SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN THE STATE OF SANTA CATARINA IN THE PERIOD FROM 2014 TO 2020

Abstract

In this study, the objective was to analyze sexual violence against women in the state of Santa Catarina from 2014 to 2020. Primary data from reports of women victims of this type of violence and secondary data from the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP/SC), featuring a qualitative and quantitative research. The results of the qualitative research with 329 women in Santa Catarina indicated that they did not file a complaint with the competent authorities even though they were victims of sexual violence, and that the predominant age group (41,95%) in which the fact occurred was from 0 to 19 years old. Considering the quantitative research with secondary data from the SSP/SC, it was identified that of the 10.086 notifications of sexual violence in police reports, 53,82% of the victims were in the age group from 0 to 19 years old, and that rape was the form of sexual violence with more cases (76,44%) in the seven years investigated. It is estimated that the actual occurrence rates of sexual violence in the state are higher than the existing statistics, due to underreporting, either due to lack of complaints by the victims, or for institutional reasons, such as information that is lost in the system due to erroneous filing, technical problems or discouragement of the victim in filing complaints by public agents.