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.
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