violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

182Violence against Children in care and justice institutionstation, may seek out jobs that allow themeasy access to children. Rigorous backgroundchecks on personnel are still rare, allowing anemployee who has been dismissed from oneinstitution to be hired by another and to continuea pattern of abuse. 18Failure to supervise staff properly is also a seriousproblem. A study of abuse in residential carein the UK identified ineffective managementand minimal contact by managers with staff assignificant features common to abuse cases. 19,20Lack of Monitoring and OversightResidential care and detention facilities areoften unregulated and closed to outside scrutiny,especially those run by private agencies,faith-based organisations, and NGOs, or thatare situated in isolated areas. In such circumstances,violence may continue for years untilan extreme incident brings it to light. Moreover,individuals responsible for violence againstchildren in care and justice systems are rarelyheld accountable for their actions. If casesare reported, they often are only investigatedsuperficially and prosecutions are extremelyrare. Those in a position to take action may becomplicit in the abuse, reluctant to disciplineor prosecute a colleague, or fearful of negativepublicity or loss of financial support. They mayrespond by blocking access to the institutions;punishing or threatening to dismiss workersif they speak out. The failure to hold perpetratorsaccountable only ensures that violencecontinues. Perpetrators go on to abuse otherchildren, and their violent acts create a climatewhere violence against children becomes‘acceptable’ and commonplace. 21,22Mixing different levelsof vulnerabilityMany facilities fail to segregate vulnerablechildren from dangerous peers. Children whoare vulnerable to violence because of age, size,sex or other characteristics are often housedtogether with older children with a history ofviolent behaviour. 23 For example, in formerSerbia and Montenegro, NGOs report thatchildren under the age of seven may be placedin the same institution as child offenders overthe age of 14. 24 In Jamaica, where children inneed of care and protection are often housedwith children charged with offences, a 2003Government investigation found that ‘bullies’or gangs of older children sexually preyed uponmore vulnerable children. 25 In many countries,children in detention are held with adult offenders,greatly increasing their risk of violence.UNICEF/HQ98-0891. Giacomo PirozziRWANDA, 1998, Rose, 4, helps set tables for lunch atthe Gitarama Orphanage, where she and her sister have livedsince losing their parents in the 1994 genocide.