Visibility is proving to be a true factor of historical change, so I have no doubt that there is a before and after in the history of sexual violence against children since we, the victims, have come out publicly to share our stories with society,” stated Sebastián Cuattromo.
At 23 years old, after an internal struggle, Cuattromo was able to denounce Fernando Picciochi. The abuses denounced were committed between 1989 and 1990 by the former priest when the then 13-year-old adolescents were studying at the Marianist College of Caballito. Only in 2012, after 12 years, he managed to get the Oral Court in Criminal Matters No. 8 to convict Picciochi for the crimes of “aggravated, repeated and qualified corruption of minors” against two victims who attended the educational institution.
Work of the Fundación Adultxs por los Derechos de la Infancia
It is an independent and self-managed collective born in 2012, made up of adults committed to the defense of the rights of children, girls and boys. The objective is to give visibility to the crime of sexual abuse in childhood with the purpose of publicly influencing the defense of childhood and its rights in the face of this unacceptable injustice of which one in five children, girls and adolescents are victims.
The Foundation does not have its own sponsorship, but it does have spaces so that the victim does not feel alone. Today, in the midst of the commotion, it states that there are no advances in this case due to the power of the person involved and expressed that victims must be attended to.
Cuattromo spoke with the Noticias Argentina Agency about one of the most shocking cases of abuse of power in recent years.
Buenos Aires, February 1 (NA) – The case against the tycoon Marcelo Porcel, who is accused of abusing at least 10 of his children's friends, continues to generate repercussions due to the lack of progress by the Justice system in his criminal process, despite the serious evidence presented.
Sebastián Cuattromo is a member of the Fundación Adultxs por los Derechos de la Infancia and after years of struggle he managed to get his abuser convicted. From mid-2024, the businessman Marcelo Porcel has been accused of abusing, recording, sending messages and even paying the friends of his teenage children.
“The power of the accused manages to make the Justice system take its time, but it is important not to stop fighting and for the case to continue to go viral,” he said.
According to specialists, sexual abuse crimes are the most impune on Earth,” commented Cuattromo, who emphasized that according to UNICEF statistics for 2024, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys are victims of sexual violence.
“To this statistic we also add a public campaign by the Council of Europe that states 1 in 5 children, girls and adolescents are victims of sexual violence,” he commented.
In this sense, he emphasized that most cases occur intra-family, but that there are also other external abusers, so he highlighted the importance of listening to the victim's voice.
For this to happen, he says it is fundamental “how the media communicates to help individual and social resilience.”
“Public dissemination, in general, tends to be positive for the search for reparation and justice for the victims. It cannot go unpunished,” stated Cuattromo.
Regarding the victims, he highlighted that it is important for the family to continue with their support and not to give up in the demand for justice despite the power exerted by the accused.
To do this, they have a direct communication line for solidarity support and network building, as well as links with specialist professionals. There are also trainings, the case is disseminated, public institutions and national and international political leaders are called to account, and experiences are even shared in an anonymous, respectful and empathetic environment through virtual meetings.
