Hovika Sheqi Swu, PhD
Counselor & Pastor, Nihokhu Village Baptist Church
Abstract
Child abuse is a pervasive global issue that affects millions of children across all socio-economic, cultural, and geographic boundaries. It encompasses a range of harmful behaviors inflicted upon children by individuals in positions of power or trust, including physical abuse, emotional or psychological maltreatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Child abuse not only violates children's fundamental rights but also have profound and lasting impacts on their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
The consequences of child abuse are far-reaching, affecting not only the individual victims and family but also society at large. Children who experience abuse are at a higher risk of developing a range of psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As they grow up they may also struggle with substance abuse, engage in criminal behavior, and face challenges in forming healthy relationships with others. Moreover, the cycle of abuse often continues across generations, as individuals who were abused as children are more likely to abuse others or their own children.
Defining child abuse
Dictionary defines child abuse as ‘any act or series of actions by a parent, guardian, caregiver, or other individuals that cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm to a child.’ This maltreatment can occur in various forms such as physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and even spiritual.
1. Government laws against child abuse that every citizen should know
India has several laws and regulations aimed at protecting children from abuse and ensuring their well-being. Having knowledge of at least few of those laws would definitely come handy when need arise; here are some important ones to remember.
A. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
This law aims to protect children from sexual offenses and to provide a legal framework for the prevention and prosecution of sexual abuse by defining sexual offenses against children, including penetrative and non-penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment, and child pornography.
B. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009
This law ensures that every child has access to free and compulsory education by mandating children between the ages of 6 and 14 must receive free and compulsory education.
C. The Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (Amended in 2016)
This law prohibits the employment of children in hazardous industries and regulates the conditions of employment for children in non-hazardous industries by prohibiting the employment of children below the age of 14 in any occupation or process.
D. The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929
This law prevents child marriages and protects children from the adverse effects of early marriage by setting up the legal age for marriage (18 for girls and 21 for boys).
POCSO Act, 2012 protects children from all kinds of sexual abuse; RTE Act 2009 protects the children from being educationally abused, child labor Act 1986 protects the children from exploitation through any kinds of work and child marriage Act, 1929 protects the children from harmful effects of early marriage.
Besides understanding all these laws, we also need to understand different kinds of abuse that is prevalent in our society, which includes both intentional and accidental abuse.
2. Spiritual abuse of a child
Spiritual abuse of a child occurs when a parent, guardian, or religious authority uses religious beliefs, practices, or teachings in a way that harms, manipulates, or controls the child. This form of abuse can have profound psychological and emotional effects, distorting the child’s understanding of faith and spirituality. Here are some ways children can be spiritually abused:
A. Using Religion to Justify Abuse:
- Some parents or religious figures might use religious texts or beliefs to justify physical punishment or harsh discipline, claiming it is a divine mandate to correct the child’s behavior.
- Telling a child that God will punish them for disobedience, questioning authority, or for not adhering strictly to religious practices can create intense fear and anxiety, leading to a distorted and fearful view of God.
B. Exclusion and Isolation
- Isolating from Non-Believers: Parents or religious leaders might isolate a child from peers, activities, or educational opportunities that are seen as secular or contrary to their religious beliefs, leading to social isolation and a narrow worldview.
C. Forcing Religious Practices
- Compulsory Participation: Forcing a child to participate in religious rituals, ceremonies, or practices without considering their readiness, consent, or understanding can lead to resentment and spiritual confusion.
- Punishing Non-Compliance: Harshly punishing a child for not adhering to religious practices, such as fasting, praying, or attending services, can cause trauma and drive the child away from their faith.
D. Preventing Access to Medical Care
- Faith Healing over Medical Treatment: In some religious contexts, parents may refuse necessary medical care for a child, relying solely on prayer or faith healing. Denying medical treatment can lead to serious harm or death, and is a form of neglect and abuse.
- Spiritual Explanations for Illness: Telling a child that their illness or suffering is due to a lack of faith, sinfulness, or divine punishment can lead to guilt, confusion, and reluctance to seek help.
Recognizing spiritual abuse is crucial for parents, caregivers, and religious communities, as it ensures that religious and spiritual teachings are conveyed in a manner that nurtures, rather than harms, a child's development. It's important to approach a child's spiritual upbringing with love, respect, and the understanding that their spiritual journey is personal and should be free from coercion or harm.
3. Sexual abuse of a child
Child sexual abuse is typically defined as “any sexual experience with a child, which includes sexual activities involving physical contact as well as activities that do not involve contact, such as exposure or voyeurism.” The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual abuse as behaviors that include fondling, penetration, and exposing a child to other sexual activities that can include a range of behaviors, such as:
A. Physical Acts:
- Touching or fondling a child's genitals, breasts, or other body parts.
- Forcing or persuading a child to touch the abuser's genitals.
- Penetration of any kind (vaginal, anal, or oral) with a body part or object.
B. Non-Physical Acts:
- Exposing oneself to a child or exposing a child to sexually explicit material, such as pornography.
- Engaging a child in sexually explicit conversations or exposing them to inappropriate sexual content.
- Encouraging a child to perform sexual acts with others.
- Creating, sharing, or possessing child pornography.
Sexual abuse can have severe and long-lasting effects on a child's emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. It is considered a serious crime in most jurisdictions, and there are strict laws and protections in place to safeguard children from such abuse.
4. Emotional abuse of a child
Mental or emotional child abuse involves behaviors, actions, or inactions by a parent or caregiver that cause psychological harm or emotional distress to a child. Here are some common types:
A. Verbal Abuse: This includes constant criticism, insults, name-calling, yelling, or threats that can damage a child's self-esteem and sense of self-worth.
B. Rejection: Parents or caregivers may reject the child by refusing to acknowledge their worth, intentionally ignoring them, or dismissing their feelings and needs.
C. Isolation: This involves preventing the child from having normal social interactions, friendships, or participation in activities. The child may be confined or isolated from others, making them feel lonely and unloved.
D. Humiliation: Deliberately embarrassing, shaming, or ridiculing a child in public or private, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
E. Exposure to Domestic Violence: While not directly involving the child as a target, exposing a child to domestic violence between caregivers can cause emotional trauma and fear.
F. Degrading Comparisons: Constantly comparing a child to others, such as siblings or peers, in a negative light can foster feelings of inadequacy and resentment.
G. Emotional Blackmail: Using guilt, fear, or obligation to manipulate the child’s behavior, making them feel responsible for the adult's emotional state.
These forms of abuse can have long-lasting effects on a child’s mental health, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and difficulties in forming healthy relationships later in life.
5. Physical abuse of a child.
Physical child abuse refers to any deliberate act by a parent, caregiver, or another individual that causes physical harm to a child. This type of abuse can vary in severity, ranging from minor injuries to severe trauma and even death. Here are some common forms of physical child abuse:
A. Burning with Hot Objects: Pressing hot objects, like an iron or stove burner, against a child’s skin, causing significant burns, or exposing a child to hot liquids or steam, leading to burns and scalds leaving permanent scars and severe pain.
B. Throwing or Dropping: Forcefully throwing a child onto a surface, such as a bed, floor, or wall, causing head injuries, fractures, and internal damage.
C. Hitting and Beating: Slapping, kicking or striking a child with an open hand on the face, head, or body, punching with a closed fist, causing bruises, broken bones, or internal injuries.
D. Restricting Movement: Tying up, binding a child’s hands, feet, or body, restricting their movement, causing physical pain, bruises, and emotional trauma, or locking a child in small spaces, such as closets or basements (confinement), causing physical and psychological harm.
E. Pinching and Hair Pulling: Forcefully pinching the child’s skin, often leaving bruises and welts, or forcefully pulling a child’s hair, causing pain, scalp injuries, and emotional distress.
6. Accidental abuse of child by parents
Accidental abuse or unintentional abuse by parents can occur when their actions or behaviors, although not meant to harm, negatively impact the child’s emotional, psychological, or physical well-being. This type of abuse often arises from ignorance, stress, or the parent's own unresolved issues, rather than a deliberate intent to cause harm. Here are some ways parents might unintentionally abuse their child:
A. Emotional Neglect
- Lack of Affection and Attention: Some parents may not realize the importance of providing emotional support, affection, and attention to their child. This neglect can lead to feelings of rejection, loneliness, and low self-esteem in the child.
- Ignoring the Child’s Needs: Failing to acknowledge or respond to a child's emotional needs, such as comforting them when they are upset or celebrating their achievements, can make the child feel unloved and undervalued.
B. Overprotection
- Stifling Independence: Overprotective parents might restrict their child's freedom excessively, preventing them from learning how to cope with challenges or develop independence. This can lead to anxiety, dependency, and a lack of self-confidence in the child.
- Fear-Based Parenting: Parents who constantly express fears about the world (e.g., dangers of playing outside, interacting with others) may instill an unhealthy level of fear and anxiety in the child.
C. Inconsistent Discipline
- Harsh Punishments: Using harsh or overly strict discipline methods, such as excessive yelling, spanking, or other forms of corporal punishment, can cause fear and anxiety. Even if the intention is to correct behavior, these methods can be harmful.
- Inconsistent Rules: Inconsistent enforcement of rules or erratic responses to a child’s behavior can confuse the child and create a sense of insecurity, as they do not know what to expect from their parents.
D. Overburdening the Child
- Expecting the Child to Take on Adult Responsibilities: Placing adult responsibilities on a child, such as caring for younger siblings or managing household duties beyond their age, can rob them of their childhood and lead to stress and burnout.
E. Exposure to Conflict
- Constant Fighting: Exposing a child to frequent arguments, hostility, or domestic violence, even if the child is not the target, can cause emotional trauma, anxiety, and feelings of insecurity.
- Divorce and Separation: During a divorce or separation, parents might unintentionally use the child as a go-between or speak negatively about the other parent, creating emotional conflict and divided loyalties for the child.
Unintentional child abuse often stems from a lack of awareness or understanding of the child's developmental needs and the long-term impact of certain behaviors. Parents can benefit from education, counseling, and support to recognize and change these patterns, ensuring they provide a nurturing environment that fosters their child's well-being and growth.
7. Negative repercussions of Child abuse
The impact of child abuse (all kinds) can be profound and long-lasting, affecting various aspects of a survivor's life. These effects can be both immediate and persist well into adulthood. Some of the key impacts include:
A. Depression and Anxiety:
- Survivors often experience chronic depression, anxiety disorders, and mood swings.
- Low Self-Esteem and Self-Worth: Feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame are common, leading to poor self-image and low self-esteem.
- Emotional Dysregulation: Difficulty managing emotions, leading to anger, aggression, or emotional numbness.
B. Behavioral Effects:
- Self-Harm and Suicidal Behavior: Some survivors engage in self-injury or have suicidal thoughts and behaviors as a way to cope with their pain.
- Substance Abuse: There is a higher risk of developing substance abuse problems as a means of escaping or numbing the emotional pain.
- Risky Sexual Behavior: Survivors may engage in promiscuous or risky sexual behavior, sometimes as a way to regain control over their sexuality or due to confusion about healthy sexual boundaries.
C. Social and Relational Effects:
- Trust Issues: Survivors often struggle to trust others, which can make forming and maintaining relationships difficult.
- Difficulty with Intimacy: Survivors may find it hard to engage in intimate relationships, including both emotional and sexual intimacy.
D. Cognitive Effects:
- Difficulty Concentrating: Survivors might have trouble focusing, which can affect academic and occupational performance.
- Memory Problems: Trauma can impact memory, leading to difficulties with short-term memory and the ability to recall events.
E. Spiritual effect:
- Spiritual Confusion and Fear: Spiritual abuse can leave a child confused about their beliefs, fearful of God or religious practices, and distrustful of religious authorities.
- Long-Term Faith Issues: Many victims of spiritual abuse struggle with their faith later in life, feeling disconnected from religious communities or rejecting spirituality altogether due to the trauma they experienced.
- Loss of Faith and Trust in God
- Questioning Faith: Victims may struggle with their faith or belief in a higher power, questioning why the abuse happened and whether God is present in their suffering.
- Loss of Trust: They may lose trust in God or spiritual leaders, feeling abandoned or betrayed by those who are supposed to offer protection and support.
F. Economic Impact
- Families may face significant financial burdens due to the costs of medical treatment, therapy, or counseling for the abused child and other family members.
- If the abuse leads to legal action, the family may incur expenses related to lawyers, court fees, or even child custody battles.
- Parents may miss work due to court dates, counseling sessions, or caring for the affected child, which can lead to job loss or reduced income.
Each survivor's experience is unique, and the impact of abuse can vary widely depending on factors such as the duration and severity of the abuse, the relationship to the abuser, and the presence of supportive adults or interventions during or after the abuse.
8. Curbing Child abuse: A societal responsibility
Curbing child abuse may look difficult but it is not impossible, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2022 alone, India witnessed a staggering 8.7% increase in child abuse cases, reaching a total of 162,000 incidents. The number keeps increasing; it is high time for every right thinking citizen to consider it their moral responsibility to fight and stand against child abuse, while advocating the rights of the abused victims, providing spiritual care and guidance, offering emotional and psychological support, encouraging community and family involvement, and helping them with practical assistance and advocacy.
A. Identifying the Symptoms of abuse
The first step to solve the problem is identify the symptoms, it can be hard to recognize abuse; however, a child who's being abused may feel guilty, ashamed or confused. The child may be afraid to tell anyone about the abuse, especially if the abuser is a parent, other relative or family friend. According to Mayo Clinic (a renowned, non-profit, integrated medical center) it's vital to watch for red flags, such as
- Sudden changes in behavior, such as aggression or anger, fearful responses, or a decline in academic performance, withdrawal from friends or usual activities, sleep problems and nightmares, depression and anxiety, unusual paranoia or phobias of certain places, people, or situations, fear of going home, many unexplained absences from school, self-harm and/or suicide attempts
Specific signs and symptoms depend on the type of abuse and can vary. We also need to keep in mind that the presence of warning signs doesn't necessarily mean that a child is being abused.
B. Psychotherapy and counseling for the victims and families
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used therapeutic approach for helping children who have experienced abuse. CBT focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors, and it is particularly effective for addressing trauma and its psychological impacts. Here are some CBT techniques that can be helpful for child abuse victims:
1. Safety Planning and Skills
- Safety Skills Training: Teach children practical skills to recognize and respond to unsafe situations, including how to seek help and establish personal safety plans.
- Coping Skills: Equip the child with coping strategies for managing stress and anxiety, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness exercises.
2. Skill Building
- Social Skills Training: Help the child develop and practice social skills, including communication, assertiveness, and relationship-building, to improve their interactions with peers and adults.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Teach problem-solving strategies to help the child address challenges and conflicts in a constructive way.
3. Play Therapy Techniques
- Expressive Play: Use play therapy techniques to help younger children express their feelings and experiences through play, drawing, or storytelling.
- Role-Playing: Engage in role-playing activities to help the child practice new skills and explore different ways to handle challenging situations.
4. Relapse Prevention
- Identifying Triggers: Help the child identify and understand triggers that may lead to distressing thoughts or behaviors and develop strategies for managing these triggers.
- Developing Coping Plans: Create plans for dealing with potential setbacks or relapses in symptoms, ensuring the child has a clear path to follow if they encounter challenges.
CBT for child abuse victims is designed to address the immediate effects of trauma while also providing long-term strategies for coping and recovery. It’s important for therapists to tailor these techniques to the individual needs of each child and work collaboratively with their caregivers to ensure a comprehensive approach to healing.
9. Things You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse
Washington state department of children, youth and families provides some helpful tips for parents, caregivers and every concerned citizen
A. Discipline your children thoughtfully. Never discipline your child when you are upset. Give yourself time to calm down. Remember that discipline is a way to teach your child. Use privileges to encourage good behavior and time-outs to help your child regain control.
B. Examine your behavior. Abuse is not just physical. Both words and actions can inflict deep, lasting wounds. Be a nurturing parent. Use your actions to show children and other adults that conflicts can be settled without hitting or yelling.
C. Support prevention programs. Too often, intervention occurs only after abuse is reported. Greater investments are needed in programs that have been proven to stop the abuse before it occurs - such as family counseling and home visits by nurses who provide assistance for newborns and their parents.
D. Know what child abuse is. Physical and sexual abuse clearly constitute maltreatment, but so does neglect, or the failure of parents or other caregivers to provide a child with needed food, clothing, and care. Children can also be emotionally abused when they are rejected, berated, or continuously isolated.
E. Know the signs. Unexplained injuries aren't the only signs of abuse. Depression, fear of a certain adult, difficulty trusting others or making friends, sudden changes in eating or sleeping patterns, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor hygiene, secrecy, and hostility are often signs of family problems and may indicate a child is being neglected or physically, sexually, or emotionally abused.
F. Report abuse. If you witness a child being harmed or see evidence of abuse, make a report to your state's child protective services department or local police. When talking to a child about abuse, listen carefully, assure the child that he or she did the right thing by telling an adult, and affirm that he or she is not responsible for what happened.
Conclusion
Addressing child abuse requires a multi-faceted approach that includes prevention, intervention, and support for victims. Governments, communities, and organizations worldwide must collaborate to create and enforce robust child protection laws, provide education and resources to parents and caregivers, and establish safe environments where children can thrive. Equally important is the need for accessible mental health services to help victims heal and rebuild their lives.
In conclusion, child abuse is a grave human rights violation with severe consequences for individuals and society. By increasing awareness, strengthening legal frameworks, and providing comprehensive support to victims, it is possible to break the cycle of abuse and ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and loving environment.
