Brazil records over 115,000 child abuse reports in first four months of 2026

In the first four months of 2026, Brazil logged 115,814 reports of violations against children and adolescents, according to data presented to the Senate's Human Rights Commission. The majority of victims are girls, with the age group most affected being 4 to 8 years old, and the home identified as the primary location of abuse.

Senator Damares Alves, who chairs the commission, highlighted the difficulty of coordinating institutions and translating policies into concrete action, noting that online environments pose additional challenges. Officials emphasized that reported cases likely represent less than 10% of the actual incidence, describing the situation as an "epidemic" and the largest pandemic of child sexual abuse in the country's history.

Government agencies are working collaboratively, including partnerships with the Federal Highway Police to improve methods for identifying high‑risk areas. By the end of the year, the federal government plans to release five updated national plans on violence prevention and to establish two new national policies aimed at protecting children and adolescents across Brazil.