APAV appeals to victims who report the cases as soon as possible. And there is a positive side: more victims are reporting cases. Many are led to leave the house and the job.
In Portugal, the crime of persecutionbetter known as, has been growing worryingly.
According to data released by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and cited by the newspaper this Wednesday, between 2020 and 2024 were opened 5,033 inquiries related to this crime – a 25% increase over the five years.
The main victims of stalking They continue to be women, being the aggressors, in most cases, former partner or known people. But there was also an increase in cases involving unknown, largely driven by social networks, which facilitate access to the victims’ personal lives.
The Portuguese Victim Support Association (APAV) accompanied, only in 2023, 1,691 situations of stalkingof which 191 were not related to domestic violence. Although isolated cases have been decreasing since 2019, there is a positive trend: more victims are denouncing abusive behaviors at an early stage.
O stalking You can start with apparently harmless messages, but often evolves into situations of control and intimidation. The impacts, warn experts, include anxiety, fear constant, social isolation And in extreme cases, changes in the daily life of victims, such as change of routines, change of home or abandonment of employment.
Despite the aggravation of the phenomenon, many victims continue not to file a complaint, especially when they do not know the aggressor. THE APAV recommends cutting all contact, preserving evidence and reporting to the police as soon as possible. Early denunciation is crucial to hanging the climb of harassment, as in most cases ignoring the aggressor is not enough to end persecution.
