Survey reveals underreporting of sexual violence against girls
Six out of ten women who were victims of sexual violence before the age of 14 reported in an online survey that they did not tell anyone about the abuse.
This alarming figure on the underreporting of sexual violence in adolescence can be found in the survey Percepções sobre Direitos de Meninas e Mulheres Grávidas Pós-Estupro (“Perceptions on the Rights of Girls and Pregnant Women After Rape”), conducted by the Patrícia Galvão Institute in partnership with the Locomotiva Institute and released Tuesday (Sep. 30). A total of 1,200 people over the age of 16 from all regions of Brazil responded to the online questionnaire.
Only 27 percent of these girls confided in a family member after being victims of sexual violence before the age of 14, and the percentage of cases that reached the police and health services is even lower – only 15 percent were taken to a police station, and nine percent were admitted and evaluated at a care facility.
The survey shows that, of girls and women who suffered sexual violence from the age of 14 onwards, the percentages of underreporting and neglect are also alarmingly high. In these cases, only 11 percent sought help from the police, and 14 percent sought help from a health service.
Another finding from the survey is that 60 percent of the approximately 1,200 respondents said they knew of a child or adolescent under the age of 14 who had been raped, and 30 percent said they knew of a case in which the victim became pregnant.
Knowledge about rape
The survey also measured respondents’ agreement with statements about sexual violence and how well informed they are about the rights and services available to victims.
They were asked, for instance, whether various situations constitute rape – all of these are classified as rape under Brazilian law.
Even though 95 percent of respondents recognized at least one of the types of sexual violence presented, only 57 percent knew that all of them constitute rape.
See below the percentages of respondents who recognized that each of the situations mentioned constitutes rape:
- “A man having sex with an unconscious, drunk, or drugged woman” – 89%;
- “A man forcing a woman to have sexual intercourse” – 88%;
- “A man having sex with a woman with severe mental disabilities” – 87%;
- “A man taking advantage of his professional status (doctor, pastor, etc.) to have sex with a woman” – 86%;
- “A husband/partner forcing a woman to engage in sexual practices (oral sex, anal sex, etc.) when she is not willing to” – 85%;
- “A husband/partner forcing a woman to have sex when she is not willing to” – 84%;
- “A man having sex with a girl up to 13 years old even if she consents” – 80%;
- “The husband/partner forcing the woman to have sex without a condom when she wants to use one” – 73%;
- “A man removing the condom during sex without the woman noticing or consenting to it” – 70%.
Legal abortion
Almost all respondents – 96 percent – consider that girls up to 13 years of age are not physically or emotionally prepared to be mothers. Furthermore, in the opinion of two out of three, girls in this age group are also not in a position to decide whether to become mothers.
Nevertheless, only 41 percent recognize that pregnancy in these cases is always the result of rape. Brazilian law considers 14 to be the minimum age for sexual consent.
Therefore, any sexual intercourse with children under the age of 14 constitutes statutory rape, which grants the right to legal termination of pregnancy. However, only 56 percent of respondents know that the procedure is authorized in these cases.
Three out of four respondents stated they were aware that abortion is legal in cases where the pregnant woman’s life is at risk (76%), in cases of fetal anencephaly (75%), and in cases of rape (75%).
The survey also asked women if they would like to have the right to terminate a pregnancy resulting from rape – 70 percent responded that they would like to have this option, and 56 percent said they would undergo the procedure.
