Upon their birth, children are generally a source of delight, love and unity. It is therefore very sad when, only a few years later, these same children are subjected to various forms of abuse, often violently.
Article
19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) defines Violence against
Children as “all forms of physical or
mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment
or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal
guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.”
As
stated in this definition, violence against a children can occur in a variety
of forms. No matter how widespread or prevalent, there is no justification for
any mentally or physically-abusive practices in raising a child. As long as a
child is being subjected to the discomfort of physical pain (even if intended
to be corrective) it constitutes violence!
We
should work on instilling proper discipline in the child early on rather than
vent the displeasure and frustration of a child’s misbehaviour on the child by
beating him up. Child labour and sexual abuse should also be discouraged.
Violence
against a child does not only leave an indelible agonizing psychological scar on
a child (thereby encumbering his all round development), they also teach him a
wrong notion thereby nurturing a culture of violence.
Recommended strategies to prevent violence
against children
Support for
parents, caregivers and families
Proper education on children’s development
will increase the likelihood of positive disciplining methods and reduces the
risk of violence within the home.
ü Helping children
manage conflict
Teaching children and youth the
skills and appropriate measures to manage conflict without the use of violence,
is imperative for reducing violence in schools and communities.
ü Changing attitudes
and social norms that encourage violence
Discouraging those attitudes
and social (religious and cultural) norms that portend violence is very
necessary to prevent violence from occurring in the first place.
ü Promoting and
providing support services for children
Encouraging children to report
incidents of violence and seek professional support helps them to resolve and
better cope with experiences of violence.
ü Implementing laws
and policies that protect children
Implementing and enforcing laws
and policies that protect children from abuse will deter society from violence.
ü Data collection and
research
Knowing about violence – where it
occurs, in what forms, and which age groups and communities of children are
most affected – is essential to planning intervention strategies and setting targets
to curb violence.
It
is our moral and human right to act now and break the cycle of violence against
children.
It
is Children’s Day; we can start today.
