UN report reveals 'shocking' levels of violence against children (from cbc.ca)
Violence at home, school and care facilities is a part of daily life for hundreds of millions of children around the world, a United Nations report released Thursday suggests.
"We knew children were victims of violence, but even so it was very surprising and shocking that it was so widespread," said Mehr Khan Williams, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.
"It cuts across cultures, income levels, education levels. No country is immune from it."
The four-year study that encompassed 130 countries was completed by Paulo Pinheiro, an independent expert appointed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
It concludes the majority of violent acts experienced by children take place in areas where they should feel most safe, such as at home and school, or in state care.
While the report notes violence in the home usually doesn't leave serious or permanent physical injuries, it is most often accompanied by psychological violence, including threats, belittling, isolation and rejection."Violence against children in the family may frequently take place in the context of discipline and takes the form of physical, cruel or humiliating punishment," said the report.
"Harsh treatment and punishment in the family are common in both industrialized and developing countries."
Corporal punishment common
Mali Nilsson, Save the Children's global advisor on child protection, said corporal punishment is one of the most common forms of violence against children.
"In most regions, it is looked upon as justifiable and socially accepted," she said.
Millions of children are exposed to sexual violence each year, says the report.
"As many as 150 million girls and 73 million boys worldwide are subject to sexual violence each year, usually by someone in their family circle," said the report.
A 2002 Canadian study showed children made up 23 per cent of the population, but accounted for 61 per cent of sexual assault victims.
Hundreds of millions of children witness domestic violence each year, according to the report. Estimates range as high as 275 million, including as many as 362,000 in Canada.
Most are exposed to fights between parents or a mother and her partner, it says.
Khan Williams said violence in the home is "a private space that's hard to throw light on."
Thursday, October 12, 2006
just so you know, it still happens, and it happens here
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2 comments:
Footnote: I read in a report on domestic abuse that adults exposed to violence in their childhood are more likely to report domestic violence. I know I would.
"Before Ieladeinu, Alejandro lived in a closet. His mother locked him up without food or clothing while she went to work. He spent the critical first years of his life alone, dark and scared. When Ieladeinu opened its doors to Alejandro, he was extremely underweight and didn't understand language at all. Today Alejandro loves to eat healthy food and he is learning to walk and talk too."
http://www.projectelijahfoundation.org/index.html
It seems to me that violence against children is an act of desperation. And aren't human adults evolved to protect the young?
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