“When night falls”: Violence against women and its repercussions on children and adolescents

• Published in: Journal of pediatric nursing 2022-07, Vol.65, p.e15-e16
• Main Authors: Silva, Sergio Quezado Gurgel e, de Medeiros, Robson Antão, Reis, Alberto Olavo Advincula, de Vasconcelos, Carlos Augusto Carvalho, Alves, Ruan Neto Pereira, Neto, Modesto Leite Rolim, Lima, Nadia Nara Rolim, de Matos, Aloísio Antônio Gomes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Femicide; Kids; Oppressors; Teenagers; Trauma; Violence; Women
• ISSN: 0882-5963; 1532-8449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.12.012

Violence against women is a profound global injustice. It is a major obstacle to fulfilling the human rights of women and their children. Confined to their aggressors, women exposed to this violence have even greater difficulty in accessing support networks and care services. Furthermore, the economic impact of the pandemic, which disproportionately affected women, created additional barriers. In reality, however, femicide is forgotten, underestimated, and poorly prosecuted throughout the world. In this context, more than 100 children witnessed a murder or were at home when it took place. This form of indirect violence is vicarious, in which children are left out, anonymous, and invisible. The trauma generated potentiates mentalization difficulties, emotional dependence, and instability in future relationships, caused by pain and psychological suffering. •Femicide is forgotten, underestimated, and poorly prosecuted around the world.•80% of mothers in domestic homicides were killed by a current or previous partner.•In at least 19 cases, femicide was followed by suicide, leaving the child/children orphan(s).•Femicide is avicarious, in which children are left out, anonymous, and invisible.