By Letícia Serafim, Promundo-Brazil Communication Coordinator
The recent case of 4-year-old Micaella, who was beaten to death by her stepmother in Rio de Janeiro, brought to light the issue of society's inaction in cases of violence against children. The old logic that produces sayings such as “in a fight between a husband and wife, don’t get involved” or “dirty laundry is washed at home”, used to refer to situations in which the public should not enter private life, often , ends up legitimizing that situations of violence are perpetuated in several families, until they reach tragic outcomes like Micaella's.
When we refer to the way in which parents educate their children, the maxim of not intervening in domestic and family life takes on even more rigid contours, since in our society it is culturally accepted and, even naturalized, for parents to use spankings and physical punishments. and verbal aggression to “teach” their children what “life would teach in a more violent way, if they don’t do it”. Following this logic, we have the case of Micaella who, as shown in the “O Dia” article, neighbors report that they are already aware that the girl was frequently beaten and mistreated by her stepmother. At school, teachers noticed injuries and behaviors that suggested mistreatment. Nobody thought they should intervene.
According to an article in O Globo , Micaella's stepmother's son stated that he had contacted the Guardianship Council, but that measures were not taken. In turn, the Guardianship Council denies having been contacted. The omission and connivance of the girl's father in the face of the frequent mistreatment suffered by his daughter is something that draws attention. In the stepmother's son's report we can see how unprepared the man seems to be to take care of his daughter, needing to delegate this role to a woman: “When we called Felipe, Micaella's father, to tell him that my mother was attacking ( …), he was indifferent. He said he would make his decision. He refused to leave Micaella for her (an aunt) to raise,” he said. We can conclude that standards of masculinity, which distance men from the role of caregivers, including that of their sons and daughters, help to produce this type of behavior.
The right of children and adolescents to safety and to live free from violence is already expressed in the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA). In 2014, there was another important victory for children's rights movements, which was the approval of the Menino Bernardo Law . The law aims to prohibit the use of physical punishment and cruel or degrading treatment in the education of children and adolescents, not only by parents, but also by family members, guardians, public agents carrying out socio-educational measures or anyone responsible for caring them, treat them, educate them or protect them.
At the time of its vote and approval, the bill suffered great resistance from sectors of society who considered it an intervention by the State in family life. These are the same arguments that allowed cases like Micaella and Bernardo, which the law honors, to happen.
Despite the advances, the 'Child and Adolescent Dossier 2015', from the Rio Public Security Institute (ISP), shows that violence against children continues to grow. Between 2010 and 2014, the annual number of victims under the age of 18 increased from 33,599 to 49,276, an increase of 46.7%. The document also reveals that most violence against children often occurs in their own homes. And it is generally committed by those who spend the most time with the child (father, mother, grandmother, caregiver, nanny, neighbor, etc.): 56.1% of cases.
Research carried out in Canada over 20 years reveals that physical punishment in children is associated with increased levels of child aggression, in addition to not being more effective in encouraging obedience when compared to other methods . Furthermore, physical punishment during childhood is associated with behavioral problems in adulthood, including depression, sadness, anxiety, feelings of melancholy, drug and alcohol use, and general psychological maladjustment.
The “Men Who Care ” survey carried out by Promundo shows that people who commit violence against their children were victims of aggression or witnessed it in their childhood, in other words, it is a cycle of violence that tends to perpetuate itself.
Promundo, as a founding member of the “Não Bata, Eduque!” , has been developing over the last 15 years actions aimed at preventing physical and humiliating punishments against children and adolescents and basing its actions on listening to and involving children in their educational process. Recognizing children and adolescents as subjects of rights , who deserve to be respected and welcomed in their needs, is the basis for transforming this culture of violence that ignores children's participation and autonomy in their own education.
Furthermore, society needs to overcome the idea that child protection is the exclusive responsibility of parents. Neighbors, relatives, teachers and the entire protection network must be alert to cases of neglect and abuse against children. An important protection device is Dial 100 , a free and anonymous reporting tool.
But does not stop there. Deeper changes in society must be promoted. The Menino Bernardo Law is fundamental to starting this process, but there is still a need for investments in micro policies capable of changing an entire culture that legitimizes an education based on spanking and physical and verbal punishment. Teaching care alternatives and positive education to fathers and mothers and involving men, increasingly, in childcare and domestic tasks, are promising paths. Only then will we have a safe society for children and equality between men and women.
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