The Paraguayan government is redirecting its actions against child sexual abuse toward prevention, after years focused on reporting and breaking the “culture of silence.” The shift was detailed this week by representatives of the Ministry of Childhood and Adolescence (MINNA) and the National Police, who highlighted the importance of involving families, schools, and the digital environment.
Leticia González, from MINNA's Prevention Directorate, explained that the campaign “We Are All Responsible” seeks to educate both adults and children from early childhood, building “life skills” that help minors recognize and avoid risky situations. “The first ring of security is the family. Adults in this close relationship are responsible for providing information; the school does not replace the family, we must accompany the children,” she said.
González recommended that parents offer “short and concise” information to young children, such as explaining that no one can touch or photograph their private parts. The approach also includes distributing a prevention guide developed by Paraguayan technicians, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sciences, for use in schools.
In the legal field, the recent regulation of Law 6202 establishes norms for prevention and care for victims of sexual abuse, in addition to toughening penalties — which previously reached eight years in prison and can now reach up to 30 years. MINNA is also working on a legislative proposal to regulate children and adolescents' access to the internet and social networks.
Second Officer Gustavo Gómez, from the National Police's Cybercrime Department, reported that the corporation holds educational lectures for minors and adults on current forms of online harassment and abuse, and provides guidance on how to proceed when identifying a case. He and González listed warning signs for parents: a child who was cheerful becomes withdrawn, shows fear, rejects a specific person's hug, spends more time on screens, has difficulty sleeping, complains of unexplained pain, or has a drop in school performance.