0
Acre recorded a jump from 736 to 860 cases of rape between 2023 and 2024, an increase of 16%, and is part of the picture of growth in sexual violence throughout the Legal Amazon. The data was released this Wednesday (19) by the Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP) and shows that the region faces rates well above the national average.
The majority of victims are children and teenagers | Photo: Illustrative
The survey shows that, in 2024, 13,312 records of sexual violence were recorded in the nine states of the Legal Amazon. The rate reached 90.4 occurrences per 100 thousand inhabitants, 38% higher than the country’s average. Compared to the previous year, the region saw an increase of 4%, while Brazil as a whole showed a slight reduction of 0.3%.
The majority of victims are children and adolescents: 77% were 14 years old or younger. Amazonas was the state that showed the largest proportional increase, with an increase of 41% in registrations. Tocantins had the biggest drop, 9%. In addition to Acre, other units also recorded an increase, such as Roraima (13%), Amapá (14%) and Maranhão (14%).
According to Isabella Matosinhos, a researcher at FBSP, the increase in sexual violations in the Amazon cannot be explained by a single factor. The expert highlights that border areas make women and children more vulnerable, especially where there is less State presence. Furthermore, the expansion of criminal factions in the region has expanded dynamics of social control and even interfered in affective relationships.
Isabella explains that the internal logic of these groups reinforces sexist and hierarchical standards, which tends to encourage violence against women. “The masculinities that operate within factions are often guided by sexist structures. This is directly reflected in the rates of sexual violence. The growth of factions accompanies the increase in rape rates”, he states.
