This entry is to support UNICEF's
Stop Child Abuse Campaign. I first heard about this campaign from my senior at college and also read about it at
MBP. Here are some useful infos on child abuse that I would like to share with you. Or you can also click on the photo to be directed to the website as we are still way too far from the target of
100,000 Malaysians supporting this campaign.
WHO IS A CHILD?
A child is anyone under the age of 18 according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Malaysia’s Child Act 2001. The CRC states that children everywhere are entitled to basic human rights. All these rights are interconnected and of equal importance since each right is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child regardless of age, gender or religion
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?
Child abuse (and neglect known formally by United Nations agencies as child maltreatment) is harm (or risk of harm) caused to a child by a parent, guardian or another person in a position of responsibility, trust or power over the child. There are four major types of child abuse:
• Neglect: failure to provide for a child’s basic needs.
• Physical abuse: punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking, stabbing, choking, or otherwise harming a child.
• Sexual abuse: fondling a child’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.
• Emotional abuse: constant criticism, threats, rejection as well as withholding love, support, or guidance. Child abuse affects children’s health, development and strips away their dignity. In most cases, long-term emotional scars are left behind. Children and young people with special needs, including children with disabilities and those living with HIV and AIDS are particularly vulnerable to abuse. Undocumented children, migrant and refugee children are also at risk.
WHY DOES CHILD ABUSE OCCUR?
Children may be vulnerable to abuse due to several risk and protective factors. When there are multiple risk factors present, the danger of abuse becomes greater. Risk of abuse increases when a child’s:
• Parents are not prepared or have no knowledge of critical issues surrounding parenting.
• Parents lack an understanding of their children’s developmental stages and hold unreasonable expectations for their abilities. Parent’s also may be unaware of how to discipline their children most effectively at each age.
• Parent is experiencing a lot of financial stress such as loss of job, unemployment and diminished income.
• Parent has mental health problems, is living with a chronic illness and experiencing depression.
• Parents are experiencing difficulties in their relationship, exposed to domestic violence in the household, undergoing marital problems, divorce, or feeling the stresses of single parenting, isolation and loneliness.
• Parent is dependent and addicted to drugs or alcohol. These circumstances, combined with the inherent challenges of raising children, may result in otherwise well-intentioned parents causing their children harm or neglecting their needs.
HOW CAN WE PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABUSE?
Children rely on adults to protect them. As adults, we must:
• Be aware of the possible signs of abuse.
• Learn to recognise the warning signs of abuse: parents under chronic stress, children exhibiting negative and anxious behaviours, signs of physical abuse.
• Encourage families under stress to seek out support services.
• Take action when there is suspicion that a child is being abused. .
• Listen to the child and take what they say seriously.
HOW DO WE RECOGNISE SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE?
Learning more about the signs and symptoms of abuse, and knowing how to seek advice or assistance, is the best way to help an abused child. When looking out for signs of child abuse, don’t just think bruises and broken bones. There may also be behavioural or emotional signs, or a combination of several signs. For example, unexplained injuries accompanied by a change in the child’s behaviour could be a sign that something is wrong. Having one or two bruises does not necessarily mean that the child is being abused. But when signs appear repeatedly or in combination with other symptoms, we should be concerned. Signs of abuse may include:
• Unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes
• Injuries to or around the genitals
• Bruises or other marks in various stages of healing indicative of repeated beatings or physical assaults
• Refusing to go to a friend’s or relative’s home for no apparent reason, for example, “I just don’t like him anymore.”
• Acting out adult sexual behavior or sexually explicit language a young child is unlikely to know
HOW IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTED?
Prevention efforts build on family strengths. Through prevention activities such as parent education, home visitation, and parent support groups, many families are able to find the support they need to stay together and care for their children in their homes and communities. Prevention efforts should help parents develop their parenting skills, understand the benefits of nonviolent discipline techniques, and understand and meet their child’s emotional, physical, and developmental needs. Prevention programs also can help parents identify other needs they may have and offer assistance in getting that additional support.
PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE – WHAT WE KNOW
Child abuse and neglect occurs when people find themselves in stressful situations, without community resources, and don’t know how to cope. Majority of child abuse cases stem from situations and conditions that are preventable in an engaged and supportive community. All citizens should become involved in supporting families in raising their children in a safe, nurturing environment. Effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among families, social service agencies, schools, faith-based communities, NGOs, law enforcement agencies, and the business community.
Article source: UNICEF
"Every choice we make on behalf of children today, impacts their tomorrows. With appropriate attention and guidance, children can flourish in safe and protected childhoods"
If you wish to show your support on this campaign, do sign up and help to spread the words via facebook, twitter, e-mail and your blogs. For more information, you can visit the
official website for this campaign. You can even design your own hands (logo) too you know.. :)
