The coordinator of the VITA group said on Tuesday that the President of the Republic was “surprised” by the scale of the work of this body, created by the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, which collects testimonies and develops support for victims of violence within the church.
“The President was very receptive to our work, even surprised by its scale, the fact that it was national, and the fact that we worked with both victims and aggressors,” Ruthe Agulhas told Lusa, minutes after an audience with Marcelo Rebelo de Souza as the VITA group completes a year of work.
According to the psychologist, in addition to the “positive surprise,” the head of state also recognized “the need to prevent relapses” and focused “on the area of prevention and education” of church structures. .
Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, on the other hand, emphasized “the importance of pedagogy” and stated that “the VITA group should think about creating, in the medium term, a structure that will guarantee the continuity of this work” so that it is not a group “with a set deadline and a declared end “, said Ruthe Agulhas.
“We have actually announced completion. We have made an estimate for three years, but I understand that a structure of permanence, continuity and, even, ultimately, expansion must be created,” added the VITA Group coordinator, emphasizing that the President of the Republic in this The chapter focuses on “the importance of thinking about the extent to which the state can step in and take on an important role.”
According to Rute Agulhas, “deep down [apontando à] creating these kinds of more specialized responses, whether for victims or aggressors, or from a primary prevention perspective. But then, naturally, a more comprehensive response to all contexts of society.”
On the other hand, the meeting this afternoon at the Palacio de Belem highlighted a gap in which Portugal has not yet carried out a prevalence study “that allows us to understand the reality of this phenomenon” of sexual violence, as well as a study on recidivism, “taking into account attention of people who commit crimes of a sexual nature and are then subject to punishment, whatever that may be.”
Leaving the meeting with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, she was satisfied, emphasizing the agreement of the President of the Republic with the proposal for a “national strategy” to combat crimes related to domestic violence, as well as support for victims and aggressors.
Regarding the work done since its creation, the VITA Group admits that “there is still a lot to be done”, but that the journey has been positive and “people today trust the diocesan commissions”. [de proteção de menores e pessoas vulneráveis] more than they trusted a year ago.”
On the other hand, “some church bodies told us that they understand that there will always be a need for an independent group, an autonomous group of professionals with which people can share” their problems and make complaints.
On Monday, VITA Group said it had already submitted 32 requests for compensation from victims of sexual abuse they have suffered over the past few decades in the context of the Portuguese Catholic Church.
“Thirty-two victims have so far applied for financial compensation. [CEP]can be issued between June and December 2024, in accordance with criteria that will be announced shortly,” says a note sent to the media by a structure coordinated by psychologist Rute Agulhas, when about three months ago (February 17) there were only 12 orders.
As of May 22, 2023, VITA Group has already received 98 requests for assistance from victims of sexual assault, resulting in 60 services (in person or online), according to the announcement, which marks one year since its effective date. in periodic psychological observation of 18 people by specialists from the created reserve of specialists.
VITA will present its second activity report on 18 June in Fatima.
Grupo VITA, created in April 2023, can be contacted via its helpline (915090000) or via the registration form on the website www.grupovita.pt.
The VITA Group arose from the work of the Independent Commission into Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church, led by pediatric psychiatrist Pedro Strecht, which over the course of almost a year confirmed 512 evidence of cases occurring between 1950 and 2022, indicating that for extrapolation to to a minimum number of victims of 4815 people.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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