Our Purpose: SCA

What is SCA?

STOP CHILD ABUSE.

What is Child Abuse?

Child abuse is usually defined by the laws developed by a state government. The laws reflect attitudes in society about the standards of care and protection that children need from their parents or other family members. The laws are also a sign of the commitment made by a community that ensures that violence towards children is not tolerated. Children and young people under the age of seventeen can be victims of child abuse.
There are five main types of child abuse. Many children experience more than one form of abuse.

Physical Abuse

 

occurs when a parent or carer physically injures a child intentionally. The physical abuse of children is illegal and includes hitting, shaking, throwing, burning and biting children and young people. It also includes giving children harmful substances such as drugs, alcohol or poison. Certain types of punishment, whilst not causing injury can also be considered physical abuse if they place a child at risk of being hurt, for example, locking a child outside in cold weather. The physical abuse of children is a crime.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

occurs when children do not receive the love, affection or attention they need to feel good about themselves or develop properly. Constant criticism, teasing, ignoring, yelling and rejection are all examples of emotional and psychological abuse.

 

Sexual Abuse

 

occurs when an adult or someone bigger or older involves a child or young person in any sexual activity. Perpetrators of sexual abuse take advantage of their power, authority or position over the child or young person for their own benefit. It can include kissing, touching a child's genitals or breasts, oral sex or intercourse with a child. Encouraging a child to view pornographic magazines, websites, videos is also sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is a crime.

 

Neglect

 

is when a child or young person's basic needs for food, housing, health care and warm clothing are not met. Children who are made to live in unhygienic conditions are said to experience neglect. Leaving children without adequate supervision for their age is also a form of neglect. For babies and infants, it can be life threatening. Being forced to live with family violence between adults in a child's home is harmful to children. It can include witnessing violence or being aware of it happening between adults in the home.

 

Being forced to live with family violence

 

between adults in a child's home is harmful to children. It can include witnessing violence or being aware of it happening between adults in the home.

What are other forms of harm that children can experience?


Sexual exploitation

 

occurs when children are forced into sexual activities that are then recorded in some way and used to produce pornography. Such pornography can be in the forms of actual photos or videos or published on the internet. Exploitation can also involve children who are forced into prostitution. All sexual exploitation of children is a crime.

 

Bullying

 

occurs between children and young people where the bully is bigger, older or stronger than the targeted child. Bullying can involve physical aggression such as shoving, throwing things, slapping, choking, punching and kicking, beating, stabbing, pulling hair and scratching It can also include examples where a group of children or young people deliberately exclude or isolate anoter child. This can be achieved through spreading gossip, refusing to socialize with the target child, criticizing their dress or physical features, name calling, the silent treatment, arguing others into submission, manipulation, rumors/ false rumors, and mocking.

 

Cyber-bullying

 

involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to humiliate, hurt the feelings of or socially isolate another child. An example of cyberbullying is continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender. It may also include threats, sexual remarks, or sending embarrassing photos or videos of a child to others.

IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING!