Promoter launches booklet for young people on abusive relationships

In recent years, the term abusive relationship gained great visibility. These are behaviors of domination over the other that can cause damage, both psychological and physical. Those who face the situation usually have difficulty noticing the first signs of abuse because many of them are considered normal in society.

With the aim of guiding young people to perceive abusive attitudes from their partner, the prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of São Paulo Valerie Scarance produced the booklet “Cool Dating”which contains practical tips on how to notice if a relationship is becoming toxic.

“We, who work with the fight for gender equality, realized the need to talk to young women in a different way. And the booklet came about that way”, explains Valéria to CLAUDIA.

Without using the words “violence”, “victim” and “aggressor”, the booklet is didactic and provides seven tips on dating. The idea is that girls who are going through abusive relationships, but still haven’t realized the situation, become interested in the subject and begin to recognize their partner’s domineering conduct.

“These tips, although they are light and practical, bring a very powerful and important message”, says Valéria. “The goal is that she [cartilha] be an important instrument for preventing abusive relationships and help young women to reflect on their relationships and to impose limits so that abuse does not evolve into a more serious case such as physical violence”.

Cases of abusive relationships are more frequent in young people

According to the survey ‘Visível e Invisível 2019’, by the Brazilian Public Security Forum, 42% of women aged between 16 and 24 suffered violence in 2018 in Brazil. In the prosecutor’s opinion, this is due to the inexperience of these young women.

“If women are already subject to control and domination, the danger is even greater for young women and adolescents because they are starting this phase of life and do not know how to identify abusive conduct”, defends Valéria. “They give in more quickly to an abusive relationship because of their age and inexperience,” she adds.

According to the survey “O Jovem Está Ligado”, by the Avon Institute, attitudes such as not approving that the partner goes out alone or drinks in bars, forcing sexual intercourse without a condom and forcing the supply of the social media password are warning signs.

Prevention

The “Legal Dating” booklet is now available on the website of the Public Ministry and can be accessed by anyone. “The idea is to share this booklet in groups, on social networks, so that they become known to young women and serve as an instrument for preventing abusive relationships”, explains the promoter.

In addition to the material, the project, which was carried out in partnership with Microsoft, will also feature the launch of MAIA (My Friend Artificial Intelligence)🇧🇷 It is a virtual robot that talks to young people and teenagers through Messenger, based on the tips in the booklet. Thus, it helps young women to identify abusive behavior.

Still no release date, it should be hosted on the website of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Plan International and Whim🇧🇷 “The objective is for it to be an easily accessible instrument”, says Valéria.

Read too: Are you still happy in your relationship? Know when love becomes toxic

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