Group and corrective rape: little-known or underreported crimes?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Group rape is characterized by the active participation of two or more individuals in an act of sexual violence, whereas corrective rape is intended to control the victim’s social or sexual behavior. Law No. 13,718 of 2018 amended Article 226 of the Brazilian Penal Code and increased penalties for perpetrators. Children and adolescents are the main victims of these crimes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the frequency of group rape in the state of Pernambuco. METHOD: This descriptive cross-sectional study used data collected from the governmental website MarcoZero, available at https://marcozero.org/pe-e-o-unico-estado-que-nao-informa-idade-dasvitimas-de-violencia-sexual/. Variables analyzed were age, sex, rape, rape of a vulnerable person, rape of a vulnerable person involving domestic or family violence, and rape involving family violence. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2024, 24,474 rapes were reported in Pernambuco; 20,975 victims were female and 3,249 were male. Two hundred fifty cases were excluded because sex was not determined. Children aged 0 to 11 years were the most vulnerable age group, and rape of a vulnerable person was the most frequent type of crime, followed by rape of a vulnerable person involving domestic or family violence. During the study period, 62 group rapes and three corrective rapes were reported. In both crimes, most affected victims were women (61 group rapes and one corrective rape). DISCUSSION: Sexual violence is a serious violation of human rights with major immediate and delayed consequences. Since the beginning of the third millennium, two types of sexual crimes have gained media visibility. In 2018, the legal framework changed, increasing penalties for perpetrators in cases of rape committed by two or more people (group rape) or intended to ‘correct’ social or sexual behavior (corrective rape). Reports of crimes against sexual freedom remain far below their true occurrence, probably including these two forms of violence. CONCLUSION: These two crimes urgently need to be included in public debate so that statistical data can improve and enable the development of effective public policies.