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 Children may manifest abuse via destructive or withdrawn behaviours, developmental delays, injuries or other health problems.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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The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2012

This working paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child examines child neglect and its impacts.

Caring for Child Survivors of Sexual Abuse: Guidelines for health and psychosocial service providers in humanitarian settings

International Rescue Committee & UNICEF, 2012

The CCS Guidelines is the “how-to” guide for instructing health and psychosocial field staff responding to children who have experienced sexual abuse in humanitarian settings.

Child Abandonment and its Prevention in Europe: Slovakian Language Summary Brochure

University of Nottingham, UK, 31 Dec 2011

This document is a Slovakian language summary brochure of the Manual of Best Practice titled ‘Child Abandonment and its Prevention in Europe,’ specific to child abandonment in Slovakia.

ABCs for Action and Advocacy: A Note on Positive Parenting and Non-Violent Discipline Working Document

World Day of Prayer and Action for Children Secretariat New York, 20 Nov 2011

This informational note for action, produced by World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, aims to support religious communities and partners in promoting “positive parenting” and non-violent disciplining of children.

An exploratory study on the interplay between African customary law and practices and children’s protection rights in South Africa

Patricia Martin and Buyi Mbambo, 01 Nov 2011

Save the Children Sweden commissioned this follow-up study to explore to what extent in South Africa, African customary law and practice promotes and/or inhibits the protection of children; how the positive impacts can be harnessed for the greater protection of more children; how the negative impacts can be mitigated; and finally how and who should be at the helm of any necessary developments of African customary law.

Institutionalised childhood and adolescence: Making serious Human Rights violations visible.

Matilde Luna - RELAF, 01 Aug 2011

This paper, produced by RELAF, is part of a series of publications on children without parental care in Latin America: Contexts, causes and answers. This document, and others in the series, pertains to the broad topic of children without parental care and examines the particular situation of institutionalised children.

Violence Against Children in State-Run Residential Institutions in Kazakhstan: An Assessment

Robin N. Haarr , 01 May 2011

This study on violence against children in state-run residential institutions in Kazakhstan was conducted under the national Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF. Data was collected from six different types of state run- residential institutions for children in 3 regions using a multi-methods approach, including surveys with children ( 9-18 years old) and staffs, and interviews with young people (17-23 years old) who had left the care of these institutions.

Ending corporal punishment of children: A handbook for working with and within religious communities

Chris Dodd, 01 May 2011

This handbook aims to provide a useful tool and reference for all those engaging with and within religious communities and faith-based institutions and organisations to prohibit and eliminate corporal punishment of children. It provides information, tools and resources which can be used to work in partnership with others, engage with religious leaders, mobilise support and encourage multi-religious and community collaboration towards the prohibition and elimination of all corporal punishment of children.

Improving Child Protection Responses in Indonesia: Learning from the Protection Homes for Children (RPSA)

Florence Martin, Save the Children , 20 Feb 2011

This report reviews the role and practice of State-established child protection residential institutions in Indonesia focused on providing services for children defined as being in need of special protection under the Child Protection law, in particular child victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation including victims of trafficking.

Strengthening Families and Communities: 2011 Resource Guide

Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2011

Resource guide developed to support service providers in their work with parents, caregivers, and children to prevent child abuse and neglect