Expert: Child abusers blame victims; father kicked 3-year-old daughter for crying

A father in Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, Brazil, was filmed kicking his three-year-old daughter on Sunday, May 5th. The incident was captured by security cameras, and the man, whose name has not been officially released, was arrested on Thursday, May 9th. During his police interrogation, he claimed he kicked the child because she was crying. Juliana Prates, a doctor in Child Studies and professor at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), stated that aggressors often blame the victim to justify their actions, which has a devastating impact beyond the physical abuse by shattering the child's trust. Prates explained that children subjected to violence justified as 'discipline' may come to accept violence as a form of affection, leading to escalation. She noted a cultural tendency to minimize physical punishment, despite legislation prohibiting it, emphasizing that even a 'small slap' or 'pinch' constitutes violence. A Datafolha survey commissioned by the Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal Foundation found that 29% of respondents admitted to using violent practices like spanking or pinching on children up to three years old. The same survey indicated that 58% of respondents use grounding, and 43% resort to yelling or arguing as disciplinary methods. The father was initially released because the arrest was not made in flagrante delicto, as the crime had already occurred. However, a preventive detention warrant was issued for domestic violence and familial violence, leading to his arrest. The Civil Police have requested protective measures for the child, her brother, and their mother, who reported the incident after seeing the video on social media. The Tutelary Council is also involved and monitoring the case.