Worrying data in Italy: 19 crimes against minors per day

They were 6.952 i Crimes against minors in Italy in 2023, on average 19 day, 95 more than in 2022. Increased by 35% in 10 years and even 89% since 2006. The most widespread crimes, which also recorded the highest increase, are abuse in the family: well 2.843 cases, which has grown by 6% since 2022 and has more than doubled since 2013.

The data, processed by the Criminal Analysis Service of the Central Criminal Police Directorate, were made known by the Terre des Hommes Foundation at the Chamber of Deputies – in the presence of the President of the Chamber, the Hon. Lorenzo Fontana, and the Deputy Commissioner of the State Police Eugenia Sepe, – on the occasion of the presentation of the Dossier indifesa “The condition of girls and young women in the world” 2024 and in view of the International Day of the Girl Child (October 11).

The Dossier shows that it is precisely girls and young women who are most affected by crimes against minors, in 61% of the cases are the victims. The main factors driving this percentage are sexual crimes: starting from sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault, which respectively see 89% and 85% of female victims, passing through the sexual acts with minors (79% of victims are female), possession of pornographic material and corruption of a minor (both with 78% of female victims), up to the prostitution and child pornography (in both cases, 64% of the victims were girls or young women).

Instead, they have a majority victims male voluntary homicide (67%), the abandonment of minors or incapacitated persons (61%), the abuse of the means of corruption or discipline (59%) and the abduction of incapacitated persons (55%).

The victims are almost in equal in the crimes of violation of family support obligations (both genders 50%) and of mistreatment in the family or towards children (female victims 51%).

If mistreatment in the family marks the most significant increase, compared to 2022 they are sexual violence also on the rise, which with 912 cases (+1% from 2022 but +51% from 2013) are the second most widespread crime; abduction of incapacitated persons (302 cases, +4% since 2022 and +39% since 2013); the abandonment of minors or incapacitated persons (568 cases, +3% since 2022 and +25% in 10 years); sexual acts with minors (+3% from 2022 and +5% from 2013, with a total of 444 cases); the abuse of means of correction or discipline (+1% with 349 cases; +47% since 2013); the child pornography (171 cases, up 1% from 2022 but down 7% from 2013).

They drop, instead: child prostitution, which with 28 cases is the crime that shows the greatest decrease both over the year (-24%) and compared to the last 10 (-65%); possession of child pornography (59 cases, down 18% on 2022 but up, always by 18%, compared to 2013); corruption of minors (94 cases, -12% in one year and -24% since 2013); violations of family assistance obligations (525 cases, -5% since 2022 and -48% since 2013). Finally, cases of aggravated sexual violence are decreasing compared to last year (645 cases, -7%), a crime that however has recorded one of the greatest increases over the ten years (+73% since 2013).

However, they remain unchanged voluntary homicides with 12 cases both in 2023, both in 2022 and in 2013.

"The data shows an increase in reports from victims. This means that the actions undertaken by the Police Forces in terms of information campaigns, aimed at breaking down the socio-cultural obstacles that have fueled and continue to fuel violence and child abuse, are producing results that confirm the relationship of trust established with the victims. A result, however, that does not distract our attention from the "dark number" of unreported cases and all those crimes that are committed in the "virtual world" where minors are increasingly exposed and defenseless.", stated Dr. Eugenia Sepe, Deputy Commissioner of the State Police.

«Two factors, which should make us reflect, emerge from the latest data on crimes against minors – he declared Paul Ferrara, General Manager of Terre des Hommes – First of all, the image of the family as a safe and welcoming place, as a nest where children can grow to learn to take flight, shows more than one crack and calls into question all our efforts to ensure that parents do not have to face alone a fragility that appears increasingly evident. Secondly, violence, especially physical violence, continues to be consumed mostly on the bodies of girls and young women and this, we will never tire of saying, forces all of us to not give up on a cultural battle, to overcome the patriarchal structure and create a more inclusive society based on respect for others, which is still far from producing the desired changes.

MENTAL HEALTH.

From the defenseless dossier “The condition of girls and young women in the world", which includes and analyses all the phenomena that put at risk the life, health and rights of girls and young women, in Italy and in the world, also highlights a increase in recent years of psychological distress among young people, and especially girls, in Italy.

According to the Istituto Superiore della Sanità[1], 52% of girls believe that the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health, a figure that drops to 31% among their male peers. This discomfort increases with age.: among eleven-year-olds, it was found in 33% of girls and 25% of boys, while among seventeen-year-old teenagers, 66% of girls and 41% of boys experienced it.

The trend is also confirmed at a global level by the World Health Organization, which finds a worsening in the well-being of young people in general and girls in particular. 28% of fifteen-year-old girls report profound loneliness, compared to 13% of their male peers[2].

Terre des Hommes, together with Scuola Zoo, has tried to investigate this malaise through Defenseless Observatory, which was attended by over 2.000 girls between 14 and 26 years old. First of all, it emerges that almost all, 9 out of 10 girls, perceive strong risks for their mental health. Among the causes that compromise the psychological well-being of girls, first of all, for 76%, is the difficulty of accept yourself and feel good about your body. We then find the difficult relationships with parents or family (indicated by 73% of the responses) and the school performance (66%). Furthermore, more than 50% of girls see risks in worries about one's future, complicated relationships with friends or peers, loneliness, depression, violence of any kind. Other reasons for concern are a unstable relationship (43%), the relationships with teachers (28%), the fear for the global situation (25%) and Eco-anxiety (17%).

To intervene It is therefore fundamental and it is the girls who show the way: 75% ask that the school take more care of mental health and 66,5% would like a free psychologist outside of school.

For 13 years, girls and young women have been defenseless. The Terre des Hommes Defenseless Campaign, founded in 2012 on the occasion of the first International Day of the Girl Child, aims to raise awareness among institutions and the public about the serious violations of the rights of girls that occur every day in the world and about the importance of ensuring their protection and support. Over the years, the Foundation has worked to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of girls through its projects. In 2023, 372.000 girls and young women directly benefited from Terre des Hommes projects for inclusive quality education, the prevention of early marriages and pregnancies, the fight against labor exploitation, the protection of refugee girls and boys and girls who are victims of abuse and violence in various countries around the world.

In Italy, Terre des Hommes collaborates with schools, sports federations and institutions to involve girls and boys in training and awareness-raising activities aimed at encouraging youth participation and the leading role of young generations on issues related to the fight against discrimination and gender violence.

The scientific committee. For the XIII edition the Dossier was able to count on the valuable contribution of a Scientific Committee composed of 13 women, excellent and successful professionals in their professional field such as: Angela Laurenza, President Prime Minister; Benedetta Geronzi, Head of Institutional Area of ​​the Italian Football Federation; Claudia Segre, President of Global Thinking Foundation; Donata Columbro, Journalist and data humanizer; Filomena Floriana Ferrara, Director of IBM Foundation; Gaia Marzo, Corporate Brand Director & Equity Partner OneDay Group; Ilaria Cinelli, Space and Healthcare Expert; Livia Del Turco, Director of the Civil Defense Studies Center and member of the "Women, Peace and Security" group of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Lucia Abbinante, Youth Policy Expert - Vice President of Kreact; Mariangela Pira, anchor and reporter; Martina Rogato, Founder ESG Boutique; Miriam Cresta, CEO Junior Achievement Italia; Renata Duretti, The Circle Italia Onlus; Co-Chair W7 Italy (G7); Silvia Salis, Vice President CONI.