Children’s Rights In and Through Education: Learning to Live Together

The Right to be Safe

Child Abuse and MaltreatmentChild Abuse and Maltreatment

The Right to be Safe The Right to be Safe

The Right to Survive

The Right to be Safe

The Right to Belong

The Right to Develop

Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes Seeing Child Abuse as a Children’s Rights Issue

Defining Child Abuse and Maltreatment

– Definitional Challenges

Types of Child Abuse

Child Abuse Outcomes

Resilience and Child Abuse

Theories of The Causes of Child Abuse

– Macro, Micro

Prevention and Intervention

Child Abuse and Child Abuse and Children’s Rights Children’s Rights

Clear Linkage

There is clear evidence that child abuse is a global

problem. It occurs in a variety of forms and is deeply

rooted in cultural, economic and social practices

Children have the right to special protection against

violence

Right to be protected from abuse, exploitation and

discrimination

The Right to be Safe The Right to be Safe

Learning about Child Abuse and Maltreatment:

– Child abuse

– Peer Violence

– The Role of Educators

in Prevention and Intervention

Defining Child Abuse Defining Child Abuse

Challenges in defining the phenomena of Child Abuse

Multiplicity of Definitions stem from:

Changes in perceptions of child abuse which occurred over time

Cross–cultural variations

Nation–state variations

The Variations in The Variations in Conceptualizing Child Abuse Conceptualizing Child Abuse

Implications of varied definitions

Policy

Practice

Research (Comparison Challenges)

Intervention

Controversial and Contested Issue

Child Abuse as a Social Construction

The Social Construction of Deviance

Despite the Challenges and Despite the Challenges and Controversy Controversy

Take a Stand:Take a Stand: Education

Increased awareness

Prevention

Intervention

Protection of Children’s Right to be Safe

It is ALL OF OUR ROLES and Responsibilities

Understanding and Defining Understanding and Defining Abuse Abuse

Any act of commission or omission by individuals,

institutions or society as a whole which deprives

children of equal rights, or liberties, and/or interferes

with their optimal development, constitutes by

definition abuses or neglectful acts or conditions.

Despite Definitional Despite Definitional Challenges Challenges

Often Organized Often Organized Categorically Categorically

Defining Maltreatment and Child Abuse:

Four Major Types of Maltreatment:

1. Physical Abuse

2. Sexual Abuse

3. Neglect

4. Emotional Abuse

The Types of Child Abuse The Types of Child Abuse

Important to also consider:

– Polyvictimization

– Children who are witness to

IPV- (Inter- Partner Violence)

Physical Abuse Physical Abuse

Example of Narrative (quote showing insider’s

perspective of physical abuse)

Either child’s viewpoint of another social actor- in the

scenario

Analysis of Quote

Definition of Physical Definition of Physical Abuse Abuse

Physical Abuse

Is when a child is physically injured by any person

caring for him/her

It is also when a person caring for the child

knowingly fails to prevent an injury

An injury intentionally inflicted on a child by a care

giver or parent

Examples of Physical Examples of Physical Abuse Abuse

Hitting

Choking

Shaking

Kicking

Biting

Burning

Slapping

Beating

Injuries inflicted

with Objects

Developmental Perspective –Developmental Perspective –Effects of Physical AbuseEffects of Physical Abuse

Infancy

– Neurological damage

– Attachment difficulties

Middle to late childhood

– Intellectual and linguistic deficits

– Affective and behavioral problems

Adolescence

– Differences in parents who abuse their children during

adolescence and pre-adolescence

Potential Short and Long Potential Short and Long Term Effects of Physical Term Effects of Physical

Abuse in ChildrenAbuse in Children1. Abused children tend to exhibit aggression, low self esteem,

depression, and low academic achievement.

2. Severely abused children suffer more from intellectual

deficits, communication problems, learning disabilities.

3. Adults who were physically abused as children may

exhibit low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, suicidal

tendencies, unhappiness, increased risk of alcohol abuse,

and are less able to intimately bond with others.

4. Physical injuries sustained by child abuse cause

pain, disfigurement, physical disability, and death.

Sexual Abuse Sexual Abuse

Quote and analysis as introduction

Understanding Sexual Understanding Sexual Abuse Abuse

Definition:

The use of a child for sexual gratification or financial

gain by an adult whether by physical force coercion or

persuasion

Variation of CSA (Child Sexual Abuse)

Examples of Sexual Examples of Sexual Abuse Abuse

Fondling

Indecent Exposure

Touching sexual organs (of the child or adult)

Incest

Attempted or actual sexual intercourse

Showing of pornographic material

CSA – Child Sexual Abuse CSA – Child Sexual Abuse

CSA – Child Sexual Abuse CSA – Child Sexual Abuse

Neglect Neglect

Quote and analysis of Quote to introduce neglect

Understanding and Understanding and Considering Neglect Considering Neglect

Neglect historically has been considered to be “less”

than the other more visible forms of child abuse

Given less attention due to:

– False belief that it does not result in serious consequences

– Hardship to “judge” when poverty-related neglect

– Ambiguity and vagueness of neglect

– “Less compelling” than other forms of abuse

Understanding and Defining Understanding and Defining Neglect Neglect

Deficits in the provisions of children's basic needs…

Either acts or omissions by adults that persistently

exposes a child to danger

Persistent failure to fulfill a child’s basic needs

including food, hygiene, clothing, medical care and a

safe warm environment

Neglect and Cross -Cultural Neglect and Cross -Cultural Differences Differences

Culture and Community largely determine the

“adequacy” or “inadequacy “ of child care

Subtypes of Child Subtypes of Child Neglect Neglect

Health Care Neglect

– Refusal to, or delay in, providing physical or mental health care

Personal Hygiene Neglect

– Standards of cleanliness are not met

Nutritional Neglect

– Failure to Provide a Diet of Quality Nutritional Balance

Neglect of Household Safety

Subtypes of Child Subtypes of Child Neglect Neglect

Inadequate Shelter

– A physical shelter or home is not provided

Abandonment

– Physical desertion of one’s child

Supervisory Neglect

– Deficits in supervision that can lead to injury

Educational Neglect

– Parents can not provide care to promote and supervise education

Subtypes of Child Subtypes of Child Neglect Neglect

Emotional Neglect

– Child’s need for emotional support and encouragement

are not provided

Fostering Deviance and Delinquency

– Encouraging the development of illegal/deviant behaviors

Emotional or Emotional or Psychological Abuse Psychological Abuse

Quote and Analysis Emotional Abuse

Understanding Emotional Understanding Emotional Abuse Abuse

Emotional Abuse is defined as:

Verbal abuse or excessive demands

on the Child that result in

impaired growth, negative self image

and expressions of disturbed behavior

Rejecting, terrorizing, ignoring and

isolating a child are forms of emotional abuse

Examples of Emotional Examples of Emotional Abuse Abuse

Rejection or withdrawal of love

Ignores physical and emotional needs

Cruel, bizarre and inconsistent punishments

– Denial of food, shelter, sleep as a punishment

“Corruption” of a child by encouraging anti-social

behavior

Effects Associated with Effects Associated with Psychological Maltreatment Psychological Maltreatment

Long Term:

Low self esteem; depression; anxiety; self abuse;

hostility

Polyvictimization Polyvictimization

Finklehor, D.

Witness to IPV (Inter partner Witness to IPV (Inter partner Violence) as a form of abuse Violence) as a form of abuse

Children as witnesses to violence in

the family as a form of child abuse

Expressions of SecrecySecrecy

Expression of external symptoms such as:

Loneliness, depression, aggression, victimhood - may

reflect children being witness to IPV (Like other forms of

Child Abuse)

Intervention and Prevention with entire family unit

Resilience and Child Resilience and Child Abuse Abuse

Resilience- “Ordinary Magic” (Masten, 2001(

Maltreatment does not affect each child in a

predictable or consistent way

Resilience factors include positive self esteem and

sense of self and a positive relationship with at least

one important and consistent person

The Power of One

Resilience and Child Resilience and Child Abuse Abuse

Causes of Child Abuse Causes of Child Abuse

Macro Theories of Causality:

Cultural Explanations

Structural Characteristics of the Family

Strain Theory

Social Bonding

Deterrence Theory

Causes of Child Abuse Causes of Child Abuse

Micro Theories of Causality:

Psychological and Behavioral Traits

Psychopathology

Psychological and Behavioral Traits

Biological Factors

Parent-Child Interaction

Social Learning Theory

Activities Activities

Activities and Workshops Activities and Workshops for Teachers in the for Teachers in the

Classroom Classroom

Theoretical Material Theoretical Material Required Readings:

1. Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R. K., & Turner, H. A. (2009). Lifetime assessment of poly-victimization in a national

sample of children and youth. Child Abuse & Neglect, 33 (7), 403-411.

2. Fontes, L. A. (2005). Multicultural orientation to child maltreatment work. In L. A. Fontes, Child Abuse and

Culture: Working with Diverse Families (pp.1-29). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Recommended Readings:

1. Finkelhor, D. (2008). Childhood victimization violence, crime and abuse in the lives of young people. New York:

Oxford University Press.

2. Fontes, L. (2005). Working with immigrant families affected by child maltreatment. In L. A. Fontes, Child Abuse

and Culture: Working with Diverse Families (pp.30-57). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

3. Hansen, P., & Ainsworth, F. (2009) Human rights abuse in aspects of child protection practice? Australian Journal

of Social Issues, 44 (2), 183-193.

4. Hershkowitz, I., Orbach, Y., Lamb, M. E., Sternberg, K. J., & Horowitz, D. (2006). Dynamics of forensic interviews

with suspected abuse victims who do not disclose. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30, 753–769.

5. Perilla, J. L. (1999). Domestic violence as a human rights issue: The case of immigrant Latinos. Hispanic Journal

of Behavioral Sciences, 21 (2), 107-133.

6. Thomlison, B. (2004). Child maltreatment: A risk and protective factor perspective. In M.W. Fraser (Ed.), Risk and

resilience in childhood: An ecological perspective (2nd ed., pp.89-132). Washington, DC: NASW Press.