A recent horrific case involving three-year-old Brianna Genao González has shocked Puerto Plata and drawn national attention to the escalating crisis of sexual violence against minors. The child fell victim to kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder at the hands of her maternal uncles, highlighting the disturbing reality that perpetrators often operate within family circles.
According to the latest National Survey of Sexual Assaults Against Women (Cipaf 2024), sexual violence against girls and adolescents under 19 has reached alarming proportions. The data reveals a 53.8% surge in cases among those aged 10-19, escalating from 13 incidents between 2013-2019 to 20 in 2022 alone. Similarly troubling trends have emerged among younger children aged 5-9.
Social media responses to the Puerto Plata tragedy have followed a troubling pattern of blaming mothers and female caregivers, effectively diverting accountability from the male perpetrators who commit these atrocities. This response mechanism obscures the central issue: sexual predators exploiting trusted familial relationships to prey on vulnerable children.
The societal discourse surrounding sexual assault prevention remains disproportionately focused on ‘stranger danger,’ while ignoring the more prevalent threat posed by family members. This oversight perpetuates a culture where abuse becomes invisibilized and culturally legitimized through historical normalization, typically emerging only through extreme cases that become public scandals.
Addressing this epidemic requires comprehensive societal transformation. Experts emphasize the necessity of reshaping male behavioral patterns and challenging perceptions of women as sexual objects. Fundamental to this effort is establishing respect for female bodily autonomy as a core societal value, requiring coordinated efforts between state institutions and all community sectors to implement effective prevention and education strategies.