Opinion: How to prevent child abuse

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One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood. – Agatha Christie

Sadly, hundreds of millions of children do not have the privilege to experience a happy childhood with loving and caring parents.

Many suffer from various types of abuse, neglect and even violence within their own families, communities, schools and other settings.

In many cultures across the globe, children are often considered as parental property, allowing parents to treat their offspring in accordance with their culture and values.

Pupils recite the Dizigui, a Chinese book dating back more than 300 years ago that lays out standards for being a good child and student, during a traditional Chinese cultural activity in Xingyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on November 24. /Xinhua Photo‍

Unfortunately, there is no globally accepted standard for optimal child care and parenting or for dealing with abuse because every culture has its own beliefs and behaviors regarding upbringing.

Some child-rearing practices or disciplines might be considered acceptable in one culture but seen as abusive or neglectful by others.

For example, in many cultures, Asia among them, the practice of corporal punishment has been pervasive and is often considered necessary to instill compliance and respect. Parents may discipline a child believing that the harder the punishment, the more they demonstrate love and affection.

Risk factors

Exploring the myriad issues related to child abuse and neglect requires a deep understanding of the extent and characteristics of these problems. One of the most important issues is to state what is universally agreed as a definition of abuse and neglect.

RYB Education New World Kindergarten is under police investigation for alleged child abuse. /CCTV Photo

UNICEF defines child maltreatment as the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility.

This broad definition embraces child molestation, child labor and using children as child brides and soldiers.

Children, wherever they live, are prone to such illicit and inhuman practices and, worst of all, are unaware of their situation and rights.

Child abuse, which has been around since the beginning of human history, has become such a challenging global issue that the United Nations (UN) launched the Convention on the Rights of Children on November 20, 1989 to protect the vulnerable children on this planet.

Parents gather in front of Beijing's RYB Education, which is at the center of a child abuse scandal. /Photo from news.ifeng.com

Ratified by 194 UN member countries except the United States, it requires countries to appear before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child periodically to be examined on their progress with regards to the advancement of the implementation of the convention and the status of child rights in their respective countries.

Despite this strong legally binding convention, laws and enforcement are lacking at national and local levels. Limited resources and weak political will have made it difficult for many countries to implement adequate legislation to protect child rights. Awareness of child abuse varies across countries depending of geographical, political, economic and cultural conditions.

Another risk factor is a combination of people’s ignorance, shame and legal uncertainty that makes it very difficult for children to gain needed protection. As happens everywhere, children hide their experiences and will remain tight-lipped.

To make matters worse, laws alone cannot break cultural practices and traditions ingrained in many societies that also say child abuse is a family and domestic issue preventing outsiders from intervening.

When looking deeper at the issue, the majority of child maltreatment cases start at home and addressing the issue must begin in the home.

/Photo from Girls' Protection

International studies reveal that a quarter of all adults report having been physically abused as children; 1 in five women and 1 in 13 men report having been sexually abused as a child.

Parenthood matters

Experts believe that the maltreatment of children is mostly caused by parental stress and the lack of parenting skills. Many parents are leading stressful lives in fast-growing societies causing them to lash out and end up abusing their own children, whether on purpose or accidentally.

Parents are too often unaware of the inappropriateness and consequences of their behavior toward their children’s physical and emotional well-being.

Child maltreatment causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term consequences. It causes stress that is associated with disruption in early brain development.

Preventing child abuse requires a multisectoral approach involving policymakers, law enforcers, parents, teachers, religious and traditional leaders as well as communities.

(The author is a senior journalist and human rights advocate. The article reflects the author’s opinion, not necessarily the views of CGTN.)