violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN
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violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

iin.oea.org
12.07.2015 Views

3interventions appear to be particularly effectivein reducing victims’ anxiety, depression,sexual concerns and symptoms of PTSD. 198,199Reporting by professionalsWhen professionals such as nurses, doctors,social workers and teachers identify a suspectedcase of family violence against children,they may be required by law to reporttheir suspicions to the authorities, or expectedto do so irrespective of legal obligation. To beeffective, reporting structures must always bematched with equally well-developed structuresfor protection, support and treatment forchildren and families. Countries with mandatoryreporting laws should consider systemsreforms that allow children and families accessto confidential services where they can receivesupport on a voluntary basis.Mandatory reporting can establish an adversarialrelationship between families and child protectionauthorities, and may even deter familiesfrom seeking formal support. However, the reluctanceof professionals and the general public inmost parts of the world to report violence in thehome suggests that without mandatory reportinglaws applying at least to defined groups ofprofessionals, large numbers of children in needof protection will never be identified and giventhe protection they need. Whatever approach ischosen, it should present itself as a help-orientedservice offering public health and social supportrather than as being primarily punitive. Someexperts urge that children and their representativesshould have access both to services whichthey know have an obligation to report violenceand take action (usually social services, lawenforcement), and also to services that are confidentialand will not take action except with theagreement of the child unless the child is perceivedas being at risk of death or serious injury.Intervention in the best interests ofthe childOnce a child has been identified as being indanger of family violence, a coordinated responseis needed to guarantee the protection of the child.Assessment of the child and the child’s familyrequires input and participation from serviceproviders in different sectors who have had contactwith the child and/or family. To minimisethe risk that a child will ‘fall through the cracks’of a system, the various sectors with responsibilitiesfor child protection must share informationabout individual cases of family violence againstchildren, as already noted. But there must alsobe clear lines of responsibility for taking action,and accountability for failures in protection.Some middle-income countries are experimentingwith innovative ways of building protectiveenvironments for children in local communities.In Serbia, Mobile Outreach Teamsfor Child Protection were initially developedin four municipalities in 2001 with the cooperationof governmental social work centresand NGO mobile teams. In Montenegro, pilotOperational Multidisciplinary Teams wereformed in 2003, with technical assistance fromUNICEF, to provide teams of professionalswho would identify cases involving violenceand neglect and respond in a coordinated way.Various protocols were adopted on collaborativeworking, on communication with themedia, and on interviewing child victims of85Violence against children in the home and family

A multisectoral approach to comprehensive serviceprovision: The Child Protection Unit of the PhilippinesGeneral HospitalThe Child Protection Unit (CPU) of the Philippines General Hospital uses a multisectoralapproach towards comprehensive medical and psychosocial services for maltreatedchildren and their families. The aim is to prevent further maltreatment and tostart the process of healing. In 2005, the CPU cared for 972 new cases of maltreatedchildren, 81% of whom had been sexually abused.86Violence against children in the home and familyFrom the first point of contact through a long follow-up, the CPU provides qualitycare using a multisectoral approach which coordinates the actions of the health,legal and social sectors through CPU’s case management system. The CPU provideslegal and police services, judicial hearings, medical services, guidance and support tothe child and next of kin, as well as therapy or referral to other specialised medicalservices, when necessary. The CPU also provides other social services to very poorfamilies, including grants for the child’s school-related costs and interest-free loans forlivelihood assistance. Parenting classes help parents manage their expectations of theirchildren, help them to better understand their children’s behaviour, and adjust theirmethods of discipline accordingly.Each child has a CPU case manager to coordinate all services received by the child andthe family, and to facilitate and monitor child safety placement, legal assistance andmental health care. Case managers work with the children and families for as long asis necessary. 200violence. The Ministry of Labour and SocialWelfare has since adopted these protocols, anddecided to establish teams in all Social WelfareCentres by 2009. 201Child protection service agencies may investigateand try to substantiate reports of suspectedviolence. If the reports are verified,then the staff of the child protection serviceschoose the appropriate course of action. Suchdecisions are often difficult, since a balancehas to be found between various potentiallycompeting demands – such as the need to protectthe child and the wish to keep a familyintact. The least detrimental alternative to thechild and the least intrusive alternative forthe family should be employed, as long as thechild’s safety can be assured. Considerationmust be given to the concerns and desires ofthe child in all decisions about interventions,taking into account the context of the child’sdevelopmental stage, emotional health, and

A multisectoral approach to comprehensive serviceprovision: The Child Protection Unit of the PhilippinesGeneral HospitalThe Child Protection Unit (CPU) of the Philippines General Hospital uses a multisectoralapproach towards comprehensive medical and psychosocial services for maltreated<strong>children</strong> and their families. The aim is to prevent further maltreatment and tostart the process of healing. In 2005, the CPU cared for 972 new cases of maltreated<strong>children</strong>, 81% of whom had been sexually abused.86Violence <strong>against</strong> <strong>children</strong> in the home and familyFrom the first point of contact through a long follow-up, the CPU provides qualitycare using a multisectoral approach which coordinates the actions of the health,legal and social sectors through CPU’s case management system. The CPU provideslegal and police services, judicial hearings, medical services, guidance and support tothe child and next of kin, as well as therapy or referral to other specialised medicalservices, when necessary. The CPU also provides other social services to very poorfamilies, including grants for the child’s school-related costs and interest-free loans forlivelihood assistance. Parenting classes help parents manage their expectations of their<strong>children</strong>, help them to better understand their <strong>children</strong>’s behaviour, and adjust theirmethods of discipline accordingly.Each child has a CPU case manager to coordinate all services received by the child andthe family, and to facilitate and monitor child safety placement, legal assistance andmental health care. Case managers work with the <strong>children</strong> and families for as long asis necessary. 200<strong>violence</strong>. The Ministry of Labour and SocialWelfare has since adopted these protocols, anddecided to establish teams in all Social WelfareCentres by 2009. 201Child protection service agencies may investigateand try to substantiate reports of suspected<strong>violence</strong>. If the reports are verified,then the staff of the child protection serviceschoose the appropriate course of action. Suchdecisions are often difficult, since a balancehas to be found between various potentiallycompeting demands – such as the need to protectthe child and the wish to keep a familyintact. The least detrimental alternative to thechild and the least intrusive alternative forthe family should be employed, as long as thechild’s safety can be assured. Considerationmust be given to the concerns and desires ofthe child in all decisions about interventions,taking into account the context of the child’sdevelopmental stage, emotional health, and

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