The Philippine Online Chronicles

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It’s a time to raise awareness about the sad reality of child abuse. It’s a time that calls for people to open their eyes and ears to suffering children around the world.  Abused children are in dire need of rescue, help and support.

Act now before it’s too late.

Below is a moving video about child exploitation and its corresponding transcript.

“My name is Rosario. I’m seven years old. I live in a house made of cardboard along the railroad. I have two brothers, a mother and a father. My mother died when I was six years old. It was a harsh time for our family. I miss her smile. I miss her touch. I miss her hugs. I miss her. My brothers ran away soon after because my dad was always drunk. He gave me to my uncle who just made me work all day in the factory. Then I was sold to a stranger who made me beg in the street, all day and all night. I was scared. Tired. No one wanted to come near me. Then I was sold again to a pimp who made me work in the brothel. Customers kept on coming and coming and coming. Big, ugly, mean, hit me, touched me, scared me, made me cry. Then one day one of them infected me with HIV. [sobs] Help me. Save me.”

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Rosario exemplifies a child who is a victim of different forms of child abuse. Rosario is not alone. There are many cases of child abuse in different parts of the globe. Rosario’s cry for help is echoed by many children around the world.

Types of child abuse

Child abuse has different forms but they all leave deep scars. The child will have to endure the painful reminders for life. There might be physical scars but the hardest to bear are the emotional scars.

The following are different types of child abuse, warning signs and its effects on children based on HelpGuide.org.  Being aware of abusive actions and learning to recognize the warning signs can help you put a stop to child abuse.

1.      Emotional or psychological abuse - This type of abuse can deeply affect a child’s mental health and social development. It could permanently leave psychological scars on a child. The following actions are examples of emotional abuse:

• Subjecting a child to constant criticism, ridicule and humiliation.
• Name-calling and negatively comparing the child to others.
• Verbally making the child think that he is “bad” or “worthless.”
• Constantly screaming, threatening or bullying.
• Purposely ignoring or rejecting a child as a form of punishment.
• Depriving a child of nurturing physical contact such as hugs, kisses, and other signs of affection.
• Letting a child witness violence or the abuse of others. It could be abuse of a parent, a sister, brother, or even a pet.

Warning signs of emotional abuse in a child include being overly withdrawn or apprehensive. The child may also manifest extreme behavior such as being excessively passive or overly aggressive. The child may not show any signs of attachment to the parent or caregiver.

2.      Child neglect – This is type of child abuse is very common.  Child neglect takes place when parents or caregivers often fail to provide the necessary basic needs of a child. Neglect can also occur when parents or caregivers fail to provide supervision.  The following actions are typical examples of child neglect:

• Failure to provide a safe and clean shelter, food, suitable clothing and medical care.
• Failure to give a child appropriate classroom education.
• Failure to satisfy a child’s emotional needs.
• Failure to supervise a child.

Warning signs of neglect in a child include wearing clothes that are very dirty or not suitable for the weather, and lack of proper hygiene. Other signs are untreated diseases and injuries; often being left alone or unsupervised even in unsafe places, and excessive absences from school.

3.      Physical abuse – This involves inflicting physical harm on the child.  It may or may not be deliberate. Physical abuse can be due to an iron-hand type of discipline or physical punishment that is too extreme for the child’s age or physical state. The following are some examples of physical abuse:

• Subjecting child to spanking, slapping, beating, kicking or hitting, pinching, biting or hair pulling.
• Inflicting injuries and marks on the child using an object such as a belt.
• Pushing, shaking, kicking or throwing the child against the wall or hard surfaces.
• Burning child with cigarettes, scalding water, iron or other hot objects.

Warning signs of physical abuse are constant injuries, unexplained wounds, cuts and bruises. The child may wear long clothing to hide injuries despite the hot weather. The child may look apprehensive at sudden movements and have a fear of going home. The victim may also seem fearful of adults.

4.      Sexual abuse – This kind of abuse is not limited to body contact alone. A child may still be a victim of sexual abuse if exposed to sexual situations or materials despite absence of touching. Many children fall prey to sexual predators but sadly, there are children who experience sexual abuse at the hands of people they know such as immediate family, close relatives, neighbors, teachers or friends. Sexual abuse may happen to both girls and boys.  The following may constitute sexual abuse:

• Caressing or kissing a child’s private parts (genitalia).
• Letting a child touch or kiss an adult’s private parts (genitalia).
• Forcing a child to undress in front of others.
• Peeping at a child in the bathroom or bedroom.
• Exposing a child to adult sexuality (allowing a child to witness sexual acts, see private parts, hear "dirty" stories, or watch pornography).
• Subjecting a child to prostitution or pornography.

Warning signs of sexual abuse on a child are difficulty walking and sitting.  The child may show signs of knowledge and interest in sexual acts. The victim of sexual abuse may avoid a specific person without obvious reasons. There is also possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or pregnancy below age 14. The child may run away from home to escape the sexual perpetrator.

Ways to prevent child abuse

Here are a few ways to help prevent child abuse:

1.      Be a nurturing parent. Let your child feel special and loved.

2. Praise and encourage children. Give your child positive feedback and constant encouragement. Let your child feel that you are proud of him.

3.      Extend a helping hand to another parent. Help a friend, neighbor or relative take care of his or her child/children to give that person some time to relax.

4.      Be aware of your own actions. Don’t let pressures and problems overwhelm you to the point of taking it out on your child.

5.      Get involved. Find ways on how to volunteer in children crises centers and other support programs.

6.      Take action by reporting suspected child abuse. If you have reason to believe that a child is a victim of child abuse, you may contact your local children and family services or your local police department.

Photos: Child Abuse c/o FreeImageWorks.com, Free download. Child Abuse clipart c/o Webclipart, Free download.

Video: Child Exploitation animation by PierreMarie c/o Youtube.

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Rachel Yapchiongco, also known as Rach to her friends, is a Psychology and Marketing Management graduate of De La Salle University.  She took up several units of MBA at the same university.  Rachel is a full-time mom to a charming young boy and married to an entrepreneur with a passion for cooking. She shares parenting experiences and slices of everyday life on her personal blog called Heart of Rachel.