Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse includes all forms of physical and emotional mistreatment, sexual abuse, and neglect of a child’s basic needs, which results in actual or potential harm to a child’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Exploitation of children is also a form of abuse and includes trafficking for sexual or economic purposes, and recruitment of children into armed forces.

An abused child may experience many forms of mistreatment in any one incident or over time; for example, emotional harm is a pervading factor in all types of abuse. The abuser may be a family member, a stranger, another child, or someone responsible for a child's well-being, such as a teacher or caretaker.

Children in every society are vulnerable to abuse, gender based violence, and exploitation, however children without parental care and those in high risk environments such as conflict areas, refugee camps, on the street, or in institutions, are particularly exposed to violence, denial of their basic human rights, and deprivation. All abuse has its origins in power imbalance and therefore is typically associated with fear, secrecy, and control. This makes identifying and speaking out about abuse very difficult for children, family members, the community and social services, particularly when it is committed within the privacy of the home.

Child abuse can cause physical and psychosocial problems, including HIV/AIDS infection, and is particularly damaging when repeated over a period of time. Children may manifest abuse via destructive or withdrawn behaviours, developmental delays, injuries or other health problems. The effects of abuse will vary from child to child and depend on the source, type and extent of the abuse, the child’s developmental stage and their disposition or resilience.

The process of identifying and responding to abuse requires skilled interventions in order to prevent further harm to the child, and will typically include police, medical, psychological, and social services in order to address the safety, physical, and emotional needs of the affected children. Any care plan must be in the best interests of the child and protect them and their siblings from harm. This will include consideration of the additional risks of abuse that are present for children in institutions and care placements. Such closed environments are extremely susceptible to abuse since they are frequently isolated, insufficiently regulated, and lacking in adequate supervision and safe reporting procedures. It is the role of social services to screen and monitor all child placements, including institutional, kinship, and foster care, to ensure the child’s safety and well-being.

It is the responsibility of the whole community to protect its children. Education and community awareness for children and adults on the risks, signs of abuse, and responses is vital for children without parental care and those in high risk situations, such as during a conflict or displacement when sexual violence, exploitation, and recruitment into armed forces are prevalent.

The literature in this section describes the types of abuse in more detail, including gender based violence, and provides example child protection procedures, policy papers, and other intervention tools.

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Sexual abuses of left-behind children of migrant women: community-perceived vulnerabilities and barriers in prevention

Chamara Senaratna - International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 2015

The purpose of this paper is to describe hitherto unexplored issues related to sexual abuse of left-behind children of migrant women in Sri Lanka.

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Interagency Child Protection Protocol: Anguilla

Ministry of Health and Social Development, Department of Social Development, UNICEF, 2015

The Interagency Child Protection Protocol aims to offer guidance and support on good practices for the identification, reporting, investigation, case management, and prosecution of child abuse cases in Anguilla.

Building a Holistic Child Protection System, Step by Step, in the United Republic of Tanzania

UNICEF , 2015

This case study of the child protection system in the United Republic of Tanzania is part of a UNICEF global initiative, undertaken in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada to document national child protection frameworks to gain an understanding of the country, the response of government and other actors, as well as other factors contributing to success in protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse.

A public health approach to enhancing safe and supportive family environments for children

Daryl J. Higgins - Australian Institute of Family Studies, Family Matters 2015 No. 96, 2015

This report proposes a public health approach to promoting safe and supportive family environments for children and preventing child maltreatment in Australia.

Case Study: Kate’s Story - USA

Kate Price, 2015

The case study, which accompanies the Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism, tells the story of Kate, a woman from the US who was sexually exploited as a child.

International Collaboration for Inclusion: Lessons from international experience in responding to the urgent human rights needs of children with disabilities in Ukraine’s orphanage system

Disability Rights International and Your Dimension, 31 Dec 2014

This report documents Ukraine’s Soviet-era system of orphanages and other institutions for children with disabilities. The report details the violence, exploitation, and other human rights violations that are frequently committed against these children. It also shows how families who wish to keep their children with disabilities at home are often forced to institutionalize them as a result of lack of support.

Twinning in the Best Interests of Children: Promoting Family Life, Not Orphanages

Catholic Relief Services, 16 Dec 2014

This document, published by Catholic Relief Services, urges members of the Catholic faith community to consider the best interests of the child when partnering, or “twinning” with parishes in Haiti and undertaking charitable activities.

Unified Resolution on the Twenty-First Pan-American Child and Adolescent Congress - Childhood and Adolescence: Building Peaceful Environments

IIN, Organization of American States (OAS) , 12 Dec 2014

This Unified Resolution from the Twenty-First Pan-American Child and Adolescent Congress highlights resolutions and recommendations relevant to violence against children, recognizes achievements made by Member States in addressing violence against children, and presents 17 specific resolutions related to ending and preventing violence against children in the Americas.

Integrating Early Childhood Development and Violence Prevention - Webinar Recording

CPC Learning Network , 10 Dec 2014

On December 10, 2014, the CPC Learning Network hosted a webinar to discuss the integration of early childhood development and violence prevention.

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Position Statement from the Expert Consultation on Violence and Alternative Care

Expert Consultation on Violence and Alternative Care - 21st Pan American Child Congress , 08 Dec 2014

In advance of the 21st Pan American Child and Adolescent Congress, an international consultation on the elimination of violence against children in alternative care was convened. This position statement from the consultation was presented at the 21st Pan American Child and Adolescent Congress.