Abuso sexual intrafamiliar

: orientações para a participação da criança no sistema judicial

Abstract

The present study aims to understand, based on the perspective of psychologists working on the forensic area, how to prevent secondary victimization that often originates from children´s involvement in the legal context, in cases of intrafamily sexual abuse. Thus, among these professionals, we tried to collect data that would allow us to identify suggestions to optimize the conditions for children participation in judicial proceedings and to reduce its possible negative impact. In order to achieve these objectives, we used a qualitative methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 9 experienced psychologists (between 26 and 40 years of age) working regularly with intrafamily child sexual abuse cases. Data was analysed using content analysis procedures, based on the Grounded Theory principles. Main results suggest the existence of numerous weaknesses in judicial professionals and psychologists interventions in child sexual abuse cases, alerting to their lack of specific preparation, which is the basis of inadequate and re-victimizer approaches. Moreover, the judicial system is not prepared to welcome children, needing major setting and interview readjustments in order to prevent secondary victimization. Nonetheless, our results indicate that professionals are aware of the need for a coordinated and multidisciplinary approach, supported by specialized training in the child victimization area. In the future we believe it is important to invest in the development of a collaborative, inter and multidisciplinary network, as well as a greater investment in training, expertise and supervision of the professionals involved in judicial intervention with children victims of intrafamily sexual abuse.

Date of Award	22 Jul 2014
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Raquel Matos (Supervisor) & Catarina Ribeiro (Co-Supervisor)