Children, who may have been sexually abused often, struggle to distinguish something new, safer situations from traumatic ones they have already endured. Some children keep going back to the trauma while some also overreact to what has happened to them. Some children may avoid anything that reminds them of the sexual abuse, as they fight to keep negative thoughts, feelings, and images from returning. This 5-year-old, who was sexually abused, drew sketches showing, how she was sexually abused by a 54-year-old priest. A mother and father in Brazil discovered heart-breaking sketches drawn by their five-year-old girl showing how she was allegedly sexually abused by a priest. Read the complete report here.
[su_expand more_text=”READ MORE” less_text=” ” height=”0″ hide_less=”yes” link_style=”button” link_align=”center”]According to the sources, Father Joao da Silva, 54, is said to have admitted the attack after the child’s furious father confronted him in the city of Montes Claros, in Minas Gerais in Brazil. The girl’s parents found their sketches after their daughter refused to attend any more Da Silva’s English classes.
The girl was left so scared that her parents took her to a child psychologist, who recommended they check her bedroom for any possible lead. After checking her bedroom, they found six harrowing drawings in her book, illustrating the sexual abuse she reportedly suffered at the hands of Da Silva.
One of the drawing claims to show the priest leering over her while another shows a highly distressing scene where Da Silva is depicted forcing himself between the girl’s legs. The picture appears to show the girls either screaming in fear or agony.
When the father confronted the priest on a phone call, he told police, the cleric confessed to him. According to a source, Karine Maia, from the Delegation for Stopping Crimes against Women pressure group, told local media: ‘We found six drawings among the child’s belongings.’
According to the Police, the priest is in the Police custody and is being interviewed over child abuse allegations.
If children feel comfortable enough to come forward with the abuse, aren’t they already showing signs of being confident to get the help they need and move forward? Revealing the abuse is a huge step. How the child is allowed to express the confusion, sadness, anger and other emotions regarding the trauma, determines what kind of emotional health they will have in the future.
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