Child abuse is generally categorized into four broad groups. Neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse; Child abuse refers to any action or behaviour done to a child that inflicts pain/injury or failure to act to prevent harm emotionally, physically or socially on the child. It includes neglects of the child’s basic needs and right.
Children may be abused in a range of settings by those known to them or by a stranger. Child abuse has to do with inbalance of power.
A child may be subject to more than one form of abuse at any time during his/her childhood. Vulnerable children, for example those with disabilities, children who are separated from their families and are reliant on others for their care and protection, and homeless children are recognized to be at particular risk of being abused.
A child is any person below the age of 18 years. In this policy, vulnerable adult with mental or physical disabilities are also included.
1. Physical Abuse:
Physical abuse is the actual likely injury to a child or failure to prevent physical injury (or suffer) to a child. It includes hitting, beating with a stick or others such as shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning or suffocating. This could result in bruises, burns, bite marks, cuts, head injury, whiplash, internal injury and broken bones.
It may also include the situation where a care giver deliberately causes ill-health to a child he/she is looking after. This may involve forcing the child to work in an unsafe way/environment or depriving the child of the necessities of food, water sunlight etc.
2. Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is the actual or likely exploitation of a child or adolescent or vulnerable adult, sexual abuse also occurs when a child is used for his/her gratification or sexual arouser. It involves encouraging, forcing, enticing a child to take part in or observe sexual activities that they may or may not truly comprehend.
It includes any action with sexual intent towards children such as touching a child genital, asking a child to watch or take part in pornography, or having sex with the child whether or not they appear to be consenting. It involves the child not being able to give informed consent and may violate social taboos or family roles.
It includes rape, incest and all forms of sexual activities involving children, such as pornography and prostitution. It is criminal behaviour to involve children/vulnerable adults in sexual behavior for which they are not personally, and mentally ready. This can be immoral too.
3. Child Neglect:
Child neglect is the persistent or severe failure to provide basic needs of a child. Neglect refers to omission, where a child suffers significant harm or impairment of development caused by deprivation from basic needs e.g. food, clothing, warmth, hygiene, intellectual stimulation supervision and safety, attachment to affection from adults and medical care.
Neglect generally becomes apparent in different ways over a time rather than at one specific point. It is the persistent failure to meet a child’s physical, emotional and or psychological needs that is likely to result in significant harm. Neglect is the failure, whether intentional or not, of the person responsible for the child’s care to provide and maintain adequate food, clothing, medical care, supervision, and/or education or extreme failure to carry out important aspect of care.
4. Emotional Abuse:
Emotional abuse is the actual or likely persistent or severe emotional ill treatment or rejection of a child, which is likely to have adverse effect on the child’s emotional and behavioural development. It includes any actions (gestures, words and behaviours) that deliberately cause children to feel afraid, anxious, in danger, corrupted, exploited, annoyed or discouraged).
It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless, unloved and inadequate. It involves neglecting to give enough attention, not making the child to feel secure and worthy or verbally assaulting the child by belittling, blaming, sarcasm, screaming and threats.
5. Exploitation:
Child exploitation implies treatment of a child as an object to be used, bought or sold for the gains of another person. It is an abuse of power and is detrimental to the child’s physical and mental health, development and education.org For the profit and gains of the person or group exploiting, using a child’s labour for profit or gain.
66 Bullying:
Bullying is increasingly recognized as harmful to children and also adolescent. It could involve physical intimidation, emotional intimidation etc. It may include racist, religious, cultural, physical and sexist remarks or isolating or excluding someone. It always involves a less powerful person(s) experiencing deliberate hostility.
What are the signs of bullying? Children or young people may.
- Arrive home from school very hungry.
- Be frightened of going to school.
- Refuse to attend school.
- Come home with possessions destroyed.
- Have unexplained cut or bruises.
- Have difficulty coping with school work.
- Have nightmares and cry in their sleep.
- Seem unhappy but refuse to say what is wrong.
- Be upset or secretive about email, text, or phone messages.
