Brazil and Mexico report sharp rise in child sexual violence and push new safeguards

In Brazil, reports of violence against children and adolescents more than doubled between 2020 and 2025, rising from 73,635 to 165,413 cases, a 125% increase, according to the Ministry of Health's Sinan system. Over the five‑year period, 685,629 notifications were recorded, with girls comprising 62% of victims. Sexual abuse accounted for 34% of reports, followed by neglect (33.3%) and physical violence (32.9%). Most incidents occurred in the home, and mothers were identified as perpetrators in 34% of cases.

In the State of Mexico, a citizen‑driven proposal called the “Ley Asiel” was submitted to address sexual violence in schools. The initiative cites 631 cases reported in 2024, representing 14.4% of the national total and affecting over 90% girls and adolescents. The draft law calls for mandatory multidisciplinary teams in each school, including a public prosecutor, psychologist, child‑rights lawyer, and social worker, to provide immediate legal and psychological assistance to victims. Lawmakers will study the proposal to determine whether it can be enacted locally or must be sent to the federal Chamber of Deputies.