Perceptions about violence against children and youth in Bolivia. A systemic vision

Abstract

This qualitative research analyzes the phenomenon of the violence against children from both, the perspective of children, their parents and child- protection services. Focus groups with children and parents; and interviews to teachers, health personnel and first line child-protection workers were conducted, with the purpose to develop an integral understanding of violence against children. Results show that family and school play an ambivalent role showing both, protection and aggression answers which makes difficult to identify violence patterns Violence against children and youth, children`s rights, protection services, Bolivia. Morerover, families fear they will loose authority with their children; despite of legally recognize children and youth as subject of law, the perspective of seeing them as objects of law still prevails. Violence is recognized as a multi-dimensional phenomenon but institutional response is one-dimension; pushing for presenting formal denounces despite the lack of effectiveness of this in the reduction of violence. More research about the complexity of inter-institutional relationships to respond to child maltreatment is needed to understand how to implement more effective responses to reduce it.

Keywords

• violencia contra la niñez y adolescencia
• derechos de la infancia
• sistema de protección
• bolivia