LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PREVENTION AND PROTECTION OF CHILD ABUSE- A CRITICAL ANALYSIS BY - ASHUTOSH TRIPATHI
LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PREVENTION AND
PROTECTION OF CHILD ABUSE- A CRITICAL ANALYSIS
AUTHORED BY - ASHUTOSH
TRIPATHI
ABSTRACT
India is home to the
largest child population in the world, with almost 41 per cent of the total
population under eighteen years of age. The health and security of the
country’s children is integral to any vision for its progress and development.
Doctors and health care professionals are often the first point of contact for
abused and neglected children. They play a key role in detecting child abuse
and neglect, provide immediate and longer term care and support to children.
Despite being important stakeholders, often physicians have a limited
understanding on how to protect these vulnerable groups. There is an urgent need
for systematic training for physicians to prevent, detect and respond to cases
of child abuse and neglect in the clinical setting. The purpose of the present
article is to provide an overview of child abuse and neglect from a medical
assessment to a socio-legal perspective in India, in order to ensure a prompt
and comprehensive multidisciplinary response to victims of child abuse and
neglect. During their busy clinical practice, medical professionals can also
use the telephone help line (CHILDLINE telephone 1098) to refer cases of child
abuse, thus connecting them to socio-legal services. The physicians should be
aware of the new legislation, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
(POCSO) Act, 2012, which requires mandatory reporting of cases of child sexual
abuse, failing which they can be penalized. Moreover, doctors and allied
medical professionals can help prevent child sexual abuse by delivering the
message of personal space and privacy to their young patients and parents.
KEYWORDS: Child Abuse,
Neglected, Penalized, Vulnerable, Law
India has the highest
percentage of children worldwide, accounting for over 41% of the country's
total population under the age of 18. Every goal for the country's advancement
and development must take the children's health and safety into consideration.
For abused and neglected children, doctors and other medical personnel are
frequently the initial point of contact. They offer children both short-term
and long-term care and support, and they are crucial in identifying cases of
child abuse and neglect. Child abuse is described by the World Health
Organisation (WHO, 1999) as a violation of a child's fundamental human rights.
In the context of a relationship involving responsibility, trust, or power, it
encompasses all forms of physical or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or
careless treatment, as well as commercial or other forms of exploitation that
actually or potentially harm a child's health, survival, development, or
dignity.
"Child neglect"
is defined as follows:
1.
when a carer fails to provide a child with health, education,
emotional development, nutrition, shelter, and safe living conditions;
2.
when a carer fails to provide these things within a
reasonable range of resources for the family or carers; and
3.
when the carer fails to provide these things and it
negatively impacts the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social
development. [1]
"Child
maltreatment," often known as "child abuse and neglect," refers
to any combination of sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and
exploitation that actually or potentially endangers the child's growth, health,
or dignity.
There are five
subcategories of child abuse and neglect that can be identified under the broad
category given above:
1.
Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and careless treatment,
emotional abuse, and exploitation. bodily abuse is defined as any interaction
that reasonably falls within the control of a parent or other person who holds
a position of authority, trust, or responsibility and causes actual or
potential bodily injury to the child. There might be a single instance or
several.
2.
Child Sexual abuse occurs when a kid engages in sexual
behaviour that they are not yet completely capable of understanding, cannot provide
informed consent to, are not developmentally ready for, or that is against
social norms. A child engaging in behaviour with an adult or another child who,
due to their age or developmental stage, is in a relationship of authority,
responsibility, or trust that is meant to satiate or satisfy the demands of
another person is considered to be engaging in child sexual abuse. This can
involve, but is not restricted to: forcing or pressuring a minor to participate
in any illegal sexual action; abusing a minor by using them for prostitution or
other illegal sexual activities; and, the exploitative use of children in
pornographic performances and materials.
3.
When a carer fails to offer a suitable and encouraging
atmosphere, it is referred to as emotional abuse. This includes actions that
negatively impact the emotional growth and well-being of the victim.
4.
Neglect is defined as a caregiver's failure to provide for a
child's needs in all areas, including health, education, emotional development,
nutrition, shelter, and safe living conditions, within the limits of resources
that the family or carers reasonably have access to. It also results in, or is
highly likely to result in, harm to the child's physical, mental, spiritual,
moral, or social development. This involves not keeping an adequate eye on and
shielding kids from harm as much as is practical.
5.
The term "exploitation" describes actions taken for
the benefit of others, such as child trafficking, or the commercial or other
exploitation of children through labour (child labour).[2]
MAGNITUDE AND CONSEQUENCE OF THIS PROBLEM
The US National Child
Abuse and Neglect system statistics from 2009 showed that, out of all instances
that were recorded, physical abuse accounted for 18% of cases, sexual abuse for
10%, emotional abuse for 8%, and child neglect for the remaining cases (3–4).
According to a 2007 survey conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development of the Government of India, there is an incredibly high frequency
of all types of child abuse, including physical abuse (66%), sexual abuse (50%)
and emotional abuse (50%). (5). A more recent survey by the National Commission
for Protection of kid Rights (NCPCR) found that 99% of children get corporal
punishment in schools. The study included 6,632 kid respondents from 7 states. [3]
In developing nations like
India, where there is a high population base and an unfavourable socioeconomic
status, child neglect is a major public health issue. Early childhood care is
severely lacking for children due to poverty, illiteracy, and limited access to
family planning and health services. Even publicly accessible services are not
well used. Rural communities, migrant populations (a considerable number), and
the impoverished urban population are the groups most impacted. Adopted and
frequently homeless street children and minors working as labourers in
low-paying jobs are major issues in big cities. Children in challenging
situations, such as those impacted by natural disasters, those living in
conflict areas, refugees, those living with HIV/AIDS, and children with
impairments, should be given special attention.
The newborn's
circumstances, as well as those of infancy and early childhood, are extremely
critical, and the rates of sickness and mortality are still very high.
Undernutrition in mothers, hazardous deliveries, and disregard for early
childhood development and schooling are serious problems that require urgent
attention. Raising children is a reflection of societal standards, and negative
customs are frequently carried down from one generation to the next,
particularly in communities with low levels of literacy and information. In
order to handle child abuse and neglect in this situation and address the
numerous ingrained issues, the medical community, acting as guardians of
health, must organise and carry out its efforts.
CONSEQUENCES
There are numerous
immediate and long-term consequences that child abuse and neglect (CAN) has on
children. Regressive behaviours (like going back to bedwetting or
thumbsucking), sleep disturbances, eating issues, academic performance issues, sexualized
behaviour, externalising symptoms (like bullying or aggression), internalising
symptoms (like social disengagement), and complaints of persistent generalised
aches and pains are some of the short-term effects of sexual abuse. Complaints
of persistent vaginal discharge, dysuria, abdominal pain, and urinary tract
infections may also have an impact on one's physical health. Exposure of
children to maltreatment can have both immediate and long-term effects on them,
such as increased levels of aggression, PTSD, and emotional and mental health
issues like melancholy and anxiety. A strong link has been found between
emotional experiences during childhood and physical and mental health during
adulthood, according to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, a
significant American research project examining the effects of adverse
childhood experiences on adult health and well-being.[4]
CHILD ABUSE- THE CONCEPT
Child abuse is defined as
any act, inaction, or carelessness on the part of an adult or child that puts a
child's life and development in grave danger and has a lasting negative impact
on the child's physical and mental health. It can also refer to actual or
potential harm to a child's survival, dignity, growth, and socialisation as a
result of sexual, physical, emotional, or psychological abuse or exploitation.
It is a genuine and well-known situation that typically comes up through
well-known people like parents, relatives, and carers.
Child abuse, in all its
forms and manifestations, is a worldwide problem that has, over time, been
greatly underestimated and misunderstood. It is also quite common in India,
where it is heavily ingrained in social, economic, and cultural activities. Numerous
governments and nonprofit organisations have attempted to address the issue,
but the general public has not been able to comprehend it. Its presence is as
well-known as its denial.[5]
Child abuse can occur in a
variety of settings, including households, workplaces, schools, foster homes,
playgrounds, and social networking sites. Its effects are typically
long-lasting and stunt the child's growth, making it useless as a national
asset at the same time. Thus, a comprehensive approach to the study of child
abuse and its effects on children's lives is required. This includes analysing
the current abuse statistics in the nation, outlining the various legal and
constitutional provisions for children, illuminating the various government
policies and programmes, and, finally, addressing reformative measures that can
be taken to create a better future for the next generation.
CLASSIFICATION OF CHILD
ABUSE
While the consequences of
child abuse remain the same, them being grave physical or emotional harm, it is
necessary to address the different types of Child Abuse to not only understand
their occurrence, but to also derive a clear idea to distinguish its different
types, enabling to derive and ponder upon possible solutions to the challenge
at hand.[6]
PHYSICAL CHILD ABUSE
Physical Child Abuse
primarily results in potential physical harm from a confrontation or an
interaction, which is within the control of a parent or a person in a position
of power or authority. The resultant injuries are considered abuse irrespective
of whether the intent of the action was to cause hurt. Physical Child Abuse primarily comprises of
following actions/incidents:
·
Excessive Punishments
·
Beating / Hitting a child
·
Leaving a child in an undignified posture
·
Forced Work Conditions
·
Bullying
Signs of Physical Child Abuse:
·
Unexplained Bruises, welts or cuts etc.
·
Fearful or shy behavior etc.
CHILD EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Emotional Abuse is often
observed as a pattern of behaviour that hampers the child’s emotional
development, making it extremely difficult to prove. The lack of evidence in
the case of Child Emotional Abuse is considered as a major challenge to the
existing Child Protection System. Emotional Abuse is almost always present when
other forms of abuses are identified in a child. [7]
·
The Child Emotional Abuse primarily comprises of following
instances:
·
Isolation or Exclusion of a Child
·
Stigmatizing a Child
·
Failure to provide a supportive environment
·
Caregivers not responding to a child's emotional needs
·
Blackmailing a Child
Signs of Child Emotional Abuse
·
Excessive Shyness and Fear
·
Behavioral Extremes
·
Antisocial Behaviour
·
Inappropriate Age Behaviour
CHILD SEXUAL
ABUSE
The Child Sexual Abuse is
an involvement of a child in a sexual activity that he/she does not fully
understand and approve of. Primarily, the child is naturally uninformed of the
sexual activity and while being developmentally unprepared for the act, is unable
to give an informed consent. Child Sexual Abuse is primarily divided into two
major types:
Contact
Type
·
Kissing or holding in a sexual manner
·
Forcing to touch genital areas
·
Vaginal or Anal Intercourse
·
Sexual Exploitation
·
Incest
·
Rape
Non- Contact Type
·
Obscene Remarks
·
Virtual Sex Online Solicitation
·
Exposed to Pornography
·
Sexually intrusive comments
·
Voyeurism
Signs of Child Sexual Abuse:
·
Behavioral signs –The child might display knowledge or
interest in sexual acts inappropriate to his or her age, or even seductive
behavior or display unusual behavior- either being very aggressive or very
passive.
·
Physical signs - A child may have trouble sitting or
standing, or have stained, bloody or torn underclothes. Swelling, bruises, or
bleeding in the genital area is a red flag.
·
Caregiver signs – The caregiver may seem to be unusually
controlling and protective of the child, limiting contact with other children
and adults.[8]
CHILD NEGLECT
A type of abuse known as
neglect occurs when a kid is not given enough food, clothes, shelter,
supervision, medical attention, or an education. Even though it involves less
action and more inaction than the earlier, more active kinds of abuse, neglect
nonetheless causes harm to children.
The main categories of
neglect include the following:
·
Not protecting the child from injury;
·
Not paying attention to the care;
·
Not reporting bruises;
·
Not providing nutrition;
·
Not monitoring the child's progress
Signs of Neglect:
·
Child seems to be unsupervised
·
Child may appear to have consistently bad hygiene
·
The child might show troublesome, disruptive behavior
RIGHTS OF CHILDREN
RELATED TO CHILD
ABUSE AND NEGLECT
The goal of the country's
constitution writers was to protect and uplift the children from their
impoverished and backward conditions, ensure their comprehensive growth and
development, ensure their survival through a decrease in the death rate and
malnutrition, and involve them in the nation's overall advancement and
development. As a result, they placed a special emphasis on granting children's
fundamental and inalienable rights and directed policymakers to strive in the
same manner to protect and advance these rights.[9]
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISONS
The life-cycle of a child
revolves around four main objectives, Vis a Vis survival, development,
protection and participation. There are multiple provisions in the Indian
Constitution that impose the primary responsibility on the state to promote the
welfare of children and ensure their dignity and sustainability.
·
Article 14 of the Indian Constitution ensures that every
citizen – man, woman and child is equal in the realm of law.
·
Article 15 of the constitution provides for prohibition of
discrimination and along with that it empowers the state to make special
provisions for women and children.
·
Article 21A makes it mandatory for the state to provide free
and compulsory education to children in the 6-14 age group.
·
Article 23 prohibits
trafficking of Human beings and forced labour.
·
Article 24 prohibits
Child Labour and the employment of children below 14 years of age in factories,
mines or other hazardous work environments.
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY
·
Article 39(e) of the constitution enjoins the State to ensure
that the health and strength of workers, men and women and the tender age of
children are not abused.
·
Article 39(f) directs the State to ensure that children are
provided with opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner It
directs the State to ensure that children develop in a free and dignified
environment and that their childhood and youth is protected against
exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.
·
Article 45 provides for the State’s duty to ensure early
childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of
six years.
SPECIFIC
SUB-GROUPS AT THE RISK OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
A.
GIRL CHILD
The Indian census data has
revealed some disturbing statistics: a high rate of female feticide (an act of
aborting a fetus because it is female). The sex ratio of boys to girls in the
0-6 age group in India has risen from the typical 102.4 males per 100 females
in 1961, to 104.1 In1981, to 107.8 in 2001, to 108.8 in 2011. (16-17).
Moreover, the child sex ratio is significantly higher in northwestern states
such as Punjab (118) and Haryana (120). In these locations, female feticide can
be seen through a cultural backdrop, where male kids are desired since they
provide socio-economic advantages and success in the family lineage.
The surge in female
feticide has been linked to the availability of inexpensive ultrasound sex
detection technology, initially launched in India's metropolitan regions in
1980s, and later widely used in rural village areas by 2000s. This has evolved
to a thriving business of “travelling ultrasonologists" in the communities
of northern India. A study suggested that 100,000 abortions are performed every
year in India merely because the fetus is female. The Government of India has
initiated multi-pronged tactics to combat female feticide, which include legal
measures such as Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT)
Act in 2004, advocacy, awareness building and programmes for socio-economic
development of women.[10]
There is evidence that
‘Girl child’ is systemically ignored from before birth and right through their
life cycle. A . study found significant variations in gender violence and
access to food, healthcare, vaccines between male and female youngsters. This
leads to significant infant and childhood mortality among girls, which causes
alterations in sex ratio. Girls may lack formal recognition (e.g. birth
registration), legal protection, and social networks; married early (child
marriage), they are disproportionately burdened both at home with household
chores and at outside home doing domestic labor, and are less likely to be in
secondary education or in the formal paid workforce.[11]
B. DISABLED CHILD:
Several international
studies have established that children with disabilities are at greater risk of
child maltreatment (24-27). Children with disabilities may comprise about up to
10% of school going children and as such their needs are even more likely to be
ignored in developing countries. Inadequacies in the school system fail to meet
children’s special educational needs; leads to neglect, beyond parental
control.
C.
CHILD LABOUR
Child labour is a
significant infringement of fundamental rights of children. It deprives
children of their childhood potential and their dignity, and it is bad to their
physical and mental development. It is fundamentally a socio-economic problem,
inexorably related to poverty and illiteracy. There is a consensus forming that
when a youngster is not in school, the child would perforce be part of the
labour pool. In tying child labour to education, the aims of eliminating child
labour and of universalizing education have become identical. There is an
essential need in poor nations to implement a comprehensive plan to withdraw
children from work and mainstream them into schools, in order to guarantee them
basic right to education. The Government should regard this is as a working
challenge in trying to access youngsters in need -- in institutions, in street
groups, in work-places, on the move, or even in jails. Linkage with NGOs
associated to such kinds of situations may be explored as an outreach approach.
U.N CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF CHILD & MORAL IMPERATIVE
The most commonly accepted
child rights law in the world is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC) (1989), which India ratified in 1992 and defines children as all people
under the age of eighteen. "States Parties shall take all appropriate
legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to protect the
child from all forms of physical or sexual abuse," states Article 19 of
the UNCRC, which defines violence and children's protection rights. Mental
violence, injury or abuse, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual
abuse, while under the supervision of the child's parent(s), legal guardian(s),
or other caregiver.”
A number of developed
nations worldwide possess highly sophisticated child protection systems, mainly
centred around required reporting, identification and investigation of impacted
children, and frequently involving coercive measures. The system, which needs
to provide more resources, is equally burdened by the huge volume of alerts and
investigations as are the families. In these circumstances, the issues
surrounding child abuse and neglect in India warrant careful and comprehensive
thought, especially with regard to the impoverished rural and urban populations
where child protection systems are either nonexistent or not well-developed.
The term “protection”
relates to protection from all forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation.
Based on our understanding, the Indian Child Abuse, Neglect & Child Labour
(ICANCL) group, Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) has strongly propagated the
view that in Indian perspective the term “child protection” must also include
prevention from disease, poor nutrition and illiteracy in addition to action
against abuse and exploitation. This underlines the importance of anticipating
and averting what might happen to damage and demean a child -- not just
response to hurt inflicted. The 9th ISPCAN Asia Pacific Conference of Child
Abuse & Neglect (APCCAN 2011) conference outcome document “Delhi
Declaration” re-affirmed and pledged to stand against the neglect and abuse of
children and to strive for achievement of child rights and the building of a
caring community for every child, free of violence and discrimination. It urged
and asserted the urgent need to integrate principles, standards and measures in
national planning processes, to prevent and respond to violence against
children.[12]
REPORTING OF ABUSE AND
ROLE OF DOCTORS,
TEACHERS AND PARENTS
One
of our main responsibilities is to protect our children, and we also owe it to
society to act quickly to stop child abuse when it is evident. Recognising
vulnerable children and situations and acting promptly are the duties of
parents and educators. Despite being aware of the abuse, professionals
frequently chose not to disclose it because they believed the effects on the
child and the family would be disastrous. A small number of physicians also
shied away from reporting due to the complicated legal requirements that could
interfere with their regular business operations. According to a study by
Inanci et al., 50% of the primary care physicians who took part in the study
did not report the case or seek assistance after dealing with an abuse case at
least once in their careers, making up 21.5% of the sample. Participants'
answers to a questionnaire revealed that their ignorance of the notification
procedures and their fear of receiving the wrong diagnosis—which yielded mean
scores of 3.48 and 2.93 on a 5-point scale—were the main contributing causes to
this act of omission. The same group found that parents abusing drugs or
alcohol, and children with mental health issues were the most significant risk
factors, scoring 4.3 out of 5.[13]
According
to a study on family doctors' ability to recognise child abuse instances and
respond appropriately when they do, 39.7% of the 375 participants in the study
were not trained about child abuse during their undergraduate or graduate
studies. This demonstrates how little weight is placed on this subject in the
medical curriculum and how urgent it is to instill it in our system. A
mnemonic, "TEN-4," which stands for "torso, ears, neck,"
and 4 for the age of 4, was proposed by Pierce et al. This means that primary
care physicians should be suspicious of any injuries in these regions that
occur during the first four years of life. It was further improved to "TEN
FACE sp," which included sub-conjunctival haemorrhage, patterned bruising,
and injuries to the frenulum, angle of the jaw, cheeks, and eyelids. In terms
of anticipating misuse, this rule of thumb was 87% specific and 97% sensitive.
In
a congested emergency room, child abuse may go unnoticed, so it's critical to
have "child protection service" departments with specialists trained
in handling these situations. A research by Tiyyagura et al. revealed that
there was a rise in the reporting of child abuse (from 10.7% to 32.6%) when
community emergency departments sent cases to a specialised child protection
team upon discovering any of the aforementioned TEN-FACE-sp injuries. In
addition to recognising these warning indicators, a primary care physician
should carefully record the child's and parents' medical history, both jointly
and separately. Any disparity may serve as a warning sign for possible abuse.
Seeing how the family interacts may also provide some hints. Social class is
irrelevant because children from all social classes have been shown to be
victims of this evil.
These
kids' guardian angels are their parents and teachers, and school ought to be
their second home. These individuals have the ability to detect even the
slightest shift in a child's behaviour or overall wellbeing, and they ought to
look into it by getting to know the child in question. Teachers have a
professional duty to protect their young charges from harm so that they can
grow up to be valuable members of the country. Teachers are hesitant to report
because they are afraid it would damage their relationship with the student and
their family, that incorrect reporting of a sensational issue will have
negative effects, that reporting could lead to more torture and abuse, and that
foster homes are ineffective. Training
of teachers to improve their skill and accuracy in detecting this evil and
awareness of the various laws to safeguard children will also enhance their
confidence in this regard. Prompt action from doctors, police, and legal
experts is also essential to ensure smooth running of the safeguarding
machinery.[14]
POLICIES
AND PROGRAMMES
After providing for the above
mentioned constitutional provisions, the State additionally looks for the
welfare of children by adopting various policies and programmes and
institutionalising different national and provincial level authorities and
organisations.
National Policy for
Children 1974 is the first child centric programme launched by the government
of India for the all-round development, care and protection of children. It
recognises children as the ultimate asset of the country and guarantees that
their rights, as enshrined in the constitution and the UN Declaration of
Rights, are implemented. National Policy on Education 1986 called for a
specific emphasis on equality in the sphere of educational opportunity. It
argued for a child centred approach in primary education.
National Policy on Child
Labour 1987 is an initiative of the government to strictly implement the
articles of the constitution pertaining to the prohibition of Child Labour and
works towards the betterment of the conditions of working children. National Charter
for Children 2003 is a comprehensive document that empowers children with the
right of being a child and enjoying their childhood to the fullest. It
instructs the State, the society, the community and the families to provide a
healthy, safe and good environment for the growth of every child in the
country. It also ensures the right of adolescent children to good education and
other facilities, that would lead them to be productive citizens for the
nation.
National Plan of Action
for Children 2005 strives to handle the various problems in a child’s
existence. It works on the prohibition of child marriage, abolition of female
foeticide, female infanticide and upholding and guaranteeing the rights of
children in challenging conditions such as abuse, exploitation and neglect.
Child-line Services have been launched by the government especially after the
Twelfth Five Year Plan to help children in case of emergency or in situations
where they cannot seek help from anywhere else. It is essentially run by Childline
India Foundation, the mother body for this project in the country. Over the
years, the Childline has received over millions of calls, primarily related
with issues of medical care, housing for neglected or abandoned children,
emotional guidance and protection from abuse amongst others.
National Institute of
Public Cooperation and Child Development is the primary organisation for the
documentation and collection of research and projects connected to women and
child development. It works in the fields of child protection, child care
support services, awareness against abuse and exploitation and the rights of
children. The Twelfth Five Year Plan was launched in the year 2012 which
focused on child development and achieving higher sex ratio in the country. It
was an important governmental step towards strengthening the status and
condition of children in India, especially the female child.
IMPACT ON CHILDREN
PHYSCOLOGICAL
AND BEHAVIOURAL IMPACT
The psychological
consequence of child abuse includes age-inappropriate sexualisation of the
youngster. This implies that the youngster indulges in improper sexual
behaviours at a very immature age and conceptualises sex as explained by the
abuser which is often distorted. It also
leads to a lack of awareness of sexual identity for the child. The child would
find it difficult to understand his own anatomy, which might even contribute to
preconceptions of homosexuality.
Anxiety in daily
activities of life and terror from specific individuals or objects (objects of
abuse) or strangers or to the ‘touch’ of people is a general impact of physical
or sexual abuse. Eating and sleeping difficulties are one of the principal
consequences of child abuse. The child may suffer nightmares and fall short of
sleep. He would also have issues in forming trust relationships with people
owing to his past experiences.
Sexual, physical,
emotional abuse or neglect are one of the major reasons behind depression in
children. Parent’s unusually high expectations of good behaviour or academic
success push children into a perpetual state of dilemma and disdain. Child
maltreatment adversely impacts the child’s confidence and self-esteem. The
child might become emotionally weak and sensitive. It might also show
submissiveness in behaviour.
PHYSICAL
IMPACT
Physical injury to the kid
is a resultant of abuse, especially in cases of physical or sexual abuse. This
harm is in the form of bruises, markings, burns, wounds, or bleeding, swelling,
scratches etc. At times frustration from the work environment for victims of
child labour manifests its way into heightened violence or intensified
sensitivity. The child could express these by abusing other children. It can
also lead to degradation of parent-child relationships, disdain for moral values
etc. Recapitulation of maltreatment, is more profound in boys when compared to
girls.
Physical impacts of abuse
result in self-mutilation of body parts or even at times it leads to suicidal
attempts by the child. Children who are diagnosed with Sexually Transmitted
Diseases are generally related with an abused past.Child labourers in
industries or mines subsequently acquire heart and lung illnesses with the
passage of time. They also suffer lack of antibody to airborne infections and
face an early old age. Neglecting a child can contribute to its
under-development. It can also cause lack of mental growth and the child may
succumb to seclusion and isolation from its surroundings - friends, relatives,
teachers etc. When children are neglected, they are easily prone to obesity and
malnutrition.[15]
CONCLUSION
While the data clearly
highlights an increase in the atrocities against children, the author has also
aimed to translate the impacts of child abuse on the overall growth and
inclusive development of the nation.
Awareness programmes and
workshops should be performed on a larger scale by governmental as well as
non-governmental organisations, including schools and colleges. Children must
be educated about Child Protection programmes and Childline Services at a young
age so that they could benefit from these policies and become better
knowledgeable about their rights. Talking about sex should be as normal as
talking about the other changes in the body of a teenager. This would make it
easier for children to share and discuss their ailments to the people they
trust. People need to know that child abuse is existent and can happen anywhere
around you. It is important that citizens become more vigilant to their rights
and not naive to the abuse happening around them. Vigilant parents can teach
their children about self-protective practices such as the difference between a
good touch and a harmful touch, emergency practices in cases of abuse etc.
A basic awareness of the
meaning of child abuse not just as physical or sexual abuse but as emotional
abuse and neglect also needs to be fostered amongst the general masses. While
the analysis clearly draws distinction between different sorts of abuse that
are encountered by the Indian children, it also underlines the urgent necessity
to bring about the muchneeded reforms in this sector. This research note aims
to indicate the fact that child abuse not only damages the child’s productivity
but also vandalises the process of socialisation of the youngster. It is therefore
required that the society awakens to the call of protecting and enhancing their
childhood. This would not only allow greater engagement of youngsters in the
process of innovation and evolution but would also complement to the greater
good of the world civilization.
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