The many faces of child abuse
4 Apr
According to the Children’s Convention which was ratified in the UN’s General Assembly in 1989; every child under 18 no matter where in the world has the right:
· Children’s rights to basic needs – such as food, health and a place to live.
· Children’s right to development -such as education, play, leisure and information.
· Children’ right to protection- such as against war, violence, abuse and exploitation
· Children’ right to participation- such as influence, participation and freedom of expression
But everywhere in the world most of these right are violated especially in the developing countries because of poverty and ignorance. Different customs and beliefs also dictates the norms in a particular society.
In the streets of Manila Philippines, you can see street children everywhere while you’re driving, outside the restaurants, in the markets, under the bridge and everywhere except in the big commercial centers where there are security guards. At night they sleeps in cartoon boxes or wooden carts and who knows if they had eaten anything. These children are stow aways, orphans or just that their parents don’t have any capacity to feed and house them. It was the same sight that greets me when I studied in Manila more than 20 years ago but now it’s worse. What is worse is that they are being exploited by syndicates. They use streets children to steal, sell like flowers, candies, cigarettes, wash window/windshields and a lot of thing. The police cannot eradicates these syndicates or even protects these children.Social Centers are filled and they just grow up to be hardened criminals or prostitutes. Who can help them these children? I know some good hearted people or organizations, religious institutions like Caritas Manila helps and takes care of them but it’s not enough.Another big issue in the Philippines and other developing countries id child labor when was very rampant before although it was outlawed it is still practiced by other businesses.
When I live here in Denmark I learned about other form of child abuse. One which makes my hair rise is the circumcision of young girls by cutting their clitoris because they are not suppose to enjoy sex. Thankfully that it was outlaw because it is against human right and not all Muslims practice this.
There are also people living under the poverty level and I watch sometimes that parents complain that they can provide their children what other can like toys, clothings and holidays which is they can not afford to go on vacation. But I think this is not a big problem here because of the Social Security they will be taken care unlike in the Philippines. What I think the biggest child abuse in the west is the sexual abuse which was these past few months dominated the newspapers. There was a case about a father who sold his daughters to do sexual favors to sick minded men with the consent of his wife. How about the famous Josef Fritzl Case in Austria where he raped and imprisoned his daughter in the basement for 23 year and produced 7 children. He admitted his crime and was recently sentenced to lifetime.
The are many faces of child abuse but sexual abuse and incest are most common here in the West. Children are being abused of people they trust and close to them. Last year there was a chief of police, teachers, sports trainer and even children. Who we gonna trust? Parents somehow become paranoid because of this. For example in Day care institutions, swimming halls or even in some places it is forbidden to take pictures.
Another form is bullying both form other children or by adults, children of alcoholic or drug addict parents or children who are thorned between parents in a divorce process and many more. Here in Denmark the parents, the teachers are being encourage to teach their children to learn what is inappropriate touch or when their rights are being violated. For example they are being thought to call 112 (hello 911 in other place) if they think their parents or anybody is hitting them. Once I was visiting my friend who was breastfeeding his 4 months old son while the two older was noisy and playing violently, she asked them to stop but after a while they won’t stop she throw a stuffed toy hitting one kid (it wasn’t intentional to hit them) and the older kid said, that he will call the police because the mother hit him. But the mother explain that it wasn’t intentional but still the son will not stop so she said ok just call the police but who gonna breastfeed the baby. So the boy who was 4 1/2 that time ask sorry.
Children’s Council – www.boerneraadet.dk
in the Philippines call Bantay Bata a project of ABS CBN
| REPORT CHILD ABUSE | ||
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Since April is Child abuse prevention month I will research more about the the hotline one can call if they need somebody to call if they are victim of abuse or incest and other resources. I just want this post before 24:00 today.
As a mother my heart suffers when I hear about children who were abused or mishandled and I can only do one thing is to help create awareness and encourage others to do so. I support Rainbow who organized this event in Bloggers Unite.
Hi Ana,
Again I took the liberty to repost your article at my blog- Blogger’s Complaint. I believe in the advocacy you are fighting for. Thank you so much. God bless you always.
@Mel,
Its always a pleasure that’s the purpose to convey the message to the world.
This is one surrogate problem in our country. The parents should be more responsible to protect their children. Bantay-Bata has been formed to report all child abuses and all but I don’t know how much it helped since it’s existence. Everybody should be aware of this.
@ Marlene,
Yes it´s a big problem and children are helpless. Parents are the first to protect their children to provide shelter, education and other needs but if they can’t they should not have the rights to have children. But everybody should be aware of these.
I came over from Bloggers Unite. Thanks for posting for Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness Month. This is an excellent article. I really like how you listed the child rights at the top. You may want to consider submitting this to THE BLOG CARNIVAL AGAINST CHILD ABUSE. We have a submission deadline of tomorrow (4/15) for a Friday edition. Details are at my blog. Thanks for considering joining us!
@ Marjaka
Thanks Marjaka for the invitation. I submitted my post to the Blog Carnival
As a mother Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness is close to my heart.
Hi Ana, it’s Blog Readers Appreciation Day, April 16. If you look at my post, Thank You My Dear Blog Readers, I’ll Blog Alone Without You!, I’m actually extending it into a full month from April 16 to May 15.
I just want to tell you how much I appreciate your support for me, my blog and the advocacies that we share and pursue to help make this a better world for our children. If there is one blog left to read, this one will be it.
Thanks a lot and God bless always!
@Rolly
Thank you Rolly I still can reach to join the event to appreciate my readers and friends I earned by blogging.
Hi Ana, punta ka sa blog ni Mike, Child Abuse Survivor. Nandun na yung April 2009 edition ng Carnival Against Child Abuse!
Nandun ka, ako at si Rainbow! Ang saya!
@ Rolly,
Oo nga ang saya first time masali sa blog carnival.
Ana, thanks for sharing this article with the April Carnival Against Child Abuse. It is a world-wide problem. With more awareness maybe we can protect more children.
@Patricia,
You’re Welcome. I’m glad to contribute and I’ll alway available with regards to Awareness Against child Abuse.
Thank you so much for letting us include this great post for The Blog Carnival Against Child Abuse which went up today at the Child Abuse Survivor host blog. Glad you joined us!
Your welcome I’m looking warming up for the RUN AND STOP THE SILENCE tomorrow.
i think we should be more vigilant against Child Labor. child labor have an increasing trend these days specially in third world countries.