Every day we see more and more cases of child violence around the world, whether due to total ignorance of the adults around the child or simply out of pure malice. Currently, this issue is addressed and taken more seriously than it was in the past, but is this because cases have increased or because people are becoming more aware?
It is considered child violence when parents or adults responsible for the child—or any adult in the child’s environment such as babysitters, teachers, uncles, or other relatives—commit psychological, physical, or even sexual abuse, harming and causing not only physical but also psychological damage to the child. The vast majority of cases occur in homes with parents who are alcoholics, drug addicts, or have psychological disorders, leading to negligence or recklessness in caring for their children, and committing atrocities as if it were something normal.
Different Types of Violence Against Children
When we think about child violence, we often imagine a child being beaten or assaulted. But this is not the only way a minor can be harmed and have their life affected forever. Through insults, beatings, and daily threats, a child’s life can be marked and result in an insecure adult, full of traumas, psychological disorders, or, in some cases, an aggressive person who puts into practice all the negative behavior they have experienced throughout their lives.
Domestic Violence
Of all the cases, domestic violence is reported as the most common worldwide. It is also considered a form of psychological torture where parents or other adults responsible for the child belittle and disapprove of everything the child does, blocking their willingness to act or succeed, and causing great insecurity in all areas of their life. Many cases involve threats of abandonment and physical aggression, generating fearful children, insecure, aggressive, and psychologically affected. Physical violence is considered any act that injures a child’s body with aggression, whether a slap on the bottom or attacks with objects that may leave bruises.
Sexual Violence:
Sexual violence is defined as the act between an adult and a child, where the aim is for the adult to sexually stimulate the child or commit any sexual act or stimulation with them. This causes genital injuries, bleeding, bruises, or abrasions in various parts of the body. Children who are victims of sexual violence often show signs of sexual acts, whether through gestures, how they act with other children, or even by describing what happened as something normal and routine. They often suffer from nightmares, display aggressive behavior, and feel fear when in contact with other adults.
They grow up with insecure behavior and tend to withdraw from social interaction, fearing what they might suffer. They struggle with romantic relationships and in the workplace, which can further worsen the situation if they do not receive psychological support from the start. Many families try to hide these cases so they do not become public, and end up neglecting the child’s possible recovery, making rehabilitation even more difficult over time.
Violence by Negligence:
The failure to care for children adequately also falls under violence. Parents or guardians are responsible for all aspects of caring for children, including food, clothing, education, and emotional well-being. There are documented cases of complete neglect, finding children starving, lacking basic hygiene for themselves and at home. Dirty clothes, homes filled with garbage, and children exposed to various diseases and risks. In these cases, 90% are reported in homes headed by adults who are alcoholics or drug addicts, who go missing for days, leaving their children to fend for themselves.
Many cases, though preventable through reporting, end up having a sadder outcome. Unfortunately, domestic child violence can be fatal—many children lose their lives daily due to neglect from parents and guardians; many are verbally, physically, and sexually abused and have their dreams destroyed by irresponsible adults. Many of these children have their character destroyed, their dreams shattered, and their bright futures vanish like dust due to the unpreparedness of so many adults when it comes to dealing with a child. Out of selfishness, thinking only of themselves, they leave someone so dependent at the mercy of chance or even treat a child like garbage when they should give only love, care, and attention.
See also: Women’s Rights in Childbirth – Obstetric Violence
Photo: Oxfam International, Henning Mühlinghaus
