CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT MOTHERHOOD IN BRAZIL: AN ANALYSIS OF RASEAM 2025 DATA, LEGISLATION, AND RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Abstract

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of motherhood among children and adolescents in Brazil. It focuses on data presented in the Ministry of Women's 2025 Annual Socioeconomic Report on Women (RASEAM). The paper identifies the issue of motherhood among girls aged 10 to 14 as a human rights violation intrinsically linked to sexual violence. Between 2013 and 2023, over 232,000 births were registered to mothers aged 14 or younger. Although this number has decreased annually, it remains alarming and reflects a profound violation of children's rights. The analysis shows that these pregnancies are mostly the result of the rape of a vulnerable person, which is defined as a crime by the Brazilian Penal Code. The Brazilian legal framework, notably the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA), provides comprehensive protection and legalizes abortion in cases of rape. However, institutional barriers and regressive legislative proposals, such as Bill (PL) 1904/2024, which threatens to criminalize victims, challenge the effectiveness of these laws. Girls who become mothers at an early age experience multiple forms of violence, including sexual violence, structural violence (aggravated by racism and poverty), and institutional violence. These forms of violence have psychosocial and socioeconomic consequences, including school dropout, unemployment, psychological distress, and the perpetuation of cycles of disadvantage. As a result of this analysis, we consider this document fundamental to designing public policies with a multifaceted, intersectional approach that encompasses not only public health but also criminal justice, social protection, and education.