Health Department and Pediatric Hospital launch "Your Silence Marks Them" campaign after 12,005 child abuse referrals so far in 2026

The Department of Health, through the University Pediatric Hospital, joined the Pediatric Hospital Foundation (FHP) and the Coalition Peace for Childhood (CPPN) on September 22 to launch "Tu silencio los marca" ("Your Silence Marks Them"), a campaign urging the public to break their silence and report any suspicion of child abuse. The announcement comes after Puerto Rico's Department of Family recorded 12,005 referrals for possible child abuse between January and September 21 of this year, a figure already approaching the full-year totals of the previous two years ¹².

The initiative, presented in San Juan, is also backed by the Puerto Rican Society of Pediatrics, the Puerto Rico Hospital Association and the 9-1-1 Emergency Systems Bureau, along with private partners such as Supermercados Econo and Puerto Rico Supplies Group, which will help distribute campaign materials in high-traffic community spaces ²³.

Background

Child abuse is not a new problem on the island, but the numbers tracked by the Department of Family show a worrying trend. In 2024, agencies documented 16,124 referrals for possible abuse; in 2025 that number rose to 17,238. With 2026 not yet over, 12,005 referrals have already been received through September 21, and of that total, between 21% and 22% are substantiated after evaluation by Social Protection professionals. Currently, 2,116 minors are under state custody or protection, and negligence — not physical abuse — is the most common category among reported cases ¹³⁴.

"As a pediatrician and as Health Secretary, I know the consequences of abuse can extend beyond visible injuries. Reporting is a concrete way to protect," said Health Secretary Victor M. Ramos Otero at the launch ³. Family Department Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes stressed that "the safety and well-being of our children is a shared responsibility," clarifying that a person who reports does not need proof — evaluation is carried out by agency professionals once a call is received ¹³.

CPPN president Irene Rial Bou emphasized that "protecting minors requires society to recognize that responsibility does not rest solely with agencies," while FHP executive director Rebeca Quinones summarized the campaign's central message: "Reporting is protecting, and protecting children is everyone's job" ¹².

The numbers

• 16,124 referrals for possible child abuse in 2024.
• 17,238 referrals in 2025.
• 12,005 referrals through September 21, 2026.
• 21% to 22% of referrals are substantiated.
• 2,116 minors currently under state protection.
• Negligence is the most commonly reported type of abuse ¹²³⁴.

The campaign includes high-impact visuals that place phrases like "nobody said anything" and "nobody did anything" directly on a child's skin, meant to represent the effect that silence from those who know or suspect abuse can have when they fail to act ²⁴.

What it means for you

If you live, work, or spend time around children in Puerto Rico — as a family member, neighbor, teacher, health worker or caregiver — the campaign places you directly inside the protection network. The agencies' message is clear: you do not need certainty or physical evidence to report. A reasonable suspicion is enough, and it is the Department of Family that determines, after evaluation, whether a case is substantiated. With 12,005 referrals already this year and only about a fifth to a quarter of them substantiated, authorities acknowledge there is a gap between what gets reported and what is fully investigated — which makes it more important that every report include as much detail as possible ¹³.

How to do it / Checklist

1. If a minor is in immediate danger, call 911 right away.
2. To report suspected abuse or neglect that is not an active emergency, call the Department of Family's Social Protection line at 787-749-1333.
3. Write down dates, locations and specific details of what you observed or heard, without confronting the suspected abuser directly.
4. You do not need proof — describe what you saw or suspect; trained staff will do the evaluation.
5. If you are a teacher, medical staff, or professional caregiver, know your institution's referral protocol, since a legal duty to report often applies.
6. If you see no follow-up after reporting, you can contact the agency again or seek guidance from the Coalition Peace for Childhood or the Pediatric Hospital Foundation.
7. Share the number 787-749-1333 with others who have regular contact with children in your community ¹²³.

What's next

Agencies said the "Tu silencio los marca" campaign will expand in the coming weeks to supermarkets, community spaces and educational materials coordinated with the Puerto Rican Society of Pediatrics and the Puerto Rico Hospital Association, aiming to reach educators, health workers and caregivers island-wide before year's end. The Department of Family will continue publishing referral figures as 2026 progresses, and the Department of Health said it will evaluate with the 9-1-1 Bureau whether adjustments are needed to the call-handling protocol for child abuse reports ²³⁴.