STOP CHILD ABUSE

Child abuse is defined as various harmful behaviours directed against children irrespective of gender. It can take many forms and, in general, is a psychological problem or perversion of the abuser. The abuser is referred to as the perpetrator of abuse. Any intentional harm or mistreatment to a child under 18 years old is considered child abuse. Child abuse takes many forms, which often occur at the same time.

FEW STATISTICS

✔ Five children die every day as a result of child abuse.

✔ 80% of children that die from abuse are under the age of 4

✔ 1 out of every two children in India is sexually abused, which goes unreported. 52 % of the cases are boys.

✔ Child sexual abuse in numbers

• 53% of children in India are subjected to sexual abuse

• 50% of the abusers are known to the child

• 52.94% were boys

• 47.06% were girls

✔ 1 in 10 men report having been sexually abused as children.

✔ 1 in 13 adults experienced sexual abuse before the age of 16 (adults aged 18 to 74, crime survey for England and Wales)

✔ About 1 in 7 children experienced child abuse and neglect last year.

Many times, cases are not reported. But according to the Act of 2013, the case has to be reported within three months of the Act. The victim is fearful most of the time to report as many troublesome baseless questions are asked, which make them feel uncomfortable.

Types of Child Abuse

✔ Physical abuse is the deliberate intention to inflict pain.

✔ Emotional abuse

✔ Neglect

✔ Sexual abuse

✔ Medical neglect is the failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment.

✔ Educational neglect results in child labour.

Examples of child abuse also include intimidation, coercion, ridiculing, harassment, treating an adult like a child, isolating an adult from family, friends, or regular activity, use of silence to control behaviour, and yelling or swearing, which results in mental distress.

What is child abuse?

✔ Verbally abusing a child

✔ Teasing a child unnecessarily

✔ Exposing a child to pornographic acts or literature

✔ Touching a child where they don’t want to be touched

✔ Forcing a child to touch you

✔ Breaking down the self-confidence of a child

✔ Hitting or hurting a child – often to relieve your frustration

✔ Manipulating a child

✔ Not taking care of a child, for example, an unclean, unclothed, unfed child (TLC –

Tender loving care)

✔ Using a child as a servant

✔ Not listening to a child

✔ Neglecting the emotional needs of a child

✔ Making your child a servant depriving of time for education/leisure

✔ Hitting and ridiculing a child at school

✔ Neglecting a child’s medical needs

✔ Neglecting a child’s educational needs

✔ Leaving a child without supervision

The legal definition of an unfit parent is when the parent, through their conduct, fails to provide proper guidance, care or support. Social media addictions through apps or other platforms are also considered to be one of the abuses these days. The parent’s indulgence in these platforms results in neglecting the child’s welfare. Also, if there are abuse, neglect, or substance abuse issues, that parent will be deemed unfit. The quarrels in the house

between parents frequently are also considered to be an abusive environment for the development of the child. The child might develop trust issues and relationship issues much before their adulthood and sometimes result in substance abuse and self-inflicting behaviour too.

The only proven way to Prevent child Abuse is Awareness