- Before the next return to classes, experts ask for the elimination of hidden spaces in educational establishments and modifications to the administrative processes of the Ministry of Public Education in Mexico (SEP) when there is suspicion or knowledge of a case of child sexual abuse.
- It is necessary to work on serious and diligent investigations, which guarantee the victims the investigation, with specialized methods of listening to the testimonies of girls and boys.
The Office of the Ombudsman for Children's Rights (ODI) presented the report “It is a secret. Child sexual exploitation in schools " in order to make visible the cases of collective and organized sexual abuse in 18 public and private schools in 7 states of the Mexican Republic, where similar patterns were detected such as the sedation of girls and boys between 3 and 7 years of age to being withdrawn from schools and participating in sexual acts being tied up, assaulted and sometimes videotaped. To discuss the Initiative Weaving Childhood Nets for Latin America and the Caribbean carried out the Webinar: How does organized sexual violence operate in schools?
Mariana Gil, Attorney at the ODI, said that the report is a cry for help since since 2008, when the investigations began, there was no response from the Prosecutor's Office, probably due to the prestige of the academics and academic institutions involved. What is expected after the publication is that serious and diligent investigations be carried out, that the investigation be guaranteed to the victims, with specialized methods of listening to the testimonies of girls and boys, elimination of hidden spaces in educational establishments, modifications to the administrative processes of the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) when there is a suspicion of a case of child sexual abuse.
Brenda Caballero, a Psychologist also at the ODI, referred to the importance of the accompaniment work, as a prior process and during a complaint, and not only as an isolated action, considering the mechanisms of advance evidence, which include giving information to children about what they do a judge, such as the complaint process, as a specialized intervention tool in the taking of testimonies of girls and boys victims of the crime of sexual violence, which empowers them, “When an underage person comes to court unprepared, they feel intimidated. Without specialized intervention methods, victims between 3 and 7 years old do not declare what a public prosecutor would expect as specific dates and locations ", he pointed.
Santiago, a young person and activist for children's rights in Argentina, pointed out that sexual abuse is a crime that does not have a border and that in light of this reality the data is chilling, since in his country out of every 100 cases of sexual abuse only 10 are denounced and only 1 concludes with a sentence. "Legal proceedings can cause a victim so much pain that they can withdraw from the complaint", mentioned.
The ODI specialists agreed on the importance of strengthening communication in relationships between parents, guardians and children with fundamental key messages such as: “If something happens to you that you don't like and you tell me, I'll believe you. If something happens to you that hurts you, I will protect you. The things adults do that hurt girls and boys, they are never the children's fault ”.
Likewise, the specialists propose some elements of prevention in judicial procedures that involve childhood: 1) That whoever takes testimony from a minor person has knowledge of psychology and / or child development 2) That the entrance to judicial facilities is by a different access 3) That they be allowed to enter their own toys 4) That waiting times are shortened 5) That the taking of testimony is in appropriate places 6) That the statements be video-recorded, to avoid re-victimization.
Regarding the patterns detected in schools involved in the crime of child sexual violence, the following stand out: girls and boys witness sex between adults, are forced to touch each other, participate in ritualistic and grotesque practices, narrate the use of costumes.
Juan Martín Pérez, host of the webinar and coordinator of the regional initiative, made a call to know the Report “It is a secret. Child sexual exploitation in schools ”, so that in the event that there are similar records in other nations, gather more elements of demand from the States, against the violation of childhood, against sexual violence.
Regarding the preventive and observational role that mothers and fathers have, the ODI highlights the following: Parents have to observe the games of girls and boys, since play is their greatest method of expression, it is important to talk about people that they are not good and learn to identify them, educate on the limits of their bodies, nobody can touch them; no one can record and take pictures of them in the absence of their guardians. You also need to pay attention to sudden changes in sleeping, eating or toilet training habits and body aches. When the girls and boys are at home, it is also necessary to monitor what they consume on the internet. The full report is available at: https://dispensariodi.com/es-un-secreto/
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Ollin.TV is an Internet television channel created as part of Weaving Childhood Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean, an initiative co-financed by the European Union, which seeks to contribute to the strengthening and consolidation of a platform for the defense of children and adolescents in 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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