The protective measures from the perspective of families in situation of sexual violence

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a survey with five families who experienced situations of sexual violence against children and adolescents. It was carried out one year after the families received application of protective measures according to the Law Statute of Infancy and Youth. A semi-structured interview with six women, relatives of the victims, was the instrument used. The results showed that after the period of one year four of the five families had not received any intervention and one of them had been exposed to repeated evaluations by various institutions in the protection network. The families expressed emotional distress by the lack of support, ignorance and alienation from the process, and disappointment in relation to legal institutions and service. They also showed that their expectations regarding the protection system involves the formation of bond that allows the recognition of their pain and their expression as autonomous individuals.