The International Family Foundation has activated an action against Child Abuse and Trafficking and the campaign urges action over a sickening report on physical maltreatment, trafficking or sexual molestation of a child.

Scope of the Problem:
Child maltreatment is a global problem with serious life-long consequences. In spite of recent national surveys in several low- and middle-income countries, data from many countries are still lacking.

The Foundation is focused on all the Four types of abuse:

1. Physical abuse: (Physical beatings and molestation)
2. Sexual child abuse: (Rape, molestation, child pornography production and possession)
3. Neglect: (Physical neglect, educational neglect, and emotional neglect)
4. Emotional abuse: (Verbal, Mental, or Psychological abuse).

Some of the main causes of abuse included but not limited to:

• Stress, tiredness or lack of parenting skills or family support make the pressures of caring for a child overwhelming, and can cause abuse.
• Drugs,
• Alcohol
• Gambling problems — addiction or substance abuse may affect a parent’s ability to meet their child’s needs.

The Foundation has identified some long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect as:

1. Intergenerational transmission of abuse and neglect.
2. Re-victimisation.
3. Physical health problems.
4. Mental health problems.
5. Suicidal behaviour.
6. Eating disorders and obesity.
7. Alcohol and substance abuse.
8. Aggression, violence and criminal behaviour.

Similarly, children who experience  parental abuse or neglect are more likely to show negative outcomes that carry forward into adult life, with ongoing problems with emotional regulation, self-concept, social skills, and academic motivation, as well as serious learning and adjustment problems.

Key facts: WHO

1. Nearly 3 in 4 children – or 300 million children – aged 2–4 years regularly suffer physical punishment and/or psychological violence at the hands of parents and caregivers
2. One in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report having been sexually abused as a child aged 0-17 years.
3. 120 million girls and young women under 20 years of age have suffered some form of forced sexual contact.

Consequences of child maltreatment include impaired lifelong physical and mental health, and the social and occupational outcomes can ultimately slow a country’s economic and social development.

A child who is abused is more likely to abuse others as an adult so that violence is passed down from one generation to the next. It is therefore critical to break this cycle of violence, and in so doing create positive multi-generational impacts.

Preventing child maltreatment before it starts is possible and requires a multisectoral approach.

Effective prevention approaches include supporting parents and teaching positive parenting skills, and enhancing laws to prohibit violent punishment.

Ongoing care of children and families can reduce the risk of maltreatment reoccurring and can minimize its consequences.

Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.

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