The month is dedicated to fighting abuse and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. Learn about the history of Orange May and the consequences of these violence for the victims.
Did you know that, every year, 500,000 children and adolescents are sexually exploited in our country? To prevent this type of violence and raise awareness of the consequences for victims, the campaign called Orange May was created.
Learn more about the movement.
On May 18, 1973, an eight-year-old girl named Araceli was kidnapped, drugged, sexually assaulted and murdered in Vitória, Espírito Santo. But in 1991, the three accused defendants were acquitted and the crime remains unpunished to this day.
Faced with the acquittal, activists and entities mobilized to create the National Day to Combat Sexual and Commercial Abuse and Exploitation of Children and Adolescents. The suggested date was May 18, the day of Araceli’s murder. It was in 2000, with the approval of Federal Law 9.970/2000, that the day became official throughout the country.
The Make Beautiful Campaign – Protect Our Children and Adolescents appears throughout the country, which aims to show society that the cause is a collective commitment: to care for the children and youth population to have a full life and with the guarantee of right to healthy sexual development, without violence.
The campaign symbol is the Gerbera, an orange flower. The plant was chosen because it is very popular in the country and because of its fragility and vulnerability. Within this context, the month of May became known as Orange May.
According to the a ONG Maio Laranja, every hour, 3 children are abused in Brazil. Among the victims, more than half, about 51%, are between 1 and 5 years old. Every year, half a million children and adolescents are sexually exploited in the country, and there is underreporting of cases: the expectation is that only 7.5% of cases are reported.
And, contrary to what it may seem, most cases of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, 52%, take place at home. According to experts, victims of this type of violence become adults who feel extremely embarrassed and distressed in various situations.
To identify possible cases of violence, it is important to maintain an open dialogue between children and parents. This is because a good relationship helps parents and guardians to perceive possible cases in which the child becomes ashamed of their own body, for example.
If before she was not ashamed to show or see her own body or she did not have this withdrawal in relation to sexuality and now she does, it is a warning sign for parents or guardians.
Several authors point out that sexual abuse leads to consequences for children and adolescents, which can affect them for life.
In the short term, changes occur such as:
Some consequences can remain over time, becoming, in some cases, serious pathologies. There are several sequelae present in the victim who suffers sexual abuse. It is physical and psychological violence, a mark that is present every day and that, in most cases, does not go away. They are, for example:
At Instituto Ramacrisna, children, adolescents, parents and guardians find a space to welcome and listen to cases of suspicion and victims of sexual violence. The teenagers who are part of the Learning project have the “Se Cuida Jovem”, which provides psychological assistance in partnership with the Pitágoras College.
In addition, we carry out educational campaigns so that families feel safe to share the cases and understand that it is never the victim’s fault.
You can help us to welcome and make a difference in people’s lives. Contact us and learn how to be part of our chain of good.