Media coverage of crimes must respect the dignity, privacy, and wishes of the victims, protect personal information, and avoid social judgments, ensuring that any testimony is voluntary and safe, recommended today by the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV).
“As an organization that supports victims, our priority is always to guarantee that the rights, interests, and needs of the victims are ensured at all times”, said Cíntia Silva, a criminologist at APAV, speaking about two crimes of violence by children against parents, which occurred this week and are being investigated by the Judicial Police.
One case involved the homicide of Vagos councilwoman (Aveiro district) Susana Gravato, allegedly committed by her 14-year-old son, and the other was the attempted murder of the former president of the Observatory of Security, Organized Crime and Terrorism, José Manuel Anes, by his daughter.
In October, there were several cases of children who killed or attempted to kill their parents. In Portugal, within three days, there were two cases, one of which involved a minor suspected of shooting his mother at home.
Maria Gouveia | 12:46 – 22/10/2025
Cíntia Silva emphasized that the media plays “a very important role in the social perception of crime”, in assessing the risk people feel of becoming victims, and in the fear they may have of certain types of crime.
At the same time, it can impact the process of victimization, she warned, highlighting that, for these reasons, APAV has recommendations on how the media should approach “these very delicate situations.”
“Our recommendations are always aimed at trying to minimize as much as possible situations of social judgment. Because there are proper instances and places for judgment, and we know that today a large part of that judgment is done on the internet and social networks”, she stated.
The way the media reports cases of family violence directly influences public understanding and can reinforce stigmas or prevent new episodes, warned psychologist Neusa Patuleia today, urging social responsibility.
Lusa | 22:39 – 22/10/2025
According to the expert, secondary victimization situations should also be avoided, where victims end up reliving the negative aspects related to the situation they were subjected to.
Cíntia Silva emphasized the importance of “giving a voice to those who want to speak, who want to share their testimony.”
“Often victims wish to speak, and it can even be part of the recovery process,” but it is equally necessary to respect those who decide not to do so.
She argued that all approaches taken must be conducted with sensitivity and respect, considering that people are in a situation of “enormous vulnerability” in the face of the crime they suffered, and any type of value judgment should be avoided to the greatest extent, even concerning the offender, presuming innocence until the final judgment is reached.
Cíntia Silva also highlighted that the victim’s private life and intimacy must be respected: “Even when victims decide to speak and share their testimony, there are details of their private life that should be protected,” she said, emphasizing that “the safety and protection of victims must always come first.”
The space where interviews are conducted or where information from victims is gathered should also be appropriate, preserving the intimacy and safety of those involved, she stressed.
When asked if the way these cases are reported can incite similar situations, Cíntia Silva said it “can somehow influence,” but emphasized that “each case is a case and will always depend on various circumstances, various factors, and not just a single cause.”
More than 2,800 parents assaulted by their children sought help from APAV between 2022 and 2024, an increase of 27.1%, with an average of 2.6 cases per day.
“In 2024 alone, we supported about 1,036 victims, and many of these situations are framed within the crime of domestic violence,” she pointed out.
Regarding homicides committed by children against parents, the APAV’s specialized network “Hope,” operating since 2013, registered a single case.
“We don’t have much data on homicide situations, but it is understood that we have had more victims on the part of the children. Other types of violence are increasing, or people are asking us for more help,” she concluded.
As for the reasons, she said that various circumstances could coexist, such as financial issues, substance abuse, mental health problems.
When aggressors are younger, she said, “exposure to technology and increasingly early exposure to violence can also be factors with some impact in these situations.”
The behavior of children and young people is not always an indicator that can express “a desire to kill.” Some young people have no history of violence. Still, in most cases, those who have violent thoughts exhibit some signs, a psychologist warns.
Inês Morais Monteiro | 11:40 – 23/10/2025
