violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

“Nations will not prosper if their children do not heal. To suffer violence in childhood is to be woundedin the soul, and if not healed, to go on to inflict pain on others as well as oneself.No child should be a victim of violence. All children have the right to protection and to first callon their nations’ resources. The time to fulfil their rights is now.”Hon. Landon Pearson, Director, Landon Pearson Resource Centre for the Study of Childhood andChildren’s Rights, Carleton University, CanadaContinuedTable 1.1 – Acute and long-term consequences of violence against children16An end to violence against childrenHyperactivityPoor relationshipsPoor school performancePoor self-esteemPost-traumatic stress disorderPsychosomatic disordersSuicidal behaviour and self-harmOther longer-term health consequencesCancerChronic lung diseaseIrritable bowel syndromeIschaemic heart diseaseLiver diseaseReproductive health problems such as infertilityFinancial consequencesDirect costs:Indirect costs:Costs borne bycriminal justice systemand other institutions:Treatment, visits to the hospital doctor and otherhealth servicesLost productivity, disability, decreased quality of lifeand premature deathExpenditures related to apprehending and prosecutingoffenders. Costs to social welfare organisations, costsassociated with foster care, to the educational systemand costs to the employment sector arising fromabsenteeism and low productivitySource: Runyan D et al. (2002). Child Abuse and Neglect by Parents and Other Caregivers. In: Krug EG et al. (Eds).World Report on Violence and Health. Geneva, World Health Organization, pp 59–86.