Street Art Contest #308 - Child Abuse Prevention, Massamá - Portugal

Good evening, everyone!

Welcome to another post in the Street Art community!

Welcome to another post here in this urban art community. Today, I’d like to share with all of you a piece of art that’s on one of the streets in the neighboring town.
Last Sunday, after finishing my workout at the gym around noon, it was still too early for me to break my fast.

So, instead of heading straight home and counting down the hours until the two hours I still needed to complete my fast were up, I ended up setting out without a specific destination in mind.

First, I wanted to find a local grocery store that sells food items—specifically eggs and fresh fruit—at good prices. I’d learned about this chain during one of the visits an employee made to my workplace. I later found out that the company, which is quite well-known, had a store very close to my home.

And since it’s not very far from my gym, that was my first stop. On the way—and I didn’t take the quickest route, as you can imagine—I still had time to enjoy the cool shade I passed under, which made the walk more pleasant.

I was almost at my destination when, on the main street leading there—just a few meters from my arrival—I noticed a garden on my left with a small building that stood out as one of a kind. An artist had used its location and facade to paint a mural, which in this case addresses the issue of child abuse.

A much-debated issue in society—especially in more developed societies—it unfortunately never ceases to be timely.

This mural was created during Child Abuse Prevention Month—which, as it turned out, is in April, the fourth month of the year.

This mural, commissioned by the Massamá Monte-Abraão Parish in collaboration with the CPCJ Sintra Oriente, raises a very important question.

Isn’t child abuse a true step backward for society? Shouldn’t it be combated in the same way as a homicide? After all, in the most serious cases—those that do not result in the victim’s death—what ultimately happens is the complete destruction of the dreams and the life that child would have had ahead of them.

I am well aware that there is sometimes a tendency to lump everything together as violence. But in the case of children, an act of discipline by guardians, parents, or caregivers, etc., must never be confused with a cold and senseless act of gratuitous aggression that has no place in our society.

The bulletin board also states, in a text that I will post below in translation, that society must not cover up these incidents and crimes. We must all take responsibility—as a community that wishes to progress—to be careful about reporting something we’re not certain is correct.

! Medo!

Essa palavra não deveria constar do dicionário de uma criança. No reino animal, o instinto é proteger as suas crias. Na humanidade também deveria ser. Mas não é! Isto porque na maioria dos casos de violência infantil, os agressores são os próprios pais. Que humanidade é esta? Quantos anjinhos não desejariam que os seus pais fossem um animal com o instinto de protecção, de cuidado, de amor. Um acto de violência nunca será apenas um acto isolado. As consequências de tamanha brutalidade deixarão marcas no carácter dos pequenos.
Maus tratos, para além da covardia, é crime. As vitimas, por vezes, são de tão tenra idade que a sua imaturidade e incapacidade de compreenderem e articularem o abuso, potenciam o silêncio e a consequente não denuncia. Se souber de algo não se CALE.
AJUDE.
Denuncie os maus tratos infantis.

Translation:

! Fear!

That word shouldn’t be in a child’s vocabulary. In the animal kingdom, the instinct is to protect one’s young. It should be the same for humanity. But it isn’t! This is because, in most cases of child abuse, the perpetrators are the parents themselves. What kind of humanity is this? How many little angels would wish their parents were animals with an instinct for protection, care, and love? An act of violence is never just an isolated incident. The consequences of such brutality will leave scars on the children’s characters.
Child abuse, aside from being cowardly, is a crime. The victims are sometimes so young that their immaturity and inability to understand and articulate the abuse lead to silence and, consequently, a failure to report it. If you know of anything, do not STAY SILENT.
HELP.
Report child abuse.

Our actions could not only save a child’s childhood, but also a life that might be cut short in a moment of madness.

I hope you enjoyed this post of mine for yet another contest here in the community.

Have a great rest of the week, everyone!