Slavery Trauma Linked to Abuse Normalization in Cape Verde
PRAIA, Cape Verde — Many young victims of sexual abuse in Cape Verde are unaware they are being exploited, often mistaking abusive dynamics for romantic relationships. This startling revelation comes from psychologist Zaida Freitas, the former president of the Cape Verdean Institute for Children and Adolescents (ICCA).
According to Freitas, the majority of abuse reports in the archipelago involve girls between the ages of 13 and 17. “Many understand the situation as being in a dating relationship,” Freitas said in an interview with Lusa. “They see the aggressor as someone they are living a story with, rather than an abuser.”
A Legacy of Normalized Violence
Freitas points to a deep-seated historical cause for this skewed perception: the lingering trauma of slavery. She argues that the systematic violence practiced against enslaved women became “normalized” over centuries, creating intergenerational trauma that still impacts Cape Verdean society today.
“We do not free ourselves from this trauma in just a few generations,” Freitas explained. “It lingers, it has an impact, and we are still in a process of liberation.” She cited historical accounts of young girls sent to work as domestic servants who were routinely abused by their employers, resulting in children born from those encounters—situations that were socially accepted at the time.
While modern legislation in Cape Verde is robust, Freitas insists that the nation must confront these “unabashed” conversations to change social mindsets.
Breaking the Silence
Reporting remains a significant challenge due to the close-knit nature of the islands. “The fact that everyone knows each other—whether through kinship, affinity, or friendship—makes the reporting process difficult,” Freitas noted. On smaller islands like Maio and Brava, reports were virtually non-existent until the ICCA conducted intensive community outreach to break the silence.
The ICCA has seen a fluctuating number of reports over recent years:
- 2023: 211 reports
- 2024: 184 reports
- 2025: 144 reports
- First Half of 2026: 72 reports
While the downward trend in numbers might seem positive, Freitas advocates for a scientific evaluation to determine if these figures represent a true decline in abuse or if victims are simply retreating into silence once again.
A Path Forward
The ICCA continues to spearhead the “Proteja” (Protect) campaign, an initiative that has spent two years raising awareness in schools and families. The institute serves as a vital safety net, operating day centers for 1,000 children and emergency shelters for 100 high-risk youths every month.
As Denise Resende takes the helm of the ICCA following Freitas’s three-year mandate, the focus remains clear: the next national prevention plan must prioritize educating young girls on the difference between a healthy relationship and sexual exploitation.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
