Margarita Ortiz-Tallo and her project against child abuse

Childhood sexual abuse, despite the fact that at a social level it is an inconspicuous issue, it is a problem that exists. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in 4 women and one in 7 men admit to having suffered it. The alarming thing is that only 3 out of 10 affected report these events.

Unfortunately, there are some myths and erroneous beliefs that cause a distortion in the vision of this phenomenon, and rejecting them is important to deal with the problem by adjusting to its forms real.

• Related article: "7 myths about child sexual abuse (pederasty)"

Interview with Margarita Ortiz-Tallo

Some psychology professionals have long Sensitized and committed to the prevention of child abuse in childhood, as well as with the psychological treatment of the victims, since the effects on the mental health of These have not only a short-term effect, but can accompany them for the rest of their lives. lives.

The prevalence in Spain of child sexual abuse is 19% in women, and 15.5% in men. men, and many and many affected never reveal the abuse, which is why they suffer this traumatic event hidden.

Today we are talking with Margarita Ortiz-Tallo, Professor at the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Malaga (Spain) to tell us about the Hunch project focused on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse in the Childhood

What has led you to work on this topic?

Our investigative team has a long history on issues related to abuse and sexual abuse. We have publications in international scientific journals with people convicted and in prison for pedophilia and also with people convicted of assaulting their partner. We had been considering for some time the importance of broadening our gaze and carrying out psychological interventions that involved prevention in these issues.

We begin with evaluations and publications on adolescents and sexism. In this scenario, we were very interested in carrying out a preventive program for childhood sexual abuse. It seemed to us of great interest to provide resources to minors, parents and teachers in the face of this terrible type of psychological, physical and sexual abuse that is found, in a high proportion, hidden in the society.

What is the Hunch project?

The project stands out for including the adaptation of the play "Corazonada" in Spain. The work was designed by Carolina López Alvarado, director of the CENDES Foundation in Mexico. It tries to reach minors in an experiential way through an artistic language with music, dance and imagination. This is how resources are given to minors and educators, transmitting the information so that it reaches intuition, reason and the heart.

The project also includes the design by our team of workshops for minors, parents and teachers through active and participatory methodologies. And finally the evaluation of the program and its social impact.

How did the project come about?

Because of our profession, we are highly sensitive and very committed to contributing something to society that helps prevent this tremendous problem. Our experience has also led us to believe that any information that is transmitted in an active, experiential and participatory way manages to carry the message in a deeper way.

During a stay at the Autonomous University of Mexico we learned about the Hunch project. This started in Mexico in 2015. Country with a high rate of sexual abuse in childhood. Later we established agreements with the author to adapt a part of the Project in Spain.

Recently, as a research group from the University of Malaga, the project was selected to achieve Collective Financing through the GOTEO Crowdfunding platform.

What repercussion do you think this project can have in Spain?

We believe that it is a project of enormous social interest and our hope is that it could have a significant impact on the initial detection and prevention of this terrible abuse. Undertaking projects of this type and disseminating them, we are convinced that it already helps to raise awareness in society on the subject.

When does the play "Corazonada" premiere?

The day of the premiere of the Spanish adaptation of "Corazonada" is Monday, November 5 at the Edgar Neville Auditorium of the Diputación de Málaga, by invitation. After that day, the play will also take place on November 12 and Tuesday 27 of the same month, although there are only tickets available for the latter date.

Child Abuse Prevention

Undoubtedly, the work of psychologists and educators is key to preventing and detecting this phenomenon in time, which can appear in multiple settings. In fact, the data shows that 30% of those affected were victims of a relative, 60% from an acquaintance and in only 10% of cases, the victim and the attacker had no relationship.

If you want to know more about preventing child abuse, you may be interested in reading this article: "How to prevent child sexual abuse".