Teachers can play a vital role
When it comes to the sensitive topic of child abuse, I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of the parents to identify signs that their child is being abused and also to believe him or her when they talk about it. Parents are the first point of contact for their kids and should have an open discussion with them about the difference between a friendly touch versus an intrusive touch. Children who are abused display signs like low self-esteem, withdrawal from social situations, drop in school performance and sudden violent outbursts. If a parent creates a strong bond of trust with the child, it would make the home environment secure and allow the child to confide in them. Society often overlooks the long term effects faced by children who have witnessed domestic violence. These children often go under the radar, leading to emotional neglect and land up on the wrong side of the law later in life. I strongly feel more awareness must be created along with counselling and guidance to help these children develop a healthy sense of self. I also firmly believe that teachers can play a vital role. They must respect and maintain the student’s privacy and provide support to help each child develop a healthy personality. Teachers should provide a safe haven for students and create a stable environment in the classroom to build a sense of belonging in students. As the global refugee crisis is rapidly escalating, it is vital to draw out a better international judicial system for child abuse and protection. There are child perpetrators and paedophiles waiting across the borders, openly inviting desperate families into their homes with a promise of a better life for their children. However, these unsuspecting men and women put their children in harm’s way, unaware of the ulterior motive of these predators.
Janice Rego
Teacher based in Dubai
Implement an stronger judicial system
I believe that parents have the responsibility to educate children so that they are aware of the fine line between a harmless touch and physical abuse. As the children grow older, they should be able to trust their parents when something happens instead of being afraid or ashamed. This trust is created when the parents believe and value what the children have to say instead of pushing it off. I don’t think a young child would lie about being abused and it is absolutely necessary to hear them out, comfort them and look into it whether the parents believe it or not. Children have a tendency to ape what their elders do. First of all a growing child needs the emotional cocoon of parents being cordial at home. When they witness domestic violence at home they are disturbed and are not mature enough to put the disfunctionality aside. They may also compare their life to their friends. When they grow up they turn into individuals who may think that violence is acceptable behaviour and turn them into child abusers. Moreover, given the current refugee crisis, child abuse cases will only rise. Refugees are not protected by any national law or policy because they have fled their country and the countries they are settling in do not provide any protection to them. The very basic denial of human rights for them leaves their children vulnerable to such abuse without having to worry about legal consequences. Such matters can only be taken care of by implementing an international judicial system that apply to refugee children along with all children, or through intervention of global bodies like the United Nations.
Merin Anna Mathew
Post graduate student based in Dubai
We often believe that abuse can only be termed so if it’s violent. We fail to recognise that physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Neglect and emotional abuse can be just as damaging, if not more. The latter two are not very obvious and as a result people are less likely to intervene. It is also easy to say that only “bad people” abuse children. But this is not true. Sometimes abusers are not aware that they may be harming children. Some of them could be abuse victims themselves, and don’t know better ways of parenting. Child abuse is not restricted to poor families or bad neighbourhoods. It is rampant in all racial, economic, and cultural lines. Sometimes, affluent families have a hidden different story behind closed doors. We also need to be aware that while child abuse by strangers does happen often, most abusers are family members or others close to the family. Abuse by a primary caregiver damages the most fundamental relationship as a child — that you will safely, reliably get your physical and emotional needs met by the person who is responsible for your care.If you can’t trust your parents, who can you trust? When a child is repeatedly told that he or she is of no good, it is very difficult to overcome the core feeling of being worthless. They may then grow up with a low self esteem and never strive for a better life. Many children who have been sexual abuse survivors, often especially struggle with a feeling of being damaged due to the stigma surrounding the abuse.
Neha Jose
Nurse based in Saudi
Abused children have trouble regulating emotions
Children exposed to witnessing domestic violence at a young age often become withdrawn and introverts. People often do not realise that this is emotionally affecting children. We need to learn that as parents it is important to keep children distanced from domestic fights. As far as physical violence is concerned, different children react to physical abuse differently. I have witnessed with relatives when as children, they would get yelled at, they would be depressed, anxious and interact less. Some people do not know where disciplining a child using corporal punishment turns into physical violence against the child. We often read that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously repeating what they experienced as children. But on the other hand, many adult survivors of child abuse seem strongly motivated to protect their children against what they went through and may become excellent parents. Abused children may have trouble regulating emotions. They sometimes cannot express emotions safely. As a result, these emotions get bottled up and come out in unexpected ways. Many adult survivors of child abuse are still struggling with unexplained anxiety, depression and anger. They may turn to wrong and unlawful ways to numb out the painful feelings.
Abdullah Al Bannai
Entrepeneur based in Sharjah
Need to eradicate child abuse
Child abuse can be an outcome of child neglect, which always starts at home, it may occassionally start at school, too. Parents, primary caregivers and teachers need to understand their responsibility towards young minds that are yet to be moulded and are only beginning to understand complicated human emotions. You may have had a bad day at office but that does not mean that you return home and lambast your child for petty issues that could be solved through a polite conversation. Parents need to contain their own emotions and not let them shadow their behaviour towards children. We often do not understand the effect our actions have on children. Physical and emotional abuse are often interconnected. To eradicate child abuse, a comprehensive approach is required. Studies on child abuse show that abuse cases are increasing and intensifying by seconds. Apart from parental abuse, a rather serious form of child abuse is that which is inflicted by society, these include child labour, bullying, child trafficking and child slavery. It is hard to believe but these things exist in the very society that we live in. They need to come to an end. As a mother, I ensure that I have constant communication with my daughter to gain her trust and make her understand that she can approach me in any situation by giving her the freedom to speak to me openly and ask me any doubts. I would rather answer her embarassing questions than compromise my child’s safety. Governments need to introduce parents to regular child abuse prevention programs.
Vidya Rajeev
Freelance HR executive based in Dubai
