The state of Acre in Brazil is confronting a serious public safety crisis, with authorities reporting 27 cases of rape involving adolescents during the first three months of 2026. In response, the Acre Court of Justice (TJ-AC) has launched the 'Protected Childhood' campaign, a major initiative designed to accelerate the processing of these violent crimes and deliver swifter justice for victims.
This campaign is a central part of the 'Orange May' awareness month, which focuses on combating the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and adolescents. As part of the effort, the judiciary will conduct a special push, scheduling 152 hearings specifically for rape cases. The hearings will be distributed across several judicial districts, including 44 in Rio Branco's 2nd Court for Children and Youth, 34 in Tarauacá's Criminal Court, and 18 in Cruzeiro do Sul's Court for Children and Youth.
The statistics paint a grim picture of the ongoing violence. According to the Civil Police, the state recorded 123 rapes of vulnerable victims—which legally includes those up to 14 years old—between January and March alone. This issue is not new; the state saw 652 such cases in 2025 and 759 in 2024. The most recent full-year data from 2025 shows 572 total rapes, with 452 of those victims classified as vulnerable, indicating a persistent and severe problem.
Judicial and police officials are stressing that the violence often occurs in the very place children should be safest: their own homes. The Coordinator of Children and Youth, Judge Regina Ferrari, emphasized the need to say no to violence and sexual abuse, noting that the home is frequently where the violation happens. The Corregidor-General of Justice, Nonato Maia, stated the campaign's goal is to provide concrete solutions and faster responses to these cases.
In parallel, the Civil Police are intensifying their actions throughout May. Delegada Carla Fabíola, from the specialized precinct for child and adolescent victims, highlighted a dual strategy of prevention and accelerated investigation. This includes increasing the number of interrogations, requesting arrests, and speeding up case processes. The authorities also underscore that fighting this violence is a societal responsibility, urging the public not to ignore signs of abuse.
Officials are reminding the public of the critical resources available for reporting violence against children and adolescents. These include the Military Police (190) for immediate danger, SAMU (192) for urgent medical help, specialized police precincts, any police station, the national human rights hotline Disque 100 for anonymous reports, and the WhatsApp line of the Ministry of Women, Family, and Human Rights. Health professionals are also mandated to report suspected cases. Based on reporting from g1.