A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of raping a minor, aged 13, on June 13 in a commercial establishment in Torres Vedras, as revealed by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) in a statement released on Wednesday, July 16.
Investigators stated that the rape was committed using “physical force” and under the threat of a “bladed weapon.”
The PJ added that the suspect coerced the child into entering the commercial establishment where he works, in order to commit the crime.
The minor eventually reported the incident to his mother, who took him to a local hospital, from where he was subsequently transferred to a reference hospital in Lisbon. After several examinations, healthcare professionals confirmed the rape.
Following the complaint, authorities conducted several investigative procedures at the crime scene, as well as evidence collection by the PJ’s Scientific Police Laboratory, which provided compelling material evidence strongly indicating the 24-year-old man as the perpetrator of the rape.
Presented in court for a preliminary judicial interrogation, the man was remanded in custody under the most severe restraint measure, pre-trial detention.
The Assembly of the Republic approved, on July 11, a bill by the Left Bloc (BE) that recognizes rape as a public crime, with votes in favor from the majority of parliamentary groups and twelve socialist deputies.
The bill, presented by deputy Mariana Mortágua, which aims for anyone, not just the victim, to report a rape crime, received support from PSD, Chega, IL, Livre, CDS-PP, BE, PAN, and JPP, as well as from twelve PS parliamentarians, including former secretary-general Pedro Nuno Santos, while PS and PCP parliamentary groups abstained.
However, not everyone agrees with the change in the law. The association Breaking the Silence, which supports boys who are victims of sexual violence, warned that the legislative proposal could impact the well-being, security, and autonomy of victims.
Breaking the Silence, which assists boys who are victims of sexual violence, alerted to the potential risks of the legislative proposal making rape a public crime, noting its impact on the well-being, security, and autonomy of victims.
“Turning the crime of rape into a public crime could further alienate male and female survivors from support services. It could be another door that closes,” stated Ângelo Fernandes, founder and president of Breaking the Silence, in a press release.
The official argued that, to truly protect victims, it is necessary to start by listening to them, respecting their timing, and ensuring that justice is on their side. While the measure may seem well-intentioned, there are real concerns about its impact on the well-being, security, and autonomy of victims.
The association argues that it is essential to ensure that no victim is forced to go through a traumatic judicial process for which they are not prepared, emphasizing that the moment of reporting is deeply personal and must be respected.
