I am called to write about the ad campaign by UNICEF to stop child abuse. But before I start let me answer the true / false question posted by Nuffnang,
1. It’s only abuse if there is physical violence involved.
False : According to Wikipedia, Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional mistreatment of children. So abuse can be a means of mistreatment of the emotional of the children. And in many cases this is more severe than the physical abuse which is visible, the emotional abuse is like a silent killer and disturbing the mental development of a child.Out of all the possible forms of abuse, emotional abuse is the hardest to define. It could include name-calling, ridicule, degradation, destruction of personal belongings, torture or destruction of a pet, excessive criticism, inappropriate or excessive demands, withholding communication, and routine labeling or humiliation. Victims of emotional abuse may react by distancing themselves from the abuser, internalizing the abusive words, or fighting back by insulting the abuser. Emotional abuse can result in abnormal or disrupted attachment disorder, a tendency for victims to blame themselves (self blame) for the abuse, learned helplessness and overly passive behavior.
2. Only bad people abuse. Good people don’t.
False : In most cases, it shows that the abuser have no criminal records. Thus it means that the abuser not a common bad person or a criminal. Reason people tend to abuse from all the news coverage that we read lately is either the influence of alcohols or drugs. But in recent study it shows that the number of child abuse increase because of depression mainly caused by financial difficulties or marital problems / personal problems. It is only a fine line determine bad and good people. Under certain depressing condition, if untreated and uncounsel, people may just blown up and unaware of their action. Sadly this just affecting their closer surrounding which is in this case the children and spouse.
3. Many children do not know their abusers.
False : Most cases reported that child abuse occur at the child's home. People that they interact with, be it the parents or the caregiver that is known by the child. Major percentage is in the parent's home and only small percentage contributed by other organizations such as the kindergarten, schools or nursery or other places which the child interacts with.
4. Abused children will definitely grow up to be abusers.
It really depends on what kind of abuse involved, whether it is physical, emotional or sexual. Children with the history of child neglection or physical abuse tend to have psychiatric problems or mental development problems as well as depression, disassociation and later having problem to interact with their own children or handle them which is in adverse may lead to distracting their children emotional development.The study shows that people with a history of sexual abuse as a child will strongly experience depression and having difficulties to have trust in other people. While emotional abuse giving major percentage in anger management control. As the statement that abused children will definitely grow up to be abusers, if untreated the effect will most likely happen without the used to be abused person knowing it. Maybe for them they are just having problems in themselves and try to handle it, but unknowingly it is involving other people which is normally their children and spouses.
So, stop child abuse. save a child, you will save the generation!
