By The Opinion
Nov 21, 2024, 1:43 PM EST
The home should be a safe place for each child, but this is not always the case; Many physical and sexual abuses against minors take place within their own home. Such was the case of three little sisters from Colombia who experienced abuse at the hands of a neighbor, who was already convicted.
His parents rented an apartment to the 63-year-old man, so he gained their trust and also that of the girls, ages four, seven and 10. Freddy Antonio Tovarof Venezuelan origin, seemed to be a kind neighbor, gave the girls gifts and sweets, and stayed with them at their home while their parents went out to work.
Once he was alone with them, he locked them in his room and touched them, in addition to forcing them to do the same. These facts were pointed out by the minors themselves.
According to RCN News, Tovar took advantage of that closeness with the girls and the atmosphere of trust that he had built at home.to abuse minors between November 10 and 15, 2022.
Antonio Tovar, by pleading guilty, prevented his trial from being extended further and was sentenced by a judge to 150 months, equivalent to 12 years and 6 months in prison, for the crime of aggravated sexual acts with a minor under 14 years of age.
Just the day before the case was made known, November 19, Colombia commemorated the International Day for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, established by the World Women’s Summit Foundation. This for the alarming increase in abuse against women in the first years of their lives.
According to the Infobae site, more than 32,000 cases of violence against minors were reported in Colombia in 2023; 84% were girls and 85% of the sexual offenders were known to the victims.
Sadly, 22% of the cases occurred within the minors’ own home. So far this year, Family Welfare has attended to 40,000 cases of restoration of rights of minor victims of violence. Even more alarming are the 380 homicides of minors that occurred in 2024.
Keep reading:
– Colombian posed as a pastor to abuse minors at religious meetings.
– An American is sentenced to 15 years in prison for child abuse in Colombia.