Originally posted by Steven .... another story making the national news in the U.S. is the disappearance of two young girls in the state of Iowa. Foul play is suspected in this case which raised a question from my Brazilian wife as to why pedophilia is so prevalent in the U.S.? She remarked that these stories are never heard in Brazil. My question on the topic is whether or not the same degree of pedophilia exists in Brazil or whether there are simply so many more horrible things to report about that pedophilia falls off of the news radar? I have to agree with her - during our years in Brazil I don't recall seeing much on this topic in the news?

Originally posted by Terry_2 Originally posted by Amsterdam Paedophiles are everywhere. Of course there are horror stories like this in Brazil and yes, many fall off the radar or you simply dont pick upon them. It still remains a relatively taboo subject in Brazil, however it's just as bad as anywhere else but not so widely or openly reported.

 

When I first came to Brazil, I was introduced to my friend's brother, a doctor working for an agency in S.P. He was introduced as working with "abused children".  To me, that brought to mind kids who were beaten as discipline, left alone all week, not fed, etc....run-aways, discards, street kids.  He mentioned that the "problem" was often kept quiet within the family, so kids did not get services. If the abuser is the mother's boyfriend, he noted,  the mother may choose not to do anything so as to continue having financial support.

Only later in the conversation, I was amazed to learn that his definition of "abused children" = teenagers sexually abused by a parent, step parent or other family member or family friend ! 

So I think terminology may be part of the "falling off the radar".