Dand according to Rosário Farmhouse, who spoke to the deputies at the request of the PAN, the other most common causes are negligence and dangerous behavior in childhood and youth.

The most represented age groups are children between 12 and 10 years old in cases of families with domestic violence (28%), and between 11 and 14 years old (20%). Between zero and two years old, the percentage is 19%.

The head of the National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Young People (CNPDPCJ) appealed to the community to intervene in the referral of these cases: “All of us can make a difference”, she said.

Rosário Farmhouse defended that all shelters are focused on the problem of adults and that it would be preferable not to remove children from the housing where they live and the school they attend. He suggested, as an alternative, the creation of other procedures to remove the aggressor from the house, when he is not arrested, and also more adapted houses for victims with children.

“It is not the ideal environment for children, although it is safe. But from an emotional, educational, relationship point of view, it is not ideal. I wish that when there are problems of domestic violence, the one who had to leave would be the aggressor and that the victim could stay at home with the children, not having to move from their space”, he said.

The official said that there are studies that indicate that victims of domestic violence have symptoms similar to those of children in the context of war, when their father and mother “in an unruly fight”.

During the covid-19 pandemic, a line for children in danger and an online form were created so that any citizen can report dangerous situations.

In December 2022, 871 forms were received this way, “the highest number ever”, highlighted.

Christmas is “the worst time of the year” for children from families in conflict, referring to Rosário Farmhouse.

The hotline and forms were created in May and June 2020. Between June 2020 and December 2022, 8,128 forms and 4,506 phone calls were received regarding situations of children in danger, he added.

The district of Lisbon is the one with the most reports of danger, followed by Porto, Setúbal, Braga and Aveiro. The island of São Miguel, in the Azores, also registers “quite high numbers”, said the president of the National Commission, for whom there is “an extreme need to change maternity hospitals”.

Rosário Farmhouse also promised “news coming soon” about a major campaign on family care.

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