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Study reveals global child abuse
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| sensorium |
| quote: | A shocking picture of physical, sexual and psychological violence being perpetrated against children on a daily basis has been revealed in a UN report.
The first UN study of global violence against children says such abuse is often socially approved or even legal.
It concludes that violence against under-18s occurs in every country, every society and every social group.
The UN has called on states to outlaw violence against children and to ensure their rights are protected.
The study, which was requested by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, is the result of four years of research.
Psychological scars
The report's author, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, says the situation revealed is not acceptable and decades of silent abuse can no longer remain unchallenged.
"Protection from violence is a matter of urgency," writes Mr Pinheiro, "Children have suffered adult violence unseen and unheard for centuries."
The UN is calling on every country to have a national strategy to prevent violence against children.
The report, the first of its kind, charts various kinds of violence, from prostitution to school bullying, taking place in different stages and spheres of children's' lives - at home, in the community and in institutions.
It estimates that some 150 million girls, 14% of the planet's child population, are sexually abused each year, as well as seven percent of boys, or 73 million children.
Such violence can leave serious long-term psychological scars which result in increased risky sexual behaviour, substance abuse and violence towards others in adulthood.
Hidden violence
The study suggests that between 80-93% of children suffer physical punishment in their homes, although many of them do not speak of it due to stigma, shame and a lack of faith in legal systems.
The home can also be a dangerous place for some of the estimated 82 million girls who marry before the age of 18 and can face violence from their partners.
"There are several modalities of violence that are invisible or there is a wall of silence - violence inside the school, inside the home, at the workplace, the community and institutions," Mr Pinheiro told the BBC.
Gender also shapes the likelihood of experiencing different types of violence.
A study of 21 mainly developed countries, for example, found that up to 36% of women and 29% of men reported being sexually victimised during childhood.
But boys, especially in the 15-17 age group, are up to four times more likely to be murdered than girls of the same age.
The authors said they were encouraged by the participation of 135 governments from across the globe.
But the report recognises that one of the greatest challenges is changing a social mindset that tacitly accepts violence towards minors.
It includes a list of recommendations including the creation of national commissioners to prevent violence against children and national legal frameworks to protect children.
"After the emancipation of the workers in the 19th Century, the emancipation of the women in the 20th Century, I think that this is the moment to recognise children as being protected by rights, as full citizens, and not as mini-human beings or the property of their families," Mr Pinheiro said.
*** Link to article *** |
It may not seem like a serious problem for world leaders but it's certainly something that needs immediate attention. Maybe the UN will do something to remedy this global problem. Ban Ki-Moon might do something about it. One can only speculate.
And since it will be requested, here's the short version:
| quote: | A shocking picture of physical, sexual and psychological violence being perpetrated against children on a daily basis has been revealed in a UN report.
The first UN study of global violence against children says such abuse is often socially approved or even legal.
It concludes that violence against under-18s occurs in every country, every society and every social group.
The UN has called on states to outlaw violence against children and to ensure their rights are protected.
The study, which was requested by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, is the result of four years of research.
Psychological scars
The report's author, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, says the situation revealed is not acceptable and decades of silent abuse can no longer remain unchallenged.
"Protection from violence is a matter of urgency," writes Mr Pinheiro, "Children have suffered adult violence unseen and unheard for centuries."
The UN is calling on every country to have a national strategy to prevent violence against children.
The report, the first of its kind, charts various kinds of violence, from prostitution to school bullying, taking place in different stages and spheres of children's' lives - at home, in the community and in institutions.
It estimates that some 150 million girls, 14% of the planet's child population, are sexually abused each year, as well as seven percent of boys, or 73 million children.
Such violence can leave serious long-term psychological scars which result in increased risky sexual behaviour, substance abuse and violence towards others in adulthood.
Hidden violence
The study suggests that between 80-93% of children suffer physical punishment in their homes, although many of them do not speak of it due to stigma, shame and a lack of faith in legal systems.
The home can also be a dangerous place for some of the estimated 82 million girls who marry before the age of 18 and can face violence from their partners.
"There are several modalities of violence that are invisible or there is a wall of silence - violence inside the school, inside the home, at the workplace, the community and institutions," Mr Pinheiro told the BBC.
Gender also shapes the likelihood of experiencing different types of violence.
A study of 21 mainly developed countries, for example, found that up to 36% of women and 29% of men reported being sexually victimised during childhood.
But boys, especially in the 15-17 age group, are up to four times more likely to be murdered than girls of the same age.
The authors said they were encouraged by the participation of 135 governments from across the globe.
But the report recognises that one of the greatest challenges is changing a social mindset that tacitly accepts violence towards minors.
It includes a list of recommendations including the creation of national commissioners to prevent violence against children and national legal frameworks to protect children.
"After the emancipation of the workers in the 19th Century, the emancipation of the women in the 20th Century, I think that this is the moment to recognise children as being protected by rights, as full citizens, and not as mini-human beings or the property of their families," Mr Pinheiro said.
*** Link to article *** |
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| Sushipunk |
| Did your mother smack you as a child? |
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| sensorium |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sushipunk
Did your mother smack you as a child? |
Yes.
Did yours? |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiild molestor!
did you smack your mother as a child? |
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| sensorium |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiild molestor!
did you smack your mother as a child? |
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| astroboy |
| Abuse and excessive violence are one thing... but frankly i think not enough kids are being spanked these days. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
want your kids to behave? hire one of these:
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| Sushipunk |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
want your kids to behave? hire one of these:
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:haha: That's so wrong.
| quote: | | Abuse and excessive violence are one thing... but frankly i think not enough kids are being spanked these days. |
Very much agreed. It seems everywhere I go, these little kids are getting away with whatever they want. The number of times a day I think to myself ", just smack that little bastard, so he'll eventually learn!" |
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| astroboy |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sushipunk
:haha: That's so wrong.
Very much agreed. It seems everywhere I go, these little kids are getting away with whatever they want. The number of times a day I think to myself ", just smack that little bastard, so he'll eventually learn!" |
Yeah I look at 7 and 8 year olds throwing tantrum in shops and the parents do nothing just yell at them and eventually give in. When i was 4 I already knew that wasn't on or I'd get my ass whooped. |
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| venomX |
| Actually most studies on children abuse show that most abused children dont get "long lasting psychological scars". Now im not saying abuse is ok here, just that we tend to overestimate the amount of psychological trauma that these abuse cases actually cause. Also i think we need to distinguish here between abuse and a bit of physical punishment, i think most of us agree that one spank at the right moment works more than a million words. |
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