Why virtually all child sex crimes in Colombia go unpunished
Why virtually all child sex crimes in Colombia go unpunished Colombia Reports
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Colombia Fails to Address Sexual Violence Against Children
Colombia’s government and judicial authorities have failed to implement policies to reduce widespread sexual violence against children.
On top of that and for decades, the government has failed to develop strategies that would allow officials, scholars, or activists to paint an accurate picture of child abuse and exploitation.
Children and parents seeking justice for sex crimes are more often than not revictimized multiple times because of the lack of coordination between, for example, prosecutors and social workers.
Consequently, vast numbers of victims abandon their quest for justice, which in some cases may take more than a decade, the executive secretary of NGO Alianza por Los Niños, Angelica Cuenca, told Colombia Reports.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Type of Sexual Violence Against Children (2021)
In a report that was published in December last year, Alianza por los Niños said that more than three-quarters of the reported cases of sexual violence in 2021 were allegedly committed at home.
The alleged perpetrators were family members of the victim in more than half of the cases that ended up with the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Alleged Perpetrators of Sexual Violence (2021)
According to the Prosecutor General’s victim database, only 1,389 people were convicted for sexual violence against children since 2018.
This is less than two percent of the children examined by medical professionals because of alleged sexual violence in the same period.
The real number of victims is likely much higher than the one registered by the Medical Examiner’s Office because of underreporting of sexual violence.
This is particularly an issue in areas where State authorities have historically been absent and in cases of sexual exploitation, which often is not reported.
How many child victims of sexual abuse there really are is a guess as authorities barely collect relevant information and share this with each other, according to Alianza Por Las Victimas.
For example, the number of underage victims of sexual violence attended by the family welfare agency ICBF between 2017 and 2022 is half the number of victims registered by the prosecution, the NGO stressed in its December report.
This lack of communication between the multiple institutions effectively contributes to impunity for perpetrators.
In many cases, victims abandon their quest for justice because they have to repeat their account of the allegedly committed sex crimes multiple times.
Another major issue is the time that it takes for law enforcement or the judicial branch to respond.
Reports by Alianza por la Niñez and the Ombudsman’s Officer show that the prosecution in some cases needs more than a decade to call a suspected child abuser to court.
According to Cuencas, victims are often removed from home because of the time it takes to impose protective measures that would keep their alleged victimizer away.
Despite repeated calls for action, authorities have yet to come up with reforms that would allow an effective approach to prevent or prosecute sexual violence against children.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres | – Number of reported cases of sexual violence against children – Percentage of cases where the alleged perpetrators are family members |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | – Number of convictions for sexual violence against children – Percentage of children examined by medical professionals due to alleged sexual violence |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships | – Level of coordination between prosecutors and social workers in handling cases of sexual violence against children – Number of institutions sharing relevant information on child abuse and exploitation |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 5: Gender Equality
The issue of sexual violence against children is connected to SDG 5 as it aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including in the private sphere.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The issue of sexual violence against children is also connected to SDG 16 as it focuses on ending abuse, exploitation, and violence against children.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
SDG 17 is relevant as it emphasizes the importance of partnerships and coordination between different institutions to address complex issues like sexual violence against children.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
This target is relevant as it specifically addresses the elimination of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence against children.
Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
This target focuses on ending all forms of violence against children, including sexual violence.
Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships
This target highlights the importance of partnerships between different stakeholders to address issues like sexual violence against children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Number of reported cases of sexual violence against children
- Percentage of cases where the alleged perpetrators are family members
- Number of convictions for sexual violence against children
- Percentage of children examined by medical professionals due to alleged sexual violence
- Level of coordination between prosecutors and social workers in handling cases of sexual violence against children
- Number of institutions sharing relevant information on child abuse and exploitation
These indicators can help track the prevalence of sexual violence against children, the effectiveness of legal actions, the level of coordination between different institutions, and the sharing of information to address the issue.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres | – Number of reported cases of sexual violence against children – Percentage of cases where the alleged perpetrators are family members |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | – Number of convictions for sexual violence against children – Percentage of children examined by medical professionals due to alleged sexual violence |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships | – Level of coordination between prosecutors and social workers in handling cases of sexual violence against children – Number of institutions sharing relevant information on child abuse and exploitation |
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Source: colombiareports.com
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