Child Abuse

Child abuse

Children across the world frequently face heinous forms of violence, exploitation and abuse. Unfortunately, child abuse reaches every corner of the world, often occurring in places and areas where children should be most protected: within households, at schools and online. This abuse is commonly perpetrated by people who have gained children’s trust. All children have the right to be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse.

Defining child abuse

Child abuse is defined as any intentionally harmful action(s) carried out on a child under the age of 18 by either an adult or another child. This definition encompassess all types and forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, which lead to actual or potential harm to a child’s “health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power” (WHO). Incidences of abuse may be isolated or prolonged over a period of time. As children grow and develop, they are at greater risk of different forms of abuse (WHO, 2020). 

 

 All hard to believe but it is a common reaction that parents often throw at children in both patriarchal orthodox joint family setups and within nuclear families in so-called educated urban cities. Parents should realize that their loyalty and duty rests with their child and with not anyone else. Until it could be otherwise proven, the words of a child reporting sexual abuse should be taken seriously, and it should be investigated. Failure to do so leads to children believing that somehow it was their fault and that their parents are rightfully blaming them for the abuse. Nothing can be closer to the truth, but an abused child with a fragile mind.

“Nothing can be closer to the truth, but an abused child with a fragile mind.”

Surely it is time to wake up to accept the harsh reality and acknowledge this darkly evil side of human nature. I duly challenge the age-old taboos and stand with our children in case they express their fears or an incident. Will you support the ideology?of us at some point in time have spent time with a toddler. They naturally exuberate the purest and most genuine form of love, energy or let’s just say life. It is a sheer pleasure to witness their expressions when they hear a voice of a passing aeroplane, express bewilderment when they see an ocean or a mountain and when they jump up and down and make merry seeing rainfall for the first time. The wonder in their eyes and the gleam on their faces can never be expressed in wordsIndia’s legal stance on child abuse and prevention

India’s Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act of 2012 (POCSO) and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act have been recently strengthened in their aim of fighting child rights violation. There has also been a corresponding increase in the number of child abuse cases filed, due to awareness about legal recourse, translating to an increase in a number of convictions. In 2016, the National Crime Records Bureau also spoke about the relationship of victims and accused in rape cases.

Impact of child abuse

In case of both physical and emotional trauma, the immediate impact is immediately felt. However, it can also result in lasting lifelong physical and psychological trauma. Other children, families, and society also experience this trauma in the way the afflicted child communicates with them. Research has indicated direct neural impact from abuse – as seen in the emotional lobe, memory centre, decision-making centre and other brain functioning areas. As adults, victims of childhood abuse are more vulnerable to mental health trauma.