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 Children may manifest abuse via destructive or withdrawn behaviours, developmental delays, injuries or other health problems.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 Multi-Country Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children: A Cross-Country Snapshot of Findings

Maternowska, M. C., A. Potts and D. Fry - UNICEF, 2016

This study is a snapshot of a multi-country study involving Italy, Peru, Viet Nam, and Zimbabwe of how individual characteristics, interpersonal relationships, and the communities in which people live interact with institutional drivers to increase or reduce a child’s risk of violence.

Addressing Social Norms that Underpin Violence Against Children in Zimbabwe: Findings and strategic planning document

Fry, D., Hodzi, C. and T. Nhenga - Ministry of Public Services, Labour and Social Welfare, 2016

This report highlights key findings from a social norms study conducted in Zimbabwe to understand the drivers of violence affecting children.

End Violence Against Children Now

Save the Children, 2016

This booklet is based on a recent internal desk review of Save the Children’s and partners’ work against physical and humiliating punishment of children, commissioned by Save the Children Sweden. It aims to present best practices, to show what methods have worked around the world, and to spread knowledge about results achieved and lessons learned when it comes to law reform and positive discipline.

Child Protection: UNICEF Country Programme 2016-2018

UNICEF Cambodia, 2016

This brief from UNICEF Cambodia describes UNICEF's plans and programs regarding child protection.

Systematic Review of Kinship Care Effects on Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being Outcomes

Marc A. Winokur, Amy Holtan, Keri E. Batchelder - Research on Social Work Practice, 31 Dec 2015

This systematic review evaluated the effect of kinship care placement compared to foster care placement on the safety, permanency, and well-being of children removed from the home for maltreatment.

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Prohibition of all corporal punishment in Peru

Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, 10 Dec 2015

On 10 December 2015, the Peruvian Congress approved by a near unanimous vote the Law prohibiting the use of physical and other humiliating punishment against children and adolescents (“Ley que prohibie el uso del castigo físico y humillante contra los niños, niñas y adolescents”).

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Ending legalised violence against children: Global progress to December 2015

Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children & Save the Children Sweden, 01 Dec 2015

The report discusses progress made towards universal prohibition of corporal punishment of children, including by highlighting examples from individual states that have recently implemented legal and policy reforms. The report also considers prohibition and elimination of corporal punishment in the context of the new Sustainable Development Goals, and discusses initiatives by religious leaders and members of faith-based communities and organisations that are increasingly taking action towards prohibition and elimination of corporal punishment. Lastly, the report discusses the latest research relating to corporal punishment.

Initial Assessment Report: Protection Risks for Women and Girls in the European Refugee and Migrant Crisis

Rebecca Eapen, UNHCR; Fabrizia Falcione, UNFPA; Marcy Hersh, WRC; Katharina Obser, WRC; Ali Shaar, UNFPA, 01 Dec 2015

Concerned by the protection risks faced by women and girls, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) undertook a joint seven-day assessment mission to Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in November 2015. This report describes the assessment’s findings and key recommendations for the European Union (EU), transit and destination country governments, humanitarian actors and civil society organizations (CSOs).

The relationship between parental presence and child sexual violence: Evidence from thirteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Rachel Kidmana and Tia Palermo, 26 Nov 2015

There are compelling reasons to believe that orphans – many millions due to the AIDS epidemic – are more likely to be sexually victimized during childhood.

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The moderating effect between strengths and placement on children's needs in out-of-home care: A follow-up study

Faye Sim, Dongdong Li, Chi Meng Chu - Children and Youth Services Review, 12 Nov 2015

This study from Singapore examined the association of two factors — children's strengths and placement type, with outcomes at two time-points during out-of-home care.

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