APAV has supported more than 5,660 children and young people who have been victims of crime over the past two years.

Over the past two years, the Portuguese Association for the Support of Victims (APAV) has supported more than 5,660 children and young people, a figure that grew by 18.2% last year to an average of eight per day.

According to figures released this Monday, APAV supported 3,066 (2,595 in 2022) children and young people who were victims of crime last year, amounting to almost 60 a week.

In total, over the past two years, the association has come to the attention of 10,271 crimes and other forms of violence against children and young people, the majority of which (62.6%) concerned domestic violence, which has increased by 20.7% since 2022 until 2023.

According to APAV statistics for 2022-2023, there were 2,914 domestic violence crimes against children and young people recorded in 2022, with the number rising to 3,518 last year.

The number of sexual offenses against victims of the same type rose even further (+29.8%), rising from 1,356 in 2022 to 1,760 last year.

In the published report, APAV also outlines the profile of the victim: the majority are female (60.7%), aged between 11 and 14 years (31.5%), of Portuguese nationality (80.1%) and the majority live in the district of Faro (26.8 %).

According to the association, 1,518 children and young people living in the Faro district, 836 in Lisbon, 609 in Braga and 513 in Porto received support.

The crime is committed continuously in 32.9% of cases, lasts two to three years (18.6%), and the place of violence in almost half of the cases is the general place of residence (49.9%). In 61.2% of cases a complaint was filed, and in 19.5% the victims did not complain.

According to the profile of persons who commit violence against children and youth, the majority are men (60.1%), belong to the age group of 36-45 years (11.5%), and the victim is their child (35.7%).

Regarding the type of crime and other forms of violence, the majority of cases reported in the last two years are domestic violence (6,432 crimes, 62.6%), followed by child sexual abuse (1,049, 10.2%). ), bullying (177, 10.2%). 0.7%) and sexual violence against minor dependents or persons in particularly vulnerable situations (165, 1.6%).

Also recorded were 151 crimes (1.5%) of rape, 123 sexual harassment (1.2%), 115 solicitation of minors for sexual purposes (1.1%), 111 pornography of minors (1.1%), 108 threats to physical integrity (1.1%) and 97 threats/coercion.

APAV also recorded eight crimes related to human trafficking.

The association highlights that between 2022 and 2023 it conducted 1,887 training initiatives to prevent and raise awareness of violence against youth, reaching more than 40,000 people.

The Portuguese Association for Victim Support provides free, confidential and specialized support to victims of all crimes.

The Victim Support Line – 116 006 – is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 23:00, and the Safe Internet Line is available on 800 21 90 90 from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 22:00 and by email Linhainternetsegura@ apav.pt.