The Abuse Many Refuse to See: Why Are Two Out of Three Victims Not Believed?

CISMAI held a session in Milan as part of a traveling congress titled "Transforming Crises into Resources: Child Protection Facing the Challenge of Change." The event addressed why victims of sexual abuse are often not believed, noting that two out of three victims face disbelief.

The congress examined how certain forms of abuse are difficult to recognize because they contradict common perceptions of perpetrators. These include abuse committed by adolescents or women, or by trustworthy adults integrated into religious communities. The session also noted that children can be victims of abuse through screens without physical contact from an adult.

Monsignor Luis Manuel Ali Herrera, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, spoke at the congress. According to the Italian outlet Vita, his address touched on the difficulty of acknowledging that those responsible for protection can make mistakes. The Milan session sought to explore how protection systems can continuously question themselves to improve intervention.

The congress will conclude with a final event in Rome on November 20.