Children who are victims of adult violence might once again be pushed into collective denial. The media and political leaders have shaped a meta-event representative of the “ultraviolence” of adolescents through a series of exceptional criminal acts involving minors, imposing a return of lost authority. However, there is a clear discrepancy in the responses to crimes involving adolescents and crimes where they are victims, the latter being much more numerous. In order to truly combat adolescent violence, it is crucial to address the conditions in which they grow up, which are often the seed of their future violence. Numerous studies have shown that a significant portion of delinquent children were first children in danger.
Despite the staggering numbers of children who have been victims of violence, with 60 children dying in 2022 from family violence alone, these incidents are not considered a major social issue. Additionally, the 160,000 children who are victims of sexual violence, mainly within their families, as highlighted by recent reports, are not given the attention they deserve. If these incidents were seen as major social issues, significant resources would need to be deployed to investigate and better protect the victims. The massive amounts of violence, particularly sexual violence, committed against children call for a political response. It is evident that action needs to be taken to address the harm inflicted on children.
Judges for children are mandated by law to protect children whose health, safety, or educational conditions are seriously compromised. Every year, they handle tens of thousands of cases involving babies, children, and adolescents in danger, with 112,919 new cases reported in 2022 according to the Ministry of Justice. However, there are barely over 500 judges tasked with overseeing nearly 255,000 children, leaving them with insufficient time to dedicate to each individual case. Plans to address this issue are lacking, as the 2023-2027 plan to combat violence against children overlooks juvenile justice, and the promised reinforcements of judges and clerks fall far short of what is needed in this area.
Efforts must be made to address the root causes of violence among adolescents, while also providing support and protection for children who are victims of violence. It is imperative to recognize the severity of these issues and allocate the necessary resources to tackle them effectively. Policymakers and authorities need to prioritize the well-being and safety of children, ensuring that they have access to the support and protection they need to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. Only through a comprehensive and compassionate approach can the cycle of violence against children be broken and their rights upheld.
