ABSTRACT

This research aimed to present perspectives of guardianship counselors on the action in cases of violence against children. To that end, 16 professionals were interviewed acting in the city of Palmas (TO), Brazil. The data was submitted to content analysis. It was identified that they interfere with the confrontation of child violence, by these actors, the lack of knowledge and skills to identify children at risk or situation of violence, the involvement of families in cases, precarious material resources, insufficient number of professionals, failures in the network of child protection, cultural stereotypes, professional devaluation and impunity of the aggressor. Thus, in order for the Guardianship Council to be able to fully exercise its functions and contribute to the interruption of the cycle of child violence, investments in various areas are required, such as qualification of guardianship counselors, through the provision of periodic courses, and the implementation of work environments with sufficient material and human resources, in order to contribute to the implementation of integrated, intersectoral and resolute actions.

KEYWORDS
Children; Child abuse; Violence; Child protection services

Introduction

Violence is characterized by human actions of individuals, groups, classes and nations that, intentionally, may provoke intimidation and physical, moral, spiritual and psychological damages, inclusively, leading to death. It has been present in the world since the early days of society and represents a serious health hazard, since it results in harmful consequences for the victim and the people involved¹1 Minayo MCS, Souza ER. Violência e saúde como um campo interdisciplinar e de ação coletiva. Rev. Hist. Cienc. Saúde-Manguinhos. 1997; 4(3):513-531..

In the national and international scenarios, violence is identified as a public health problem that violates human rights²2 Minayo MCS, Souza ER, Silva MMA, et al. Institucionalização do tema da violência no SUS: avanços e desafios. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2018; 23(6):2007-2016.

3 Santini PM, Williams LCA. Parenting Programs to Prevent Corporal Punishment: a Systematic Review. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto). 2016; 26(63):121-129.

4 Dodge KA, Malone PS, Lansford JE, et al. Hostile attributional bias and aggressive behavior in global context. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2015; 112(30):9310-9315.

5 Lansford JE, Deater-Deckar DK, Bornstein MH, et al. Attitudes justifying domestic violence predict endorsement of corporal punishment and physical and psychological aggression towards children: a study in 25 low- and middle-income countries. J. Pediatr. 2014; 164(5):1208-1213.^-66 World Health Organization (WHO). Global status report on violence prevention 2014 [internet]. Geneva; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Reports/UNDP-GVA-violence-2014.pdf.
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/lib... , being represented by multiple causalities in different social environments, and perceived in the relations between different groups and cultures⁴4 Dodge KA, Malone PS, Lansford JE, et al. Hostile attributional bias and aggressive behavior in global context. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2015; 112(30):9310-9315..

It is estimated that, among adult individuals, at least one in four have suffered physical abuse in childhood; one in five women was exposed to sexual violence as a child; and one in three, subjected to physical or sexual violence, perpetrated by an intimate partner at some point in her life⁶6 World Health Organization (WHO). Global status report on violence prevention 2014 [internet]. Geneva; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Reports/UNDP-GVA-violence-2014.pdf.
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/lib... .

In the children’s age group, violence reaches expressive numbers, is responsible for physical and psychosocial losses to children³3 Santini PM, Williams LCA. Parenting Programs to Prevent Corporal Punishment: a Systematic Review. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto). 2016; 26(63):121-129.^,77 Platt VB, Back IC, Hauschild DB, et al. Violência sexual contra crianças: autores, vítimas e consequências. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2018; 23(4):1019-1031.^,88 Servin AE, Strathdee S, Muñoz FA, et al. Vulnerabilities faced by the children of sex workers in two Mexico-US border cities: a retrospective study on sexual violence, substance use and HIV risk. AIDS Care. 2015;27(1):1-5. and may negatively reflect the health of the individual as an adult⁷7 Platt VB, Back IC, Hauschild DB, et al. Violência sexual contra crianças: autores, vítimas e consequências. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2018; 23(4):1019-1031.^,88 Servin AE, Strathdee S, Muñoz FA, et al. Vulnerabilities faced by the children of sex workers in two Mexico-US border cities: a retrospective study on sexual violence, substance use and HIV risk. AIDS Care. 2015;27(1):1-5..

Researches indicate that, despite efforts to prevent it, child aggressions are still an alarming reality in several countries⁵5 Lansford JE, Deater-Deckar DK, Bornstein MH, et al. Attitudes justifying domestic violence predict endorsement of corporal punishment and physical and psychological aggression towards children: a study in 25 low- and middle-income countries. J. Pediatr. 2014; 164(5):1208-1213.^,66 World Health Organization (WHO). Global status report on violence prevention 2014 [internet]. Geneva; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Reports/UNDP-GVA-violence-2014.pdf.
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/lib... ^,99 Malta DC, Bernal RTI, Teixeira BS, et al. Fatores associados a violências contra crianças em Serviços Sentinela de Urgência nas capitais brasileiras. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2017; 22(9):2889-2898.^,1010 Fundo das Nações Unidas para a Infância (UNICEF). Agenda pela infância 2015-2018: desafios e propostas eleições 2104 [internet]. Brasília, DF; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_agenda2014.pdf.
https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_... . In 2014, for example, only in Brazil 30.324 cases of violence against children under 10 years of age were reported¹¹11 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Frequência por Região de notificação segundo faixa etária, período 2014 [internet]. Ministério da Saúde; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/tabcgi.exe?sinannet/cnv/violebr.def.
http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/tabcgi.... . It should be noted that the quantitative record represents only the tip of the iceberg of the daily violences that actually take place. Under this visible quantity, there is an enormous number of maltreatment that does not reach social visibility¹²12 Ribeiro IMP, Ribeiro AST, Pratesi R, et al. Prevalence of various forms of violence among school students. Acta Paul. Enferm. 2015; 28(1):54-59..

As a strategy to change these indicators, in Brazil, notification of suspected or confirmed cases of child maltreatment is mandatory. They should be communicated to the Guardianship Council, an institution created on the basis of the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA), and which has the very important function of ensuring the fulfillment of the rights of this clientele¹³13 Brasil. Lei nº 8.069, de 13 de julho de 1990. Dispõe sobre o Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União. 14 Jul 1990..

With the purpose of protecting children, various activities should be developed by guardianship counselors, such as serving children and adolescents with violated rights; guide parents or guardians; solicit public services in the various areas, such as health, education and social security; deliberate notifications and assist in the elaboration of the budget proposal of the municipality to ensure that the services that guarantee the rights of the child are made available¹⁴14 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Notificação de maus-tratos contra crianças e adolescentes pelos profissionais de saúde: um passo a mais na cidadania em saúde [internet]. Brasília, DF: Ministério da Saúde; 2002 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/notificacao_maustratos_criancas_adolescentes.pdf.
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe... .

For each Brazilian municipality and administrative area of the Federal District, it is foreseen the operation of, at least, one Guardianship Council as a member of the local public administration, composed of five members chosen by the population and with a four-year mandate¹³13 Brasil. Lei nº 8.069, de 13 de julho de 1990. Dispõe sobre o Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União. 14 Jul 1990..

Brazil has about 5.472 Guardianship Councils, with coverage of 98.3% of the municipalities. However, despite this wide scope, this body still faces common challenges, such as achieving universalization of care, both in large urban centers and in remote and small municipalities, and to qualify the services provided¹⁰10 Fundo das Nações Unidas para a Infância (UNICEF). Agenda pela infância 2015-2018: desafios e propostas eleições 2104 [internet]. Brasília, DF; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_agenda2014.pdf.
https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_... . In general, it is possible to identify numerous failures in the functioning of such an entity¹⁵15 Deslandes SF, Campos DS. Guardianship Councilors' views on the effectiveness of the existing network in providing full protection to children and teenagers in situations of sexual violence. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2015; 20(7):2173-2182.^,1616 Moreira MCN, Bastos OM, Bastos LC, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes com deficiência: narrativas com conselheiros tutelares. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2014; 19(9):3869-3878..

Faced with these data, the following question guided the development of this research: ‘Are guardianship counselors prepared to identify and act in situations of violence against children?’ Here, the objective was to present perspectives of guardianship counselors on the action in cases of violence against children.

It is believed that the results found provide visibility to the experiences and difficulties of these social actors, collaborating for the implementation, by the public power and responsible institutions, of actions that effectively qualify the work of the guardianship counselors and, consequently, favor the prevention, identification, handling of cases and interruption of the cycle of violence perpetrated against the child.

The origin of the history of violence dates back to the pre-civilizing period, therefore, its deconstruction requires awareness and commitment of society to the iniquities of the contemporary world. In this perspective, the universalization of the guarantee of the rights of the child, expressed in constitutions and declarations all over the world, must be a search for social movements, professionals related to the area and the entire population¹⁷17 Rates SMM, Melo EM, Mascarenhas MDM, et al. Violência infantil: uma análise das notificações compulsórias, Brasil 2011. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2015; 20(3):655-665..

Material and methods

This is a descriptive and exploratory research, with a qualitative approach, carried out in the Guardianship Councils of Palmas (TO), Brazil, in which guardianship counselors acting in the municipality were interviewed, individually.

To serve children and families at risk or situation of violence, this municipality has four Guardianship Council units, two covering the north and central regions, and two in the southern region. There are, in each unit, five guardianship counselors, responsible for serving an estimated population of approximately 242 thousand inhabitants, with 64.468 (26.63%) children up to 14 years of age¹⁸18 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Estimativa dos dados da população residente no município de Palmas em 2012 [internet]. Brasília, DF: Ministério da Saúde; 2012 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/tabcgi.exe?ibge/cnv/popto.def.
http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/tabcgi.... .

For the data collection stage, a researcher contacted the guardianship counselors and scheduled the interviews, which occurred in the service, in a private room, always respecting the availability of the subjects. The interviews were semi-structured and recorded in digital media, with the consent of the individuals, carried out from September 2015 to January 2016, and transcribed at the end of the recording.

The data were submitted, in order to understand the totality of the information collected, to content analysis¹⁹19 Bardin L. Análise de conteúdo. Lisboa: Edições 70; 2010.. For this purpose, the material exploration was carried out, by means of an exhaustive and comprehensive reading, in order to systematize the initial ideas. Subsequently, these ideas were aggregated and systematized into units, which allowed the description of the contents. The procedure was finished with the treatment of the obtained results and interpretation, by means of the elaboration of texts and formation of the category ‘Difficulties to act in the cases of violence against the child’ and its subcategories, that present the experiences that contribute to characterize and to understand the limits, challenges and potentialities of the guardianship counselor profession (figure 1).

Of the 20 guardianship counselors working in the municipality of Palmas (TO), 16 met the criteria for inclusion (have been acting for, at least, six months as guardianship counselor) and 4 were excluded because they were away from work activities due to vacations, health treatment or others.

In the results, the interviewees were represented by the letter ‘I’ and alphanumeric system, in order to maintain secrecy regarding the identity of the participants and to avoid exposure and embarrassment.

This research met the ethical precepts proposed in Resolution nº 466/2012 and was approved by the Municipal Health Department and the Guardianship Council of the municipality of Palmas (TO) and, also, by the Ethics Committee in Research with Human Beings of the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), under protocol nº 008-02/2015.

Results and discussion

The age of the interviewees ranged from 24 to 54 years; all (16; 100%) were female and presented complete elementary education; four (25%) presented higher education. The actuation time ranged from three to ten years, and the majority (13; 81.3%) was exercising the function for at least five years.

The analysis of the testimonies allowed to identify factors that interfere in the practice of guardianship counselors. Although these professionals strive for effective action, it has been noted that a number of aspects can jeopardize the implementation of actions and collaborate for fragmented and inadequate assistance to children and families at risk or in situations of violence, as evidenced by the subcategories below.

Lack of skills to identify children at risk or situation of violence

In this research, although guardianship counselors reported having no difficulties identifying physical violence situations, especially in cases where it is possible to observe marks on the body of the child that indicate aggression, in speeches, it was consensual that they face difficulties in identifying the other types of violence.

The Guardianship Council is a permanent, autonomous, non-jurisdictional institution responsible for guaranteeing that the rights of children and adolescents are ensured. In order to apply for membership in this institution, the individual must have a recognized moral qualification, aged over 21 years and resides in the municipality where he/she will be acting¹³13 Brasil. Lei nº 8.069, de 13 de julho de 1990. Dispõe sobre o Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União. 14 Jul 1990., that is, knowledge related to the ECA and strategies to identify and act in coping with violence are not required from the candidates.

In this sense, it can be inferred that guardianship counselors are not always prepared for professional practice, since the lack of knowledge and skills is configured in obstacles to prevent, identify and act in cases of child aggression²⁰20 Silva SR, Carvalho ER. A atuação do Conselho Tutelar com crianças e adolescentes vítimas de violência. Org. Soc. 2017; 6(6):126-137.

21 Nunes AJ, Sales MCV. Violência contra crianças no cenário brasileiro. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2016; 21(3):871-880.^-2222 Batista DSM, Cerqueira-Santos E. Um estudo sobre conselheiros tutelares diante de práticas de violência sexual. Rev. Psicol. Saúde. 2012; 4(2):116-125.. It should be stressed that not having the competence to recognize children in situations of violence contributes to the maintenance of the cycle of aggression and to the invisibility of this aggravation to health²³23 Morais RLGL, Sales ZN, Rodrigues VP, et al. Actions of protection for children and teenagers in situations of violence. Rev. Pesqui. Cuid. Fundam. 2016; 8(2):4472-4486..

In this perspective, it is essential the training of guardianship counselors, so as to give them technical and scientific conditions to identify and act in the various cases of violence, and not only in those where it is possible to visualize injuries²⁰20 Silva SR, Carvalho ER. A atuação do Conselho Tutelar com crianças e adolescentes vítimas de violência. Org. Soc. 2017; 6(6):126-137.. There are several types of violence that can be perpetrated against the child, and most do not leave bruises or lesions in the body. Far beyond the physical sequels, are the emotional, social and psychological damages to which, regardless of the type of violence, the child in this situation is exposed, and that can generate damages that negatively compromise their present and future life.

Involvement of the family in situations of violence against children

Studies conducted in different countries⁹9 Malta DC, Bernal RTI, Teixeira BS, et al. Fatores associados a violências contra crianças em Serviços Sentinela de Urgência nas capitais brasileiras. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2017; 22(9):2889-2898.^,2121 Nunes AJ, Sales MCV. Violência contra crianças no cenário brasileiro. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2016; 21(3):871-880.^,2424 Souto DF, Zanin L, Ambrosano GMB, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes: perfil e tendências decorrentes da Lei nº 13.010. Rev. Bras. Enferm. 2018; 71(supl3):1313-1323.^,2525 Sena CA, Silva MA, Falbo Neto GH. Incidência de violência sexual em crianças e adolescentes em Recife/Pernambuco no biênio 2012-2013. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2018; 23(5):1591-1599. point to the family as the main perpetrator of child aggression. This situation presents itself as a challenge for the professional performance of the guardianship counselors, as it makes it difficult to identify and manage this health problem, as demonstrated by the following statements:

It is noted that, in cases where the aggressor is a member of the family, it is common for the child to deny the situation of violence, including, under duress, because he/she is forced to hide and lie about facts that can prove the aggression. It is perceived, thus, that the confrontation of violence remains a current challenge, especially since it is a complex phenomenon, involving cultural, economic and social aspects²2 Minayo MCS, Souza ER, Silva MMA, et al. Institucionalização do tema da violência no SUS: avanços e desafios. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2018; 23(6):2007-2016..

In this scenario, in which the family participates in the circle of violence against the child, whether by committing acts of aggression, omitting them or even denying them, the guardian counselor is perceived as an invader, as a figure capable of causing some harm to the family. As a consequence, routinely, these professionals need to deal with the lack of receptivity on the part of the community and, often, with disrespect and threats, as evidenced by the following statements:

It is noticed that the interaction between guardianship counselors and family members is permeated by complex experiences, in which the professional is, often, not treated with dignity and as an indispensable social actor to interrupt the cycle of child violence. Thus, actions are needed that give visibility, for society, to the role played by the tutor, in order to contribute to the appreciation of this professional and to the effectiveness of the actions performed by him/her¹⁶16 Moreira MCN, Bastos OM, Bastos LC, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes com deficiência: narrativas com conselheiros tutelares. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2014; 19(9):3869-3878..

It also poses a challenge for guardianship counselors that violence against children – in particular, physical and psychological aggression – presents itself as a phenomenon that is culturally accepted by society. Corporal punishment, for example, although it can cause numerous losses to the development of the child, is a familiar and tolerant practice.

In the reports, it is possible to note that families do not perceive themselves as aggressors, since they believe that punishment is part of the education process of the child.

The cases of violence, usually, present themselves with cultural and social normativity²⁶26 Mandelbaum B, Schraiber LB, d'Oliveira AFPL. Violence and family life: psychoanalytic and gender approaches. Saúde Soc. 2016; 25(2):422-430., and the family, which should play the role of protecting the child, is one of the main providers of aggression, compromising his/her welfare and the psychosocial performance⁷7 Platt VB, Back IC, Hauschild DB, et al. Violência sexual contra crianças: autores, vítimas e consequências. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2018; 23(4):1019-1031.^,2727 Costa DKG, Reichert LP, França JRFS, et al. Concepções e práticas dos profissionais de saúde acerca da violência intrafamiliar contra crianças e adolescentes. Trab. Educ. Saúde. 2015; 13(supl2):9-95.^,2828 Nakaya N. Mother's attributions regarding children's behavior and maltreatment. J. Shinrigaku Kenkyu. 2016; 87(1):40-49..

It is perceived, thus, that the efforts of various social actors, such as education, health, justice and public management professionals are urged, to implement actions capable of collaborating to deconstruct the ideology of violence as an educative mechanism, and to empower families and society for the promotion and protection of healthy child development. Activities of guidance, lectures, campaigns and dissemination of the rights of children and adolescents, by different means, are actions that can collaborate in the prevention of child violence²³23 Morais RLGL, Sales ZN, Rodrigues VP, et al. Actions of protection for children and teenagers in situations of violence. Rev. Pesqui. Cuid. Fundam. 2016; 8(2):4472-4486..

It is worth noting, also, that violence is a matter of socio-political praxis, and its overcoming requires knowledge of the conditions that engender it. The opposite of violence is not nonviolence, but citizenship and the appreciation of human life in general, and of each individual, in the context of his/her group¹1 Minayo MCS, Souza ER. Violência e saúde como um campo interdisciplinar e de ação coletiva. Rev. Hist. Cienc. Saúde-Manguinhos. 1997; 4(3):513-531..

Insufficient material resources for adequate assistance to children in situations of violence

In addition to knowledge and skills to act in situations of violence against children, guardianship counselors also need adequate working conditions²²22 Batista DSM, Cerqueira-Santos E. Um estudo sobre conselheiros tutelares diante de práticas de violência sexual. Rev. Psicol. Saúde. 2012; 4(2):116-125.. However, in this research, the interviewees mentioned that the physical structure of the units of the Guardianship Councils is inappropriate, not allowing the minimum of privacy and comfort to the children and families served, and that there is no equipment necessary for the work, as the following statements show:

The literature corroborates the findings of this research by presenting that guardianship counselors are required to perform their activities without satisfactory conditions for work¹⁶16 Moreira MCN, Bastos OM, Bastos LC, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes com deficiência: narrativas com conselheiros tutelares. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2014; 19(9):3869-3878.^,2020 Silva SR, Carvalho ER. A atuação do Conselho Tutelar com crianças e adolescentes vítimas de violência. Org. Soc. 2017; 6(6):126-137.. Often, professional performance is hampered by the inadequacy of physical infrastructure, and by the lack of financial incentive and transport means to deal with cases of aggression²²22 Batista DSM, Cerqueira-Santos E. Um estudo sobre conselheiros tutelares diante de práticas de violência sexual. Rev. Psicol. Saúde. 2012; 4(2):116-125..

Besides the inadequate physical structure of the places where the Guardianship Councils are located, another aspect that compromises the work is the non-implementation of a computerized system, in which professionals can register their activities, as well as seek information from other instances that act in the child protection. Such a situation makes service difficult, making it slow and, even, not very decisive.

Although the current legislation points to the Guardianship Councils as important tools for the protection of the rights of the child¹³13 Brasil. Lei nº 8.069, de 13 de julho de 1990. Dispõe sobre o Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União. 14 Jul 1990., it was noted the precariousness of this institution, which may reflect on professional dissatisfaction and inadequate care for children and families at risk or situation of violence¹⁶16 Moreira MCN, Bastos OM, Bastos LC, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes com deficiência: narrativas com conselheiros tutelares. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2014; 19(9):3869-3878.^,2020 Silva SR, Carvalho ER. A atuação do Conselho Tutelar com crianças e adolescentes vítimas de violência. Org. Soc. 2017; 6(6):126-137.^,2222 Batista DSM, Cerqueira-Santos E. Um estudo sobre conselheiros tutelares diante de práticas de violência sexual. Rev. Psicol. Saúde. 2012; 4(2):116-125..

It is perceived that, in general, guardianship counselors care about children, but they are not always able to act according to the ECA. The failures in the functioning of the Guardianship Councils are related to the precariousness of different types of resources and corroborate the suffering and sickness of their workers, especially, for experiencing routinely situations of violations of the various rights of the child and of professional devaluation¹⁶16 Moreira MCN, Bastos OM, Bastos LC, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes com deficiência: narrativas com conselheiros tutelares. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2014; 19(9):3869-3878.^,2020 Silva SR, Carvalho ER. A atuação do Conselho Tutelar com crianças e adolescentes vítimas de violência. Org. Soc. 2017; 6(6):126-137.. Therefore, it is indispensable, to the public power, to invest in conditions worthy of work for these professionals.

Weaknesses in the network of protection for children in situations of violence

The literature indicates, as problems present in the network of coping with child violence, the slowness of the system of defense and accountability (public security, Public Prosecution and Justice), insufficient socio-educational and educational policies, scarcity and, even, lack of existence of several fundamental services and actions, especially, mental health services, in addition to the small number of professionals working in organizations and services¹⁵15 Deslandes SF, Campos DS. Guardianship Councilors' views on the effectiveness of the existing network in providing full protection to children and teenagers in situations of sexual violence. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2015; 20(7):2173-2182.. These aspects were also identified in the speeches of the participants of the present study.

It is noted that there is only one specialized center in the municipality to which children and families are referred in a situation of violence, and the number of health professionals working in this place is insufficient. This fact corroborates the fragmented and few resolutive assistance.

It is worth noting that providing high-quality care and support services to victims, with sufficient numbers of professionals and competent to deal with this health problem, is an important tool for reducing child trauma and preventing the recurrence of aggression¹⁰10 Fundo das Nações Unidas para a Infância (UNICEF). Agenda pela infância 2015-2018: desafios e propostas eleições 2104 [internet]. Brasília, DF; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_agenda2014.pdf.
https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_... .

It was also possible to identify, in the testimonies of guardianship counselors, that there is no effective communication between the institutions responsible for caring for children and families in situations of violence. It is noted that the lack of a specialized and interconnected network can favor the recidivism of violence, the non-implementation of precautionary measures to the aggressors and the lack of resolution of the cases, as the following statements show:

The disarticulation between child protection services makes it difficult to carry out the activities of guardianship counselors. As a consequence, frustrated professionals and children and families who are underserved by the public authorities are perceived¹⁵15 Deslandes SF, Campos DS. Guardianship Councilors' views on the effectiveness of the existing network in providing full protection to children and teenagers in situations of sexual violence. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2015; 20(7):2173-2182.^,1616 Moreira MCN, Bastos OM, Bastos LC, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes com deficiência: narrativas com conselheiros tutelares. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2014; 19(9):3869-3878..

It is emphasized that, in order to face child violence, it is necessary to overcome the weaknesses of the network and promote integrated and effective actions among the various services and social actors¹⁰10 Fundo das Nações Unidas para a Infância (UNICEF). Agenda pela infância 2015-2018: desafios e propostas eleições 2104 [internet]. Brasília, DF; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_agenda2014.pdf.
https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_... ^,2020 Silva SR, Carvalho ER. A atuação do Conselho Tutelar com crianças e adolescentes vítimas de violência. Org. Soc. 2017; 6(6):126-137.

21 Nunes AJ, Sales MCV. Violência contra crianças no cenário brasileiro. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2016; 21(3):871-880.

22 Batista DSM, Cerqueira-Santos E. Um estudo sobre conselheiros tutelares diante de práticas de violência sexual. Rev. Psicol. Saúde. 2012; 4(2):116-125.^-2323 Morais RLGL, Sales ZN, Rodrigues VP, et al. Actions of protection for children and teenagers in situations of violence. Rev. Pesqui. Cuid. Fundam. 2016; 8(2):4472-4486.. To overcome these conditions, intense and continuous movement, articulation of wills, permanent dialogue among the actors, search for partners and permanent training for collective and intersectorial work are required¹⁵15 Deslandes SF, Campos DS. Guardianship Councilors' views on the effectiveness of the existing network in providing full protection to children and teenagers in situations of sexual violence. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2015; 20(7):2173-2182.^,2929 Egry EY, Apostolico MR, Morais TCP. Notificação da violência infantil, fluxos de atenção e processo de trabalho dos profissionais da Atenção Primária em Saúde. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2018; 23(1):83-92.^,3030 Deslandes SF, Vieira LJES, Cavalcanti LF, et al. Atendimento à saúde de crianças e adolescentes em situação de violência sexual, em quatro capitais brasileiras. Interface (Botucatu). 2016; 20(59):865-877..

Society is unaware of the real role of the Guardianship Council

In day-to-day practice, guardianship counselors need to deal with a lack of recognition regarding their role as a protective agent for the rights of the child. For society, this professional plays the role of repressor, who should be feared¹⁶16 Moreira MCN, Bastos OM, Bastos LC, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes com deficiência: narrativas com conselheiros tutelares. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2014; 19(9):3869-3878.^,2222 Batista DSM, Cerqueira-Santos E. Um estudo sobre conselheiros tutelares diante de práticas de violência sexual. Rev. Psicol. Saúde. 2012; 4(2):116-125..

In addition, the population and other social facilities see guardianship counselors as solvers of all community problems, and the institution as a mini ‘police station’, a prison for disobedient children or aggressive parents²²22 Batista DSM, Cerqueira-Santos E. Um estudo sobre conselheiros tutelares diante de práticas de violência sexual. Rev. Psicol. Saúde. 2012; 4(2):116-125..

The findings of this research corroborate these data. According to the interviewees, families, education and health professionals, among others, demonstrate a lack of knowledge regarding the responsibilities of the Guardianship Council and its role in protecting the rights of the child. Such a situation contributes to the fact that these social actors do not support the actions developed by the guardianship counselors and to create stereotypes related to these professionals.

Society perceives the Guardianship Council as an institution of repression and uses the figure of the guardianship counselors to frighten the children. In this sense, it is important that the public power implements actions that effectively clarify the role of this institution in the community¹⁵15 Deslandes SF, Campos DS. Guardianship Councilors' views on the effectiveness of the existing network in providing full protection to children and teenagers in situations of sexual violence. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2015; 20(7):2173-2182.^,2020 Silva SR, Carvalho ER. A atuação do Conselho Tutelar com crianças e adolescentes vítimas de violência. Org. Soc. 2017; 6(6):126-137., such as media disclosures, training of teachers and health professionals, among others, contributing to give visibility to the actions developed by these professionals and their importance in fighting child violence.

Living with the impunity of the aggressor

Guardianship counselors reported that, despite all efforts to protect children in situations of violence and to act as provided by the ECA, they perceive themselves to be powerless in the face of situations of impunity, in which no punishment is applied to perpetrators, as evidenced by the statements below:

The speeches show that, often, the ECA is not respected, because the rights of the child are not assured by the public power and society. Faced with the impunity of the aggressor, counselors are frustrated, leaving them with the option of adapting to the innumerable failures of the system and having resilience to live with the feeling of impotence in their daily work¹⁶16 Moreira MCN, Bastos OM, Bastos LC, et al. Violência contra crianças e adolescentes com deficiência: narrativas com conselheiros tutelares. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2014; 19(9):3869-3878..

This interferes negatively in the role of the guardianship counselor, contributing to the impunity of the aggressors and the non-resoluteness of the referred and notified cases. The bureaucracy of the system and the lack of evidence and reliability to the child’s speech contribute to the aggressors not responding to their actions¹⁵15 Deslandes SF, Campos DS. Guardianship Councilors' views on the effectiveness of the existing network in providing full protection to children and teenagers in situations of sexual violence. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2015; 20(7):2173-2182..

In this scenario, it is valid to point out that the punishment of the aggressor is one of the social means to undo the cycle of child violence. Thus, coping with violence must include revealing-notifying-attending-protecting and making the perpetrators responsible for the aggression¹⁵15 Deslandes SF, Campos DS. Guardianship Councilors' views on the effectiveness of the existing network in providing full protection to children and teenagers in situations of sexual violence. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2015; 20(7):2173-2182.^,3131 Arpini DM, Savegnago SDO, Witt CS. O ponto de vista de adolescentes em situação de vulnerabilidade social sobre o agressor sexual. Pesqui. Prát. Psicossociais. 2017; 12(2):247-262.. The promulgation and enforcement of legislation on violence are fundamental to the establishment of acceptable and unacceptable standards of behavior, and to the creation of safe and peaceful societies¹⁰10 Fundo das Nações Unidas para a Infância (UNICEF). Agenda pela infância 2015-2018: desafios e propostas eleições 2104 [internet]. Brasília, DF; 2014 [acesso em 2018 ago 31]. Disponível em: https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_agenda2014.pdf.
https://www.unicef.org/brazil/pt/UNICEF_... .

Final considerations

The Guardianship Council is a legitimate space of society, an institution of social control that has the role of protecting the rights of children and adolescents provided constitutionally. However, several factors interfere in the confrontation of child violence by professionals working in this area, especially, the lack of knowledge and skills to identify children at risk or situations of violence, the involvement of families in cases, the precariousness of material resources, the insufficient number of professionals, failures in the child protection network, cultural stereotypes, professional devaluation and impunity of the aggressor.

Therefore, in order for the Guardianship Council to be able to fully exercise its functions and contribute to the interruption of the cycle of child violence, investments are required in several areas, such as the qualification of guardianship counselors, through the provision of periodic courses, and the implementation of working environments with sufficient material and human resources, in order to contribute to the implementation of integrated, intersectoral and resolutive actions.

The proper prevention and management of cases of child violence requires joint actions by society, the Guardianship Council and other child protection institutions. For this purpose, it is necessary that each social actor recognizes himself/herself as a fundamental piece in this process and has adequate conditions to act, in a systematized and integrated way, having respect for the other as the guiding principle of actions.

In view of the results, it is suggested the implementation of public policies aimed at clarifying the population, in relation to the various forms of expression of violence and its consequences, aiming to change culturally rooted patterns, in which violent behaviors are commonly and mistakenly implemented as strategies for the education of the child.

It is also reinforced the need for partnerships between various sectors, such as health and education, in order to collaborate to clarify the population in relation to the real role of the Guardianship Council and to give visibility to the importance of the professional of this institution to face violence against children and the protection of children’s rights.

It is presented, as a limitation of this research, the non-inclusion of other social actors, which could give greater visibility to the potentialities and limitations of the protection network of the child’s rights.

Acknowledgements

The Research was developed by the Child Health Study and Research Group (Gepesc/UFT).■

References

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