Millions of children are abused across the globe every year, and yet the awareness and initiative that people take at individual level to eliminate this social problem is almost negligible. According to a national survey in U.S, 3.5 million children are suspected as victims of child abuse and neglect (Childabuse.org, 2016). Majority of these abuses occur at home and mostly by biological parents. Neglect is the most common kind of child maltreatment. Studies indicate a negative correlation between incidence of abuse and family income. Families with income less than $15,000 per annum, are 22 times more likely to have child abuse. Approximately half of the abused children are less than 7 years of age. Families that live in isolation without social support, parents with history of childhood abuse, drug or alcohol addicts, parents who are critical of their children, who show excessive concern and not concerned about the child or those living in crises, increase risk for child abuse in the society. The predominant form of maltreatment of children is physical neglect, followed by physical abuse. In more than 90% of the case, the perpetrator of these crimes are parents themselves.
Michigan has a law by which educators, health personnel and child care workers are mandated reporters, and are entitled to report all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect (Abuse & Neglect Defense, 2016). Not reporting child abuse is a crime and the person is entitled to fine and jail sentences. The society has a moral and legal obligation to report child abuse. Failing to act will perpetrate these acts. A reasonable cause, suspicion or belief, is sufficient to report child abuse to the hotline or the child welfare agencies. However, as per Michigan laws the reporter may be penalized for giving false information. There is no need for absolute confirmation. However, it is always better to provide concrete and specific information on the matter. Apart from mandated reporters, anybody in the society is free to report child abuse. (Findlaw, 2016)
Reporters of child abuse can report all forms of child abuse like: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect. Physical abuse can be defined as causing physical injury to the child through once recent act or failure to act. Physical abuse occurs when the person engages in any of the following acts like: kicking, biting, throwing, burning, stabbing, cutting in any manner, unreasonable restrains or confinement, interferes with a child’s breathing, leaving the child unsupervised with an individual who is a sex offender or a criminal. Neglect is defined as an unconscious repeated and prolonged egregious failure to supervise the child and provide adequate essentials for life that includes food, shelter and medical care. Emotional abuse is an act that leaves the child anxious, depressed, socially withdrawn, psychotic and with the fear that threatens his safety, life or his/her ability to execute age appropriate behavior. Causing the child to be in a Meth lab can also be reported under physical abuse and neglect. Fabricating a child’s condition to cause medical harm is also reported as child abuse. The incidence of physical abuse was found to be high in a household where unrelated individuals live together.
The use of children to fulfill sexual desire or sexual conduct is defined as sexual abuse of children. Looking at the sexual parts of a child to gratify once own sexual desire is also called sex abuse. Participating in sexual explicit conversation or showing sexual pictures to the child are also treated as abuse. Likewise, it is also illegal to involve the child in pornography. Irrespective of who commits sexual abuse, one is entitled to report the crime. The incidence of older children (14 years and above) sexual abusing younger children is quite frequent kind of sex abuse in children. Both consensual and non-consensual sex with a child is considered a crime. Ordinary sexual behavior in children can cross the line when they are stimulated.
Quite often reporters consider reporting child abuse as a liability. Lack of familiarity with the reporting process, lack of knowledge about neglect and child abuse could be reasons for liabilities. Apart from this, a person may want to intervene outside a formal system and act against child abuse. This could also prevent reporting. In addition to all these factors, fear, unwillingness to participate in these matters, reluctance, other concerns can also deter people from reporting child abuse.
It is important that the community and the family are alert to signs of abuse in children. Changes in sleep pattern and appetite are reported in children subjected to abuse. Other changes include behavioral changes, regression, depression, reluctance to leave school or home and fear of going to school or home.
According to existing laws, injuries caused to the child from lack of proper housing, furnishing, income, clothing and medical care that go beyond the control of parents is not treated as abuse. At the same time these factors can be treated as abuse in children who are placed under child care services and adoption. I personally consider this differentiation by law as unjust. All children in the country must have a right to quality and equal lifestyle. (Ncsl.org, 2011)
As an experience related to this topic, I would like to record an incident that happened on my way home from work. A young man got into the bus that I was travelling, with a 3 to 4-year old girl child in his arm, and he took a seat in front of me. From the time he entered the bus, he was repeated kissing the child on her cheek and neck and murmuring ‘sweetie’ and ‘darling’. This kept on till I got down at my stop. Though kissing a child is not considered sexual abuse, the frequency and intensity with he was doing it seemed inappropriate and weird and I guess everyone there felt the same. The child sat in his arm without any expression or play or resistance. I was not sure what I could have done in this situation, but his repeated kissing for half an hour at a stress looked weird and he looked weird. This incident disturbed me for two consecutive days. I do not know who that guy and child is, but I wonder if that child is safe hands.
References:
Abuse & Neglect Defense,. (2016). Mandatory Reporting - Abuse & Neglect Defense. Retrieved 20 February 2016, from http://abuseandneglectdefense.com/michigan-mandatory-reporting-child-abuse-law/
Childabuse.org,. (2016). Child Abuse in America. Retrieved 20 February 2016, from http://www.childabuse.org/facts
Findlaw,. (2016). Michigan Child Abuse Laws - FindLaw. Retrieved 20 February 2016, from http://statelaws.findlaw.com/michigan-law/michigan-child-abuse-laws.html
Michigan.gov,. (2016). MDHHS - Mandated Reporters. Retrieved 20 February 2016, from http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-73971_7119_50648_44443---,00.html
Ncsl.org,. (2011). Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect State Statute Overview. Retrieved 20 February 2016, from http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/child-abuse-and-neglect-reporting-statutes.aspx
