Introduction
Child abuse happens when a person harms a child physically, emotionally, or sexually. It may be happening when a child’s basic needs, like food, shelter, and love, are not fulfilled by his parents or family. Physical abuse involves hitting and other injuries to a child. Emotional abuse includes feelings of worthless or ignoring a child. Sexual abuse means that a child is involved in sexual activities. Neglect is also a form of abuse in which a child is not properly cared or ignored. Child abuse can happen in any society, no matter where it is civilized or not. Abuse child feel scared or confused. So it is a duty of every civilized and developed community to ensure safety and protection of children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines “all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, development or dignity.”
Historical Perspective of Child abuse
If we focus in the history then we may assume that in the past children were considered as property of their parents. So there was no recognition of their individual rights and liberty. In many ancient societies, children were forced to contribute to the family’s economic matters. Physical punishment was a common practice and considered as a means of discipline.
In ancient Rome the male head of the family had absolute authority over his children. He even sells children into slavery. In medieval Europe, children were often mistreated and harsh physical punishment was a commonly used method of discipline.
The concept of childhood as a distinct stage of life began to emerge in the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly through the works of philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Their work made significant contributions to the concepts of human rights. They indirectly influenced views on child abuse. Their philosophies helped a lot to shape modern views including the protection of children from abuse. No doubt These ideas laid the foundation for later legal and social reforms focusing on child welfare and abuse.
Cultural Perspective of child abuse
Cultural norms and behavior of society always play a significant role in defining the way to deal with the issue of child abuse and how it is addressed. In some societies abuse are considered traditional or normal. For example, physical punishment, such as caning is practiced and accepted in many parts of the world as a form of discipline and training.
Moreover, in backward and poor societies abuse and domestic violence is very common and contribute to the prevalence of child abuse. Families living in poverty may struggle for the provision of basic needs, leading to abuse and mistreated.
In some cases, child abuse is a cycle that travel from one generation to the next. Adults who were abused in their childhood may be abuse their own children. Actually they observed such behavior as normal or routine matter so they cannot cope with stress and abuse.
Modern Understanding and Challenges
In this globalized era, child abuse is recognized as a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach to prevention and protection. Modern study of child abuse focused the importance of family support, freedom, and education to prevent the children from abuse and to help those affected families mentally and financially.
According to modern research of human psychology, child abuse can have long-lasting and dangerous effects on mental health. Children who experience abuse may suffer in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and not able to forming healthy relationships with others.
There are so many challenges related to child abuse. Actually in some backward societies Child abuse is often hidden. A number of abuse cases remained unreported due to fear, shame, Family pressure or lack of awareness.
Is Child Abuse a new phenomenon?
child abuse is not a new phenomenon, but its recognition as an international level is relatively recent. Before this mistreatment of children was considered as a family matter. However, as society developed, people began to understand the impacts of child abuse in society.
There are many factors contributed to this emerging awareness. First, the rise of psychology and the study of human behavior focused that how abuse affects the mental health of children. The second thing is that media also played a vital role in this regard. Social media, newspapers, and television provide stories of child abuse and create awareness among the society.
Fourthly, in many countries, laws are also made to protect children from abuse. Through these laws culprits are punished strictly. Fifthly, a strong setup of social services was established in various countries to help and facilitate the abuse children and their families.
Fifthly, many Organizations were emerged at national as well as international level for the protections of children. These organizations charities the effected child and focused on their welfare. These organizations also provided education to the public about the child abuse and how to report it.
Lastly, in schools, children were taught about their rights and how to seek help in case of any abuse and mistreated. Teachers also trained the children to recognize signs of abuse and harassment. Overall, the recognition of child abuses as an important issue in the 20th century led to significant changes in how society views and handles the welfare of children.
The United States established a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCC) in 1874.
Actually this society (SPCC) was the result of high-profile case of a young girl named Mary Ellen Wilson. This case highlighted the importance for legal protection for children and paved the way to the establishment of child protection agencies
The United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959
Do you know that Child Abuse Recognized as a Social Issue in the 20th century?
The child abuses as a social issue emerged in the past century. That’s why the 20th century saw further advancements in child protection issues. So many acts were formed such as child labor laws, compulsory education, and the establishment of social services etc.
Conclusion and strategies to prevent Child Abuse
Child abuse is a kind of violation of children’s rights. This issue has a far-reaching consequence for individuals and society. In current scenario child abuse is recognizing as a serious social issue. By examining the root causes of abuse we may assume that we can work towards a world where all children are safe, protected, and able to live a happy and satisfactory life. But child abuse requires the collective effort of individuals, communities, and governments also to ensure that every child has the right to a safe and tension free environment. So in this worst situation requires a comprehensive approach and a solid legal framework that provides support to communities. Key strategies for prevention include:
Create Awareness among the people:
The first and foremost point is that parents and the child should have knowledge about the signs of abuse. For this purpose, awareness campaigns can encourage individuals to report suspected abuse. So the importance of positive parenting can help a lot prevent abuse.
Poverty reduction:
Poverty is also a big challenge for child abuse. So if government provide financial support to poor families then ultimately abuse or domestic violence can have reduced within the society. Support services can also include abuse treatment as well as financial assistance.
Legislation and policies:
The state and non-state actors should formulate such policies that protect children from abuse and exploitation. This includes law making, law implementation and law adjudication. Moreover, child protective services and legal protections for victims must be insured.
Sympathetic behavior:
Those children who have experienced abuse, need sympathetic behavior such as counseling, therapy, and support. In this stance their family and society groups can help them heal and recover. Early intervention is critical to mitigate the long-term effects of abuse.
Social Involvement:
If we want to Build abuse free society then we must formulate a strong, supportive communities. These can help to prevent child abuse and ensure the dignity of human beings. Community programs that promote healthy parenting, provide social support, and create safe environments for children and create a healthy nation.
Proper funding:
Some major and systemic issues such as inadequate funding for child protection services is a great holder in the way of child protection. So every state should fix a very suitable amount for efforts to prevent and address abuse.
Safe Environment:
We should adopt an open and supportive home environment where children feel comfortable and can discussing their concerns. For this purpose, regular conversations should be arranged about child’s experiences and listen actively to solve their worries and issues.
