Pedophilia, silence, and homophobia: outrage is not enough; we must defend ESI.
“Those who are outraged by abusers are often the same ones who refuse to have comprehensive sex education implemented in their children’s schools,” says Franco Torchia.
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The accusation against TV host Jey Mammon ignited public opinion like few things have in recent years. I was a victim of sexual abuse twice in my childhood. I am a father and work as a journalist specializing in sexual diversity. Therefore, I want to point out omissions and pose questions.
In a situation like this, is it possible to remain silent? Is the silence maintained by so many complicit? Is remaining silent suspicious? If I don't speak, if I don't express myself, if I don't give my opinion, if I don't mention whether or not I've sent messages to the perpetrator or the victim, does that mean I'm hiding something?
For those who did speak out publicly, is it enough to simply repeat "Don't mess with my children" or "Not with the kids"?
I've decided to share these questions, not to provide complete answers, but because I know there's an urgent need. An undeniable reality: children and adolescents in Argentina are increasingly becoming victims of sexual violence .
According to official data from the Ministry of Justice, in the last five years there were more than 14,000 girls, boys and adolescents victims of sexual violence, a number that has been growing steadily since 2017.
Almost 85% of abusers are from the victim's family circle: primarily parents, relatives, or acquaintances.
I repeat.
The urgency is also this: in addition to being moved by the stories of the victims, we must be moved by the easily verifiable fact that the tools to prevent sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence are not used as they should be .
For nearly twenty years, Argentina has had an exemplary law: the Comprehensive Sex Education Law . However, this law is not implemented in every single school in the country. Why? Because those who are outraged by abusers are often the same ones who refuse to allow comprehensive sex education to be implemented in their children's schools .
I repeat.
Those who are outraged by abusers are often the same ones who refuse to implement comprehensive sex education in their children's schools.
Outrage is not enough.
Is it enough to demand punishments once sexual abuse has been perpetrated, or would it be better—and more effective—to also demand that girls, boys, and adolescents can be educated with care and awareness ?
The girl who learns in kindergarten that no one should touch certain areas of her body, or the seventh-grade student who understands that an abuser is not the solution to a problematic family situation, are people who will be more likely to avoid becoming victims of abuse.
Those who merely revel in the suffering of victims continue to create victims by denying children and adolescents the right to learn how to prevent and identify abuse. To learn how to protect themselves..
The figures are clear: 80% of the girls, boys and adolescents who realized they were abused and were able to report it, discovered they were abused after having a sex education class at school.
I repeat.
80% of the girls, boys and adolescents who realized they were abused and were able to report it, discovered they were abused after having a sex education class at school.
If we truly want to prevent more victims of abuse, we must do much more than speculate about how many abusers are currently on screen or how many lesbians would be capable of murdering their children.
Almost 85% of abusers are from the victim's family circle: primarily parents, relatives and close acquaintances.
I propose that we, as a society, refuse to live in constant shock.
None of this is a scandal: it's a dark, silent, and everyday logic. A destructive system.
A few years ago, when I accompanied my daughter Teresa to a swimming lesson, she showed me where the changing room was. As she watched me go in, she said, "Be careful, Dad, I hope no one tries to touch you or gives you strange looks in there."
Teresa had and has sex education at her school.
I, who suffered sexual abuse precisely in a changing room, as a child, no.
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