violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

“The Study marks a watershed in adult relationships with children. In just a few years time,we should be looking back with shame and bewilderment at the fact that in the early years of the secondmillennium, governments and individual adults were still justifying - even promoting - hitting anddeliberately hurting babies and children as lawful and legitimate.”Peter Newell, Editorial Board of the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against ChildrenSexual and gender-based violence has profoundimplications in the era of HIV/AIDS,and also compromises self-esteem, psychologicaland emotional health. The implicationsof all forms of home and family violence forfuture development, behaviour and well-beingin adulthood, and for future parenting, areprofound. In addition, home is the place wheregender-based inequalities are first experiencedby children, and where future power-imbalancedrelationships are modelled, or challenged.Boys may be encouraged to becomeaggressive and dominant (‘takers’ of care),and girls are encouraged to be passive, compliantcaregivers. These gender-based stereotypessupport the use of violence and coercion thatperpetuates gender inequalities.This chapter discusses the various types ofphysical, psychological and sexual violencethat occur in home and family settings, theirimpacts on children, and the wide range ofresponses that can be used to reduce and ultimatelyeliminate this violence.48Violence against children in the home and familyHuman rights instrumentsThe adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 confirmedthat children too are holders of human rights. The CRC claims, on the one hand, children’sright to individuality and to have their views on all matters which affect themtaken seriously; and on the other, in the light of their developmental state and vulnerability,rights to special care and protection. The CRC makes clear that wherever possiblechildren should be raised within their family; and where the family is unable tocare for and protect them adequately, an alternative family-type environment should beprovided. Therefore the CRC uncompromisingly asserts that the family is the primarysite for children’s healthy, loving and safe upbringing. However, this role must be fullyunderpinned and supported by the State, including by stepping over the family thresholdto intervene when necessary, in the best interests of the child.The balance between the responsibilities and duties of families and of States to providechildren with the necessary protections for their development is addressed in several articlesof the CRC. Article 18 expresses the balance as follows: “…Parents or …legal guardians,