – by force had opened
her lips. The other.

Maria do Rosário Pedreira
From her collection: O meu corpo humano (Quetzal, 2022)