What is Abuse Essay Example

people and children are particularly vulnerable to harm. Specific laws have been put in place to protect them as a response to significant cases of child abuse within our country. One such case that had a profound impact on legislation pertaining to safeguarding children is the Victoria Climbie case.
Victoria was brought into the country by her Aunt using a counterfeit passport, under false pretenses of providing her with a better education than she could receive in the Ivory Coast. Unfortunately, Victoria's Aunt subjected her to physical abuse – withholding food, scalding her, and making her sleep in a bin bag inside the bathtub. Additionally, Victoria also faced physical abuse from her Aunt's boyfriend who used his hands, bicycle chains, and other objects. Despite numerous professionals and individuals witnessing these acts of abuse – including social workers, healthcare professionals , police officers , teachers , and members of the public – Victoria tragically lost her life at the hands of those entrusted with caring for her.

In the aftermath of Victoria's death, an inquiry conducted by Lord Laming resulted in 108 recommendations on safeguarding laws. As a result, the 'Every Child Matters' initiative, the Children Act 2004, and a government database for storing information on all children in England were put into effect. Additionally, the case led to the establishment of the role of Children's Commissioner.

Various institutions such as schools and doctors' offices have implemented safeguarding policies to protect children from harm and abuse. These policies provide guidelines for staff members to follow if they have concerns about a child.

Physical abuse involves intentional acts that cause harm, such as hitting, kicking, poisoning, burning, slapping,
throwing objects,
shaking,
or fabricating illness.

The

physical signs of physical abuse include observable injuries that can indicate different forms of abuse. These injuries can be identified by their location and manner of occurrence. Some examples of these physical indicators are bruises in unusual areas such as the stomach, upper rib cage, underarms, back, face, and neck. These bruises would not typically occur from accidents like falling or bumping into furniture. For example, bruising under a child's arms resulting from falling is uncommon; instead, bruises are more likely to appear on their elbows, kneecaps, or shins.

Another indicator is the presence of multiple bruises at different stages of healing. This suggests that harm has been consistently inflicted over time rather than a single isolated incident. When a child consistently exhibits bruises in various colors, it strongly indicates physical abuse. Fingertip bruises are characterized by imprints left by fingers gripping the skin with enough force to cause bruising. The thumb bruise is easily distinguishable from the other fingertip bruises.

Unexplained burns or scalds on children indicate physical abuse if they are left untreated since parents would typically provide treatment for such injuries due to the significant pain they cause. Untreated fractures can also suggest physical abuse as they can hinder a child's physical abilities.If parents fail to notice or treat these injuries, it suggests physical abuse. Furthermore, if injuries lack explanation or are inconsistent with provided explanations, it indicates physical abuse. Hair loss caused by trauma or stress may also be an indication of physical abuse, but hair loss alone should not be solely relied upon as it could have other causes.

Regarding behavioral indicators, signs of physical abuse can be observed in the behavior of

abused or previously abused individuals. This includes withdrawal characterized by being quiet, refraining from participation, and excessive compliance. These children may remain motionless and avoid eye contact during conversations while speaking softly.

Being socially withdrawn can lead to poor social skills and difficulty interacting with others, especially for children. This can result from their exposure to aggressive behavior at home and their lack of knowledge on how to engage with others in a more appropriate manner. For instance, if a child regularly witnesses physical punishment during conflicts with other children, they may imitate this aggressive behavior themselves.

Additionally, unusual fearfulness in a child's response can indicate frequent physical abuse. For example, if they flinch when a teacher raises their hands during an activity, it may suggest that the child has experienced or is currently experiencing physical harm.The focus on sexual abuse involves engaging children in sexual activities using coercion or manipulation. Due to their limited understanding of what is considered wrong or inappropriate, children are especially vulnerable to exploitation. Sexual abuse can occur through physical acts or non-contact means such as online conversations or requests for inappropriate pictures.

Physical signs that may suggest possible sexual abuse include distress during diaper changes in very young babies, who communicate their discomfort through crying since they cannot verbalize it. Pain or discomfort while urinating can also indicate sexual abuse, as activities on underdeveloped genitals can lead to infections, tears, and discomfort.

Bruising on the inner thighs, scratch marks, bites on areas like the neck, thighs, breasts, buttocks, genital area,and lower abdomen are associated with sexual activity and imply potential sexual abuse. Discomfort when sitting down could be a result of sore and

tender genitals from sexual abuse and might affect the child's ability to walk without pain.

Behavioural indicators of sexual abuse include nightmares and sleep disturbances in children who have experienced it; these reflect their fear and potentially reliving the abuse in their dreams. Children who have experienced sexual abuse may exhibit attention-seeking behaviors towards adults as they believe this is how to please them.Children who have been sexually abused may exhibit various behaviors, such as constantly seeking physical closeness and attention from adults, engaging in inappropriate movements, and acting compulsively. These behaviors serve as a defense mechanism to protect themselves from unwanted attention. Furthermore, these children often struggle to form connections with their peers and maintain relationships because they feel that they have engaged in activities that other children wouldn't understand. The text also implies that some of these children might display signs of low self-esteem or fear going home due to the abuse, leading them to keep their situation a secret or be afraid of further abuse at home. Additionally, younger children who may not fully comprehend the situation might demonstrate knowledge of inappropriate sexual activities through play with dolls or toys by pointing out genitalia and engaging in role-playing related to sexual actions. Neglect is another form of child abuse mentioned in the text, which involves persistently failing to meet a child's basic needs like providing food, bathing, suitable clothing (including warm coats during cold weather), and properly fitting garments.

Neglect can have detrimental effects on a child's development, including limited communication, lack of attention, and inadequate nutrition. This can be worsened by the absence of necessary medical care. Physical signs indicating neglect may include

poor hygiene (such as unwashed hair and a dirty appearance), which can result in bullying at school. Ill-fitting or unclean clothing and the absence of essential items like coats and underwear may also suggest neglect. Additionally, underweight children may indicate insufficient nourishment for proper growth. Neglect can also be inferred from untreated nappy rash in babies and toddlers, revealing infrequent diaper changes. Failure to promptly address medical issues, such as not providing antibiotics for a chest infection, can also indicate neglect. Ultimately, parents are responsible for ensuring their child receives appropriate medical assistance. Behavioral indicators such as chronic lateness or absenteeism from school are warning signs of neglect since parents have a legal obligation to ensure regular attendance. Children facing bullying or discomfort due to their unkempt appearance may resist going to school altogether. Withdrawing from activities and struggling to engage in them can further hint at neglect in these children's lives.The text highlights that a lack of stimulation, being ignored,and not receiving adequate attention at home can contribute to poor social skills and shyness.
The text highlights that insufficient affection at home can lead to negative effects such as low self-esteem and lack of confidence. In search of affection, children may turn to strangers or unfamiliar individuals. Emotional abuse, which encompasses actions like constant belittlement, scornful treatment, deliberate humiliation, isolation, and purposeful neglect of a child's needs, also plays a role in this context.

Children can encounter emotional abuse in various forms, such as bullying and experiencing fear or danger. This type of abuse has a significant impact on their development. Unlike physical or sexual abuse, emotional abuse may not have visible signs but can be

identified through behavioral indicators. Children who are isolated and neglected often seek attention outside of their homes, like at school, by engaging in attention-seeking behaviors such as pretending to be frequently sick or requesting unnecessary help with schoolwork. They may also resort to lying and fabricating stories.

Depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem can hinder children from enjoying themselves and having fun. Inappropriate tantrums might serve as a cry for attention or a way to release built-up frustration. Emotionally neglected children lacking affection and interaction at home could develop speech disorders due to the limited attention they receive.

Some children develop a fear of making mistakes because they dread being ridiculed. For example, they might avoid answering questions out of fear of being wrong or refrain from participating in sports due to the possibility of being shouted at or blamed if the opposing team scores a goal.

In certain cases of emotional abuse, children turn to self-harm as a means of expressing their pent-up emotions.While they may not physically harm themselves, individuals still experience pain that is challenging for them to fully comprehend or manage. Physically hurting oneself allows individuals to at least grasp the pain they are feeling. If a child hesitates to return home, it could indicate emotional abuse, suggesting that the child finds the home environment unpleasant and would prefer to be elsewhere. Witnessing domestic violence constitutes child abuse and encompasses controlling behavior, bullying, physical violence, or violent actions between individuals in a relationship. Domestic abuse also includes emotional, sexual, financial, or psychological mistreatment. Children and young individuals who witness such violence can suffer severe negative effects. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable victims of domestic abuse as

seeing their parents being physically harmed or experiencing other forms of abuse emotionally damages children who witness domestic violence. They may feel helpless to intervene.Children are often asked to lie about the injuries inflicted on the abused parent in cases of domestic violence which can have long-term psychological effects and impact their adult lives.Growing up in a household with domestic violence increases the likelihood that a child will engage in violent relationships later in life or become an aggressor themselves.Children often become victims of physical abuse intended for their parent when they find themselves caught in the conflict of domestic violence.