Lost Innocence

Child abuse is a worldwide problem. The number of reported cases is growing at an alarming rate and it is now ranked top priority within social work departments. There is also a huge number of cases that never come to the attention of the authorities.

Children have been exploited and abused for centuries and are often subjected to more than one form of abuse. The importance of the family’s right to privacy and the opinion that children were the property of their parents, has always been considered. This has led to ignorance throughout society for many years.

Public awareness grew towards child abuse in the 1960s but focused only on physical abuse. By the 1970s, however, the term ‘child abuse’ came to be used. This included not only physical, but also emotional abuse and neglect. It was not until the 1980s that sexual abuse of children was recognised.

Abuse has devastating consequences on the victims. Feeling guilty or humiliated, they will become withdrawn. Behavioural changes and emotional outbursts are not uncommon. There are also physical symptoms such as delayed growth, weight loss and impaired speech. Those who have been abused as children can experience difficulties with personal and sexual relationships when they become adults. In addition, they are at risk of becoming abusers themselves.

Prevention methods include; screening of those who work in the care sector and imprisonment for the offenders, however, guilt is very difficult to prove. Education programmes for children aim to teach children about their bodies and the nature of different relationships. They are also informed of their rights and self worth. They are taught skills to help them avoid abuse as well as how to report actual or potential abuse.

It is a sad fact of life that child abuse brings fatalities. The number of children killed by their parents is probably much haigherthan statistics suggest as many infant deaths are never officially recognised as infanticide.

Child abuse in a sickening reality in today’s world. Society has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable of all, the children. We need to make ourselves more aware of the risks to children. Anyone with concerns about a child’s welfare should seek advice from a professional person who is experienced in dealing with such matters.

Information and advice is available from a number of agencies including; Social Work, Police, School, Health Services, and voluntary organisations such as ChildLine and ParentLine.