Children are innocent and God is always ready to protect them in one or the other..
Here's a typical incidence where God performed miracles to safe kids...
A Muslim man in Egypt killed his wife because she was reading the Bible and then buried her with their infant baby and an 8-year old daughter. The girls were buried alive! He then reported to the police that an uncle killed the kids.
15 days later, another family member died. When they went to bury him, they found the 2 little girls under the sand - ALIVE!
The country is outraged over the incident, and the man will be executed.
The older girl was asked how she had survived and she says:-
'A man wearing shiny white clothes, with bleeding wounds in his hands, came every day to feed us. He woke up my mom so she could nurse my sister,' she said. She was interviewed on Egyptian national TV, by availed Muslim woman news anchor. She said on public TV, 'This was none other than Jesus, because nobody else does things like this!'
Muslims believe Isa (Jesus) would do this, but the wounds mean He really was crucified, and it's clear also that He is alive! But, it's also clear that the child could not make up a story like this, and there is no way these children could have survived without a true miracle. Muslim leaders are going to have a hard time to figure out what to do with this, and the popularity of the Passion movie doesn't help! With Egypt at the center of the media and education in the Middle East , you can be sure this story will spread.
Christ is still turning the world upside down! Please let this story be shared. The Lord says, 'I will bless the person who puts his trust in me. 'Jeremiah 17.
Let's talk..
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Poverty and sex work
Here's a story that has shcked the world... Poverty is one of the most devastating problems that has affilcted humanity over the years. That's why there is need for concerted efforts in poverty alleviation.
Here goes the story..
There are basically four factors that push a person into to commercial sex work – poverty, human trafficking, drugs and easy access to good money. Poverty is the most prominent of them.
Two years back when I was working with WHO in one of the South East Asian countries I happened to visit one street based sex work site located in one of the prime cities of the country. I met a couple in that site.
The husband takes his wife on his bike to drop there everyday. He waits till she completes the dealing with her clients and takes them (generally3-4 clients/per night) to the near by hotel or lodge. After the sex work is over the husband picks up the wife from the notified place and gets her back home. This becomes their routine on all the seven days of the week.
I couldn’t stop asking the man how he looked into the profession of his wife. He answered, “We have no other option left for a descent livelihood. I work as a contractual labor and my income is far from being sufficient to make both ends meat with two school going children to support. So my wife gets into earning as well. She has also minimum education like me. Who will give us a good job, tell me? So I help her as much as possible to do her sex business smoothly. I accompany her at the streets to protect her from police and bad people. They are so troublesome in this business. Many a time I have to handle her unruly and rough clients.”
I asked him about the safe sex practices of his wife with the clients. He replied that his wife has sex with condom with every client. “We never allow the clients to go for unprotected pleasure. We don’t bother if she loses some clients in the process. We are well aware of the bad diseases.”
The man often felt dejected and frustrated to see his wife earning money through sex work. “Sometimes I feel like looting a bank to gather sufficient money so that she can stop sex work. But committing a crime can easily put you into the jail and then who will take care of your family. At least sex work is safe in that regards irrespective of police harassment”.
“How do you protect her from the police in the street?” I questioned.
The man said initially they faced lot of problems. Many a times the cops misinterpreted him as her client and troubled them a lot. Now they have made a kind of patch up with the local police station by paying them monthly ‘tax’ to run the business. “We have to give a lot to the police. They are so hungry for money”.
Like this many women in this world are regularly being dragged into sex work just because their husbands have not enough earnings to feed the family and recommend their wives with a heavy heart and sinful soul.
From public health point of view we should be happy if such couples are well aware of STIs and HIV/AIDS and the wives practice safe sex consistently with their clients.
But how can I forget that I am also a husband and father of a school going kid and I am lucky enough not to face the truth of life so nakedly like the man I had met on that day.
A deep sense of sorrow tore my heart apart, especially for the man who was helplessly and silently tolerating her wife’s sleeping with many men just because they badly needed the good money to give their children a better life.
Poverty is such a disgrace and shame in the ocean of humanity and we are simply helpless to bring a change in it irrespective of having many strategies and programs to alleviate poverty.
Are you listening my dear friends?
This story was posted by Dr Sugata Mukhopadhyay, New Delhi in India recently.
How do you feel about this? Let's hear your views...
Here goes the story..
There are basically four factors that push a person into to commercial sex work – poverty, human trafficking, drugs and easy access to good money. Poverty is the most prominent of them.
Two years back when I was working with WHO in one of the South East Asian countries I happened to visit one street based sex work site located in one of the prime cities of the country. I met a couple in that site.
The husband takes his wife on his bike to drop there everyday. He waits till she completes the dealing with her clients and takes them (generally3-4 clients/per night) to the near by hotel or lodge. After the sex work is over the husband picks up the wife from the notified place and gets her back home. This becomes their routine on all the seven days of the week.
I couldn’t stop asking the man how he looked into the profession of his wife. He answered, “We have no other option left for a descent livelihood. I work as a contractual labor and my income is far from being sufficient to make both ends meat with two school going children to support. So my wife gets into earning as well. She has also minimum education like me. Who will give us a good job, tell me? So I help her as much as possible to do her sex business smoothly. I accompany her at the streets to protect her from police and bad people. They are so troublesome in this business. Many a time I have to handle her unruly and rough clients.”
I asked him about the safe sex practices of his wife with the clients. He replied that his wife has sex with condom with every client. “We never allow the clients to go for unprotected pleasure. We don’t bother if she loses some clients in the process. We are well aware of the bad diseases.”
The man often felt dejected and frustrated to see his wife earning money through sex work. “Sometimes I feel like looting a bank to gather sufficient money so that she can stop sex work. But committing a crime can easily put you into the jail and then who will take care of your family. At least sex work is safe in that regards irrespective of police harassment”.
“How do you protect her from the police in the street?” I questioned.
The man said initially they faced lot of problems. Many a times the cops misinterpreted him as her client and troubled them a lot. Now they have made a kind of patch up with the local police station by paying them monthly ‘tax’ to run the business. “We have to give a lot to the police. They are so hungry for money”.
Like this many women in this world are regularly being dragged into sex work just because their husbands have not enough earnings to feed the family and recommend their wives with a heavy heart and sinful soul.
From public health point of view we should be happy if such couples are well aware of STIs and HIV/AIDS and the wives practice safe sex consistently with their clients.
But how can I forget that I am also a husband and father of a school going kid and I am lucky enough not to face the truth of life so nakedly like the man I had met on that day.
A deep sense of sorrow tore my heart apart, especially for the man who was helplessly and silently tolerating her wife’s sleeping with many men just because they badly needed the good money to give their children a better life.
Poverty is such a disgrace and shame in the ocean of humanity and we are simply helpless to bring a change in it irrespective of having many strategies and programs to alleviate poverty.
Are you listening my dear friends?
This story was posted by Dr Sugata Mukhopadhyay, New Delhi in India recently.
How do you feel about this? Let's hear your views...
Criminalisation of HIV: Criminal statutes and criminal prosecutions help or hindrance?
Today, one of the most serious issues in the AIDS epidemic is the use of criminal statutes and criminal prosecutions against HIV transmission.
We have lots of examples of how such laws are being implemented. For instance, in Texas, a homeless man was sent to jail for 35 years. The man had HIV. He was jailed because he spat at the officers who were arresting him. Saliva has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV so therefore the 'deadly weapon' the man was accused of wielding was no more than a toy pistol - and it wasn't even loaded. The man was punished not for what he did, but for the virus he carried.
In Zimbabwe, a 26 year old woman was arrested for having unprotected sex with her lover. The crime for which she was convicted was 'deliberately infecting another person' despite the fact that he tested HIV negative.
She was eventually sentenced to a suspended term of five years'
imprisonment. You merely have to realise 'that there is a real risk or possibility' that you have HIV - and then do something - 'anything' - that involves 'a real risk or possibility of infecting another person'.
The law creates a crime not of effect and consequence, but of fear and possibility.
Such laws are increasingly wide in their application, and frightening in their effects. They aggressively attack rational efforts to lessen the impact and spread of the epidemic and are creating a crisis in HIV management and prevention efforts. So what lies behind this increasing trend of criminalisation, what is the rationale for such laws?
HIV is a fearsome virus, and its effects are potentially deadly.
Therefore, the justification is that public officials should be able to invoke any available and effective means to counter its spread. African lawmakers and policy-makers, in particular, have good reason to look for strong remedies. Many African countries face a massive epidemic with agonising social and economic costs and therefore reversing the spread of HIV is vital. However, I believe these reasons are entirely counter-productive and they need to be challenged, rationally, powerfully and systematically.
1. Criminalisation is ineffective as in the majority of cases, the virus spreads when two people have consensual sex, neither of them knowing that one has HIV.
2. Criminal prosecutions are a misguided substitute for measures that really protect those at risk of contracting HIV. The focus should be on ending deaths, stigma, discrimination, and suffering.
3. Far from protecting women, criminalisation victimises, oppresses and endangers them. In Africa most people who know their HIV status are female. The material circumstances in which many women find themselves - especially in Africa - make it difficult and often impossible for them to negotiate safer sex, or to discuss HIV at all. These provisions will hit women hardest, and will expose them to assault, ostracism and further stigma. They will become more vulnerable to HIV, not less.
4. Criminalisation is often unfairly and selectively enforced.
Prosecutions and laws single out already vulnerable groups - like sex workers, men who have sex with men and, in European countries, black males.
5. Criminalisation places blame on one person instead of responsibility on two. For nearly three decades the universal public information message has been that no one is exempt from it. So the risk of HIV (or any sexually transmitted infection) must now be seen as an inescapable facet of having sex. It is inappropriate and unfair to place all the blame on the person with HIV.
6. Such laws are difficult and degrading to apply. This is because they intrude on the intimacy and privacy of consensual sex. No one suggests that a person knowing they have HIV, who sets out intending to infect another, and achieves their aim, ought to escape prosecution. But in cases where there is no deliberate intention, the categories and distinctions of the criminal law become fuzzy and incapable of offering clear guidance.
7. Many of these laws in existence are extremely poorly drafted. Partly because it is difficult to prove an offence that involves consensual sex, and because of the difficulties of applying the categories of the criminal law, many of these laws end up being a 'hodge-podge' of confused legislative intent and bad drafting.
8. Criminalisation increases stigma. It is stigma that makes those at risk of HIV reluctant to be tested; it is stigma that makes it difficult, often impossible, for them to speak about their infection; and it is stigma that continues to hinder access to the life-saving ARV therapies that are now increasingly available. Such laws and prosecutions in turn only add fuel to the fires of stigma.
9. Criminalisation is a blatant deterrent to testing. Across Africa, the life-saving drugs that suppress the virus and restore the body to health are becoming increasingly available. But why should any woman in Kenya want to find out her HIV status, when her knowledge can only expose her to risk of prosecution? The laws are not just a war on women. They are a war on all people with HIV, and they constitute an assault on good sense and rationality in dealing with the epidemic.
10. Criminalisation assumes the worst about people with HIV, and in doing so it punishes vulnerability. Evidence shows that countries with human rights laws that encourage the undiagnosed to test for HIV do much better at containing the epidemic than those that have adopted punitive, moralistic, denialist strategies, including those relying on the criminal law as a sanction.
In light of all of this, the clear goal should be to fight against stigma, against discrimination, and against criminalisation - and to fight for justice, good sense, effective prevention measures and for access to treatment. HIV is a virus, not a crime. That fact is elementary, and all-important. Law-makers and prosecutors overlook it.
We have lots of examples of how such laws are being implemented. For instance, in Texas, a homeless man was sent to jail for 35 years. The man had HIV. He was jailed because he spat at the officers who were arresting him. Saliva has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV so therefore the 'deadly weapon' the man was accused of wielding was no more than a toy pistol - and it wasn't even loaded. The man was punished not for what he did, but for the virus he carried.
In Zimbabwe, a 26 year old woman was arrested for having unprotected sex with her lover. The crime for which she was convicted was 'deliberately infecting another person' despite the fact that he tested HIV negative.
She was eventually sentenced to a suspended term of five years'
imprisonment. You merely have to realise 'that there is a real risk or possibility' that you have HIV - and then do something - 'anything' - that involves 'a real risk or possibility of infecting another person'.
The law creates a crime not of effect and consequence, but of fear and possibility.
Such laws are increasingly wide in their application, and frightening in their effects. They aggressively attack rational efforts to lessen the impact and spread of the epidemic and are creating a crisis in HIV management and prevention efforts. So what lies behind this increasing trend of criminalisation, what is the rationale for such laws?
HIV is a fearsome virus, and its effects are potentially deadly.
Therefore, the justification is that public officials should be able to invoke any available and effective means to counter its spread. African lawmakers and policy-makers, in particular, have good reason to look for strong remedies. Many African countries face a massive epidemic with agonising social and economic costs and therefore reversing the spread of HIV is vital. However, I believe these reasons are entirely counter-productive and they need to be challenged, rationally, powerfully and systematically.
1. Criminalisation is ineffective as in the majority of cases, the virus spreads when two people have consensual sex, neither of them knowing that one has HIV.
2. Criminal prosecutions are a misguided substitute for measures that really protect those at risk of contracting HIV. The focus should be on ending deaths, stigma, discrimination, and suffering.
3. Far from protecting women, criminalisation victimises, oppresses and endangers them. In Africa most people who know their HIV status are female. The material circumstances in which many women find themselves - especially in Africa - make it difficult and often impossible for them to negotiate safer sex, or to discuss HIV at all. These provisions will hit women hardest, and will expose them to assault, ostracism and further stigma. They will become more vulnerable to HIV, not less.
4. Criminalisation is often unfairly and selectively enforced.
Prosecutions and laws single out already vulnerable groups - like sex workers, men who have sex with men and, in European countries, black males.
5. Criminalisation places blame on one person instead of responsibility on two. For nearly three decades the universal public information message has been that no one is exempt from it. So the risk of HIV (or any sexually transmitted infection) must now be seen as an inescapable facet of having sex. It is inappropriate and unfair to place all the blame on the person with HIV.
6. Such laws are difficult and degrading to apply. This is because they intrude on the intimacy and privacy of consensual sex. No one suggests that a person knowing they have HIV, who sets out intending to infect another, and achieves their aim, ought to escape prosecution. But in cases where there is no deliberate intention, the categories and distinctions of the criminal law become fuzzy and incapable of offering clear guidance.
7. Many of these laws in existence are extremely poorly drafted. Partly because it is difficult to prove an offence that involves consensual sex, and because of the difficulties of applying the categories of the criminal law, many of these laws end up being a 'hodge-podge' of confused legislative intent and bad drafting.
8. Criminalisation increases stigma. It is stigma that makes those at risk of HIV reluctant to be tested; it is stigma that makes it difficult, often impossible, for them to speak about their infection; and it is stigma that continues to hinder access to the life-saving ARV therapies that are now increasingly available. Such laws and prosecutions in turn only add fuel to the fires of stigma.
9. Criminalisation is a blatant deterrent to testing. Across Africa, the life-saving drugs that suppress the virus and restore the body to health are becoming increasingly available. But why should any woman in Kenya want to find out her HIV status, when her knowledge can only expose her to risk of prosecution? The laws are not just a war on women. They are a war on all people with HIV, and they constitute an assault on good sense and rationality in dealing with the epidemic.
10. Criminalisation assumes the worst about people with HIV, and in doing so it punishes vulnerability. Evidence shows that countries with human rights laws that encourage the undiagnosed to test for HIV do much better at containing the epidemic than those that have adopted punitive, moralistic, denialist strategies, including those relying on the criminal law as a sanction.
In light of all of this, the clear goal should be to fight against stigma, against discrimination, and against criminalisation - and to fight for justice, good sense, effective prevention measures and for access to treatment. HIV is a virus, not a crime. That fact is elementary, and all-important. Law-makers and prosecutors overlook it.
A 2-year-old beaten, mother's boyfriend arrested
I have been conducting research over the past 17 years on child abuse and I am inclined to say that child abuse is on the increase worldwide. The abuse takes place in many spheres; in the home, at school, in the church and in the children’s homes. You can hardly read on the newspapers or switch on the television without hearing more about a child being molested or killed. Is the world community doing enough to combat child abuse? I have just come back from a World Congress on Sexual exploitation of children and adolescents which was held in Rio, Brazil. My observation is that most countries have started doing something about, which most is pleasing.
My intention is to create awareness among stakeholders on how to manage child abuse and neglect. So in my quest to give you strategies on how to handle child abuse, I will be collecting information or news from around the world for your consumption. There are many stunning cases from around the world that I will give from time to time.
Here’s a story of a 2-year-old child who was beaten by the mother's boyfriend who was later arrested. A 2-year-old Renton girl has life-threatening injuries and traumatic brain trauma after she was beaten by her mother's boyfriend, according to police reports.
The girl is now in Harborview Medical Center – the region's top trauma center – after first being brought to Valley Medical Center Saturday afternoon. The 30-year-old man suspected of beating her said she was hurt in an accident, Renton police spokeswoman Penny Bartley told our news partner, KOMO/4. The man is not her father, according to police reports. The culprit was arrested after Port of Seattle police allegedly found him, the injured girl's mother and the couple's 11-day-old daughter trying to fly out of Sea-Tac International Airport.
The man was booked Monday night into the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent on investigation of child abuse and for violating probation. He had been taking care of the 2-year-old, who was not his child. The mother of the child, whom the man recently had a daughter with, was staying with relatives. The name of the man is still withheld because he has not been charged.
Court records show the man, a New York native, has a history of domestic violence. In 2006, he was found guilty of violating a domestic violence court order, which is a gross misdemeanor. The man was also found guilty that year of two other gross misdemeanors: harassment and fourth-degree assault.
The mother of the 11-day-old girl is not in custody, but police said the girl has been taken by Child Protection Services.
Why is it that boy friends or step fathers seem to be very much involved in child abuse?
Let's talk…
My intention is to create awareness among stakeholders on how to manage child abuse and neglect. So in my quest to give you strategies on how to handle child abuse, I will be collecting information or news from around the world for your consumption. There are many stunning cases from around the world that I will give from time to time.
Here’s a story of a 2-year-old child who was beaten by the mother's boyfriend who was later arrested. A 2-year-old Renton girl has life-threatening injuries and traumatic brain trauma after she was beaten by her mother's boyfriend, according to police reports.
The girl is now in Harborview Medical Center – the region's top trauma center – after first being brought to Valley Medical Center Saturday afternoon. The 30-year-old man suspected of beating her said she was hurt in an accident, Renton police spokeswoman Penny Bartley told our news partner, KOMO/4. The man is not her father, according to police reports. The culprit was arrested after Port of Seattle police allegedly found him, the injured girl's mother and the couple's 11-day-old daughter trying to fly out of Sea-Tac International Airport.
The man was booked Monday night into the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent on investigation of child abuse and for violating probation. He had been taking care of the 2-year-old, who was not his child. The mother of the child, whom the man recently had a daughter with, was staying with relatives. The name of the man is still withheld because he has not been charged.
Court records show the man, a New York native, has a history of domestic violence. In 2006, he was found guilty of violating a domestic violence court order, which is a gross misdemeanor. The man was also found guilty that year of two other gross misdemeanors: harassment and fourth-degree assault.
The mother of the 11-day-old girl is not in custody, but police said the girl has been taken by Child Protection Services.
Why is it that boy friends or step fathers seem to be very much involved in child abuse?
Let's talk…
3 Children and their mother perish in an inferno: Ex-Boyfriend Rescued From Crowd Baying For His Blood
“Burn him! Burn him like he burnt the children,” an angry woman screamed as enraged Atteridgeville community members shoved a tyre towards the almost motionless body of an alleged murderer.
The man had apparently set fire to his former girlfriend’s room in the early hours of morning. The 37 year old Sibongile Chiloane, her three children, Liesbet (15) - who was handicapped – Nelson – (10) and Tsakane (4) and her new boyfriend, Walter Khoza, died in the blaze.
Her eldest sister, Portia, who was not at home during the blaze, said Liesbet could not walk, speak or eat. Family members living cheek by jowl in a backyard shack in Padi Street last night recalled the hysterical screams of the children. Although to douse the flames, their attempts were in vein.
As the Chiloane family sat in the front garden last night, trying to get to terms with the tragedy, someone came running in, shouting that they have found the alleged murderer on the nearby mountain.
The community rushed to the street corner, but nothing happened.
As people returned to their homes another shout came. This time it was real, as angry voices were heard from the mountain.
Within a minute an Atteridgeville police car arrived. The group of angry men, earlier seen at the Chiloane house, was dragging the suspect, face down in the tarred road. They threw him towards the waiting community.
The man at first lay motionless his body white from dust. Blood oozed from his head and was breathing heavily.
As police called for back up, the crowd pulled the tyre closer.
“We want to burn him life because he burnt the children, one disabled,” some women screamed.
When the armed police realized they were outnumbered, they formed a circle around the man. Some people picked up stones and threw them at the man.” He is a killer, he should die”, one man shouted.
This drama came less than 24 hours after the horrible deaths of Chilaone and her loved ones. Earlier last night Aunt Martha Chilaone pointed to the remains of her niece, room, which were less than a meter from her room.
“He poured it on Sibongile’s door frame,” I was scared so I hid below the window. When I looked again there were flames. “She recalled. She heard the children screaming, but could not get to them. She ran to the main house screaming for help.
Chiloane’s sister looked on in horror. “They say Sibongile maybe died first. Liesbet and Tsakane were clinging to the table, as if they were trying to get away from the flames. “My heart is broken” she said.
Jan Schoeman, Sibongile’s uncle, said when the police and fire brigade arrived , the flames were already out,. Then the mortuary van came, but, when the family later went to the burnt room again, they found a child’s foot still in the ashes.
“Please tell the police to come and get it. It is breaking us to think the children were burnt to pieces, ”he pleaded. They all felt a combination of fear and anger when the suspect was brought to the house.
“I am scared,”Portia said as she moved from the crowd. Some of the adults in the crowd chased the children away, but soon no one noticed them as they bayed for blood. Atteridgeville police spokesperson captain Bonginkosi Msimango last night said the police managed to get him from the crowd. He was taken to hospital, and would be charged with murder and arson.
It appeared Chiloane had a fight with her former boyfriend, about whom she broke up with about three months ago, according to family.
The captain said Khoza visited Chiloane on Saturday night.
“It appears the ex-boyfriend came after midnight. The victims were burnt beyond recognition,” he said.
In your view should the Police have let the crowd take the law into their own hands for the sake of the victims particularly the children?
Let's talk..
The man had apparently set fire to his former girlfriend’s room in the early hours of morning. The 37 year old Sibongile Chiloane, her three children, Liesbet (15) - who was handicapped – Nelson – (10) and Tsakane (4) and her new boyfriend, Walter Khoza, died in the blaze.
Her eldest sister, Portia, who was not at home during the blaze, said Liesbet could not walk, speak or eat. Family members living cheek by jowl in a backyard shack in Padi Street last night recalled the hysterical screams of the children. Although to douse the flames, their attempts were in vein.
As the Chiloane family sat in the front garden last night, trying to get to terms with the tragedy, someone came running in, shouting that they have found the alleged murderer on the nearby mountain.
The community rushed to the street corner, but nothing happened.
As people returned to their homes another shout came. This time it was real, as angry voices were heard from the mountain.
Within a minute an Atteridgeville police car arrived. The group of angry men, earlier seen at the Chiloane house, was dragging the suspect, face down in the tarred road. They threw him towards the waiting community.
The man at first lay motionless his body white from dust. Blood oozed from his head and was breathing heavily.
As police called for back up, the crowd pulled the tyre closer.
“We want to burn him life because he burnt the children, one disabled,” some women screamed.
When the armed police realized they were outnumbered, they formed a circle around the man. Some people picked up stones and threw them at the man.” He is a killer, he should die”, one man shouted.
This drama came less than 24 hours after the horrible deaths of Chilaone and her loved ones. Earlier last night Aunt Martha Chilaone pointed to the remains of her niece, room, which were less than a meter from her room.
“He poured it on Sibongile’s door frame,” I was scared so I hid below the window. When I looked again there were flames. “She recalled. She heard the children screaming, but could not get to them. She ran to the main house screaming for help.
Chiloane’s sister looked on in horror. “They say Sibongile maybe died first. Liesbet and Tsakane were clinging to the table, as if they were trying to get away from the flames. “My heart is broken” she said.
Jan Schoeman, Sibongile’s uncle, said when the police and fire brigade arrived , the flames were already out,. Then the mortuary van came, but, when the family later went to the burnt room again, they found a child’s foot still in the ashes.
“Please tell the police to come and get it. It is breaking us to think the children were burnt to pieces, ”he pleaded. They all felt a combination of fear and anger when the suspect was brought to the house.
“I am scared,”Portia said as she moved from the crowd. Some of the adults in the crowd chased the children away, but soon no one noticed them as they bayed for blood. Atteridgeville police spokesperson captain Bonginkosi Msimango last night said the police managed to get him from the crowd. He was taken to hospital, and would be charged with murder and arson.
It appeared Chiloane had a fight with her former boyfriend, about whom she broke up with about three months ago, according to family.
The captain said Khoza visited Chiloane on Saturday night.
“It appears the ex-boyfriend came after midnight. The victims were burnt beyond recognition,” he said.
In your view should the Police have let the crowd take the law into their own hands for the sake of the victims particularly the children?
Let's talk..
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Why are Botswana students Falling from buildings in Malaysia?
Disaster in our hands, could it be true?
Why is it only Botswana students falling from buildings in Malaysia?
I hope this is not true, because if it is true then indeed we have a disaster in our hands...
Here's an e-mail which was apparently sent by a Malaysian students to others.
Subject: Beware of local university's African students..!!
Please pass the news and warn the parents, government, students and society. This is true and all happened within these two years!
I have a friend's daughter who is studying in Limkokwing University, and she was kidnapped by a Botswana student studying there as well. The African is 37 years old!
The daughter was kidnapped and managed to escape from that African.
However, she had been raped, beaten, tied up and punched by the man. That bastard even got his African friends (Botswana students too) to rape the daughter. Now the daughter is in trauma.
Because of this case, I have investigated amongst the Limkokwing students, and there are more serious cases that had been happening within these two years. Please read and spread the news to your friends, it's not rumours. Trust me, or you may ask any of the Limkokwing students! I am sad as it is all covered up by the Limkokwing's president - Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing.
The covered issues about Botswana students (African black):
(1) They take drugs in the University toilet and had been caught by security guard. However the president warned the guard not to spread the news.
(2) They take drugs in the university's event, especially in the Orientation night organized by the students' society and faculty. The lecturers saw the incident and they tried to stop, but they like to use the same sentence too against the lecturers: 'who the fuck you are, we paid to Tan Sri and Tan Sri paid you, just shut up!'
(3) They get drunk and many accidents happened in Cyberjaya (too many accidents, you can check with the police station)
(4) They keep drugs in their apartments, i. e. Desa Ria, and even bring drugs to class.. In the University party in Desa Ria, they took drugs and alcohol (Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing's daughter was there too).
(5) They disturb the female students, especially the Malay and Chinese students. They just take away and use their handphones without asking for permission (means they just grab!). The girls always feel scared and just keep silent as they do not know what the Botswana students (Africans) will do to them.
(6) There are classes in which of the students' population is 70% Botswana students. They do not pay attention and cannot keep quiet in the class and the local students are disturbed by them. They even argue in the classes (not only once) when the male local students asked them to shut up, end up they fight.
Lecturers tried to stop theBotswana students, again, they showed the same respond 'who the fuck you are, we paid to Tan Sri and Tan Sri paid you, just shut up!'
(7) They love to sexually harass the female students. This statement needs
no further explanation! Ask the students!
(8) They do not submit assignments and are late in submitting assignments,
but still pass! The concern is they still pass! What kind of quality I
wonder? They deserve to repeat and fail. Is it the University policy? Their (African) government paid more to Limkokwing University , so they can pass easily? They don't even follow the lecturers'guideline, how they can pass?
(9) They even act rude to the lecturers. The lecturers just keep quiet.
(10) They scratched the lecturers' cars.
(11) They insulted the students' counsellor in front of the crowd when
they not managed to cut queue.
(12) They forced the female students to give their contact numbers.
(13) They gather at their hostel every night and get drunk.
(14) They kidnapped my friend's daughter!
(15) They used Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing's and the vice president's names to
cover their ugliness, of which Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing and the vice president
knows! They allowed this to happen.
I hope you help to spread the news and I hope there will be a petition to
ask the Higher Ministry of Education to look into the African students'
recruitment in Malaysia,especially Limkokwing University . It is already the hell of crime in Cyberjaya. I am sure the African students bring harm.
If you do not believe, you can ask anyone of the Limkokwing students, and ask them how is the African students' attitude! The dark side of Limkokwing University is all covered up. Please take serious action and discipline the Africans (Botswana students). Just lodge the police report and do not feel fear! At least we stop them bring harm to our children!
PS: This email is also to tell the management of Limkokwing to take action
now. I need the students to spread the email and tell them that it is serious now, and no more covered! Soon we will record the videos and put in YouTube. It is so easy to capture their bad behaviour!
STOP GIVING THEM TOO MUCH POWER! STOP COVERING UP FOR THEM!!
Lim Teng Seng
A victim's Friend
What should be done to avert this deteriorating situation of Botswana students who have been falling from buildings in Malaysia?
Why is it only Botswana students falling from buildings in Malaysia?
I hope this is not true, because if it is true then indeed we have a disaster in our hands...
Here's an e-mail which was apparently sent by a Malaysian students to others.
Subject: Beware of local university's African students..!!
Please pass the news and warn the parents, government, students and society. This is true and all happened within these two years!
I have a friend's daughter who is studying in Limkokwing University, and she was kidnapped by a Botswana student studying there as well. The African is 37 years old!
The daughter was kidnapped and managed to escape from that African.
However, she had been raped, beaten, tied up and punched by the man. That bastard even got his African friends (Botswana students too) to rape the daughter. Now the daughter is in trauma.
Because of this case, I have investigated amongst the Limkokwing students, and there are more serious cases that had been happening within these two years. Please read and spread the news to your friends, it's not rumours. Trust me, or you may ask any of the Limkokwing students! I am sad as it is all covered up by the Limkokwing's president - Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing.
The covered issues about Botswana students (African black):
(1) They take drugs in the University toilet and had been caught by security guard. However the president warned the guard not to spread the news.
(2) They take drugs in the university's event, especially in the Orientation night organized by the students' society and faculty. The lecturers saw the incident and they tried to stop, but they like to use the same sentence too against the lecturers: 'who the fuck you are, we paid to Tan Sri and Tan Sri paid you, just shut up!'
(3) They get drunk and many accidents happened in Cyberjaya (too many accidents, you can check with the police station)
(4) They keep drugs in their apartments, i. e. Desa Ria, and even bring drugs to class.. In the University party in Desa Ria, they took drugs and alcohol (Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing's daughter was there too).
(5) They disturb the female students, especially the Malay and Chinese students. They just take away and use their handphones without asking for permission (means they just grab!). The girls always feel scared and just keep silent as they do not know what the Botswana students (Africans) will do to them.
(6) There are classes in which of the students' population is 70% Botswana students. They do not pay attention and cannot keep quiet in the class and the local students are disturbed by them. They even argue in the classes (not only once) when the male local students asked them to shut up, end up they fight.
Lecturers tried to stop theBotswana students, again, they showed the same respond 'who the fuck you are, we paid to Tan Sri and Tan Sri paid you, just shut up!'
(7) They love to sexually harass the female students. This statement needs
no further explanation! Ask the students!
(8) They do not submit assignments and are late in submitting assignments,
but still pass! The concern is they still pass! What kind of quality I
wonder? They deserve to repeat and fail. Is it the University policy? Their (African) government paid more to Limkokwing University , so they can pass easily? They don't even follow the lecturers'guideline, how they can pass?
(9) They even act rude to the lecturers. The lecturers just keep quiet.
(10) They scratched the lecturers' cars.
(11) They insulted the students' counsellor in front of the crowd when
they not managed to cut queue.
(12) They forced the female students to give their contact numbers.
(13) They gather at their hostel every night and get drunk.
(14) They kidnapped my friend's daughter!
(15) They used Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing's and the vice president's names to
cover their ugliness, of which Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing and the vice president
knows! They allowed this to happen.
I hope you help to spread the news and I hope there will be a petition to
ask the Higher Ministry of Education to look into the African students'
recruitment in Malaysia,especially Limkokwing University . It is already the hell of crime in Cyberjaya. I am sure the African students bring harm.
If you do not believe, you can ask anyone of the Limkokwing students, and ask them how is the African students' attitude! The dark side of Limkokwing University is all covered up. Please take serious action and discipline the Africans (Botswana students). Just lodge the police report and do not feel fear! At least we stop them bring harm to our children!
PS: This email is also to tell the management of Limkokwing to take action
now. I need the students to spread the email and tell them that it is serious now, and no more covered! Soon we will record the videos and put in YouTube. It is so easy to capture their bad behaviour!
STOP GIVING THEM TOO MUCH POWER! STOP COVERING UP FOR THEM!!
Lim Teng Seng
A victim's Friend
What should be done to avert this deteriorating situation of Botswana students who have been falling from buildings in Malaysia?
Fatal Errors in Child Abuse Case
Insufficient management oversight and poor communication led to devastating results in a classic case of child abuse in the UK, The Guardian Newspaper revealed on December 2, 2008.Such cases are increasingly becoming common in the world today and children suffer grossly as a result.
The report indicated that the damning outcome on the way Haringey Council protects abused and vulnerable children landed on Ed Balls' desk on 01 December 2008. The Ofsted Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, revealed to the secretary of state for children some significant weaknesses in the north London borough's methods of protecting children from abuse. She concluded that management was inadequate in executing its mandate fully to safeguard the well-being of children.
The review was described as devastating; reflecting bad management and poor communication on the part of the officials charged with the responsibility of protecting children from abuse.
Following a classic case of child abuse and neglect, five years ago, the UK national child protection policy was overhauled in the wake of the death of an eight-year-old Victoria Climbié from Ivory Coast while she was in Haringey's care. The borough's leadership was found to have ignored key recommendations following her death and was confronted with a list of systemic mistakes, oversights and examples of inadequate management.
Ofsted's report, produced with the Healthcare Commission and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, found Haringey Council to have the worst child protection systems of any borough scrutinized by a review in the last 12 months. "This was not an investigation into the tragic death of 'Baby P', but it has shown that the serious concerns raised by his case, and the death of Victoria Climbié, remain," said Gilbert. "Haringey Council is clearly still not doing enough to ensure that children are properly protected."
In the review which took 13 days to complete, the Inspectors observed working life in a social care duty room, reviewed case files, including those of Baby P, held interviews, spoke to children and community representatives and considered performance data and the borough's policy on child protection. The findings were reflected as follows:
Bureaucratic Issues
1. The list of errors and malpractice discovered within the council and across local health agencies and the police begins with the way officials handle the first sign that a child might be in danger.
2. The borough's handling of referrals, which might come from a police officer or teacher, is "generally poor". Information about cases is not gathered properly and the person who makes the referral is often not told what action has been taken within 48 hours, a recommendation after the Climbié case to make different agencies to talk to each other about cases.
3. Even when case files are opened, they are not adequate. Entries are sometimes inaccurate and the distributions to partner agencies of minutes of important meetings where child protection measures are decided are frequently subject to unnecessary delays.
4. The result is that vital action which could safeguard an abused and vulnerable child may not be taken. Child protection plans are "generally poor". Social workers have no idea of who is doing what when they are drawn up.
Communication Channels
There is insufficient guidance for those who carry out most assessments on abused and vulnerable children. The review further found that some accident and emergency staff at the North Middlesex and Whittington hospitals, both locations where Baby P was treated, don't know how to check if a child is on the child protection register.
Different agencies involved in child protection do not share information properly. For instance, police reports of children being caught up in incidents of domestic violence often arrive with social workers late.
There is a concern that children are rarely interviewed by social workers about what is happening to them. If they are interviewed, it is unclear from records whether they are on their own and therefore able to tell the truth about abuse they are suffering, or with their abusers.
Management Issues
There was serious criticism of the management of child protection in Haringey. The Director of Children’s Services, Sharon Shoesmith, who was removed" from her post at Balls' insistence, was accused of insufficient management oversight over the assistant director of children's services. There was also insufficient supervision of front-line social workers by senior management.
The review concluded that there was little evidence that the local safeguarding children board made life any safer for young people in the area. It failed to challenge the work of its members and frontline staff. A total of 51 out of the 121 established social worker posts are filled by agency staff which results in a lack of continuity for children and their families.
Unfortunately, for those demanding answers about what happened to Baby P, the review did not address his case more precisely. Ofsted said the case review into his death was inadequate and Balls ordered a fresh review to be published by the end of March 2009. He resisted calls from the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to publish the full text of the existing review which, according to those who have read it, is "a litany of disaster".
"This two week investigation leaves a swath of questions unanswered," said Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green. "I have never read anything as damning and devastatingly critical as this report is, but it looks at practice and management rather than the actual issues around Baby P and that is frustrating.
"There can be no halfway house when it comes to protecting our local children. Either Haringey council children's service is up the job or not and the report clearly shows not. It should be taken into full special measures now rather than after more reports."
Here are some of the major findings:
• Failure to identify children at immediate risk and act on evidence
• Social workers, health professionals and police did not communicate well
• Poor gathering, recording and sharing of information
• Inconsistent frontline practice and supervision by senior management
• Insufficient management oversight of the assistant director of children's services by the director of children's services and chief executive
• Over-dependence on performance data which was not always accurate
• Poor child protection plans
• Failure to ensure all requirements of the inquiry into Victoria Climbié's murder in 2000 were met
• Failure to speak directly to children at risk
• Inadequate serious case review into Baby P's death
• High turnover of social workers resulted in heavy reliance on agency staff
• Heavy workloads for social workers, with true number of children allocated to
them not always accurately counted.
Who suffers at the end of the day in such cases? Is it possible to curb some of the shortcomings that are highlighted above to ensure maximum protection of children?
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008
The report indicated that the damning outcome on the way Haringey Council protects abused and vulnerable children landed on Ed Balls' desk on 01 December 2008. The Ofsted Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, revealed to the secretary of state for children some significant weaknesses in the north London borough's methods of protecting children from abuse. She concluded that management was inadequate in executing its mandate fully to safeguard the well-being of children.
The review was described as devastating; reflecting bad management and poor communication on the part of the officials charged with the responsibility of protecting children from abuse.
Following a classic case of child abuse and neglect, five years ago, the UK national child protection policy was overhauled in the wake of the death of an eight-year-old Victoria Climbié from Ivory Coast while she was in Haringey's care. The borough's leadership was found to have ignored key recommendations following her death and was confronted with a list of systemic mistakes, oversights and examples of inadequate management.
Ofsted's report, produced with the Healthcare Commission and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, found Haringey Council to have the worst child protection systems of any borough scrutinized by a review in the last 12 months. "This was not an investigation into the tragic death of 'Baby P', but it has shown that the serious concerns raised by his case, and the death of Victoria Climbié, remain," said Gilbert. "Haringey Council is clearly still not doing enough to ensure that children are properly protected."
In the review which took 13 days to complete, the Inspectors observed working life in a social care duty room, reviewed case files, including those of Baby P, held interviews, spoke to children and community representatives and considered performance data and the borough's policy on child protection. The findings were reflected as follows:
Bureaucratic Issues
1. The list of errors and malpractice discovered within the council and across local health agencies and the police begins with the way officials handle the first sign that a child might be in danger.
2. The borough's handling of referrals, which might come from a police officer or teacher, is "generally poor". Information about cases is not gathered properly and the person who makes the referral is often not told what action has been taken within 48 hours, a recommendation after the Climbié case to make different agencies to talk to each other about cases.
3. Even when case files are opened, they are not adequate. Entries are sometimes inaccurate and the distributions to partner agencies of minutes of important meetings where child protection measures are decided are frequently subject to unnecessary delays.
4. The result is that vital action which could safeguard an abused and vulnerable child may not be taken. Child protection plans are "generally poor". Social workers have no idea of who is doing what when they are drawn up.
Communication Channels
There is insufficient guidance for those who carry out most assessments on abused and vulnerable children. The review further found that some accident and emergency staff at the North Middlesex and Whittington hospitals, both locations where Baby P was treated, don't know how to check if a child is on the child protection register.
Different agencies involved in child protection do not share information properly. For instance, police reports of children being caught up in incidents of domestic violence often arrive with social workers late.
There is a concern that children are rarely interviewed by social workers about what is happening to them. If they are interviewed, it is unclear from records whether they are on their own and therefore able to tell the truth about abuse they are suffering, or with their abusers.
Management Issues
There was serious criticism of the management of child protection in Haringey. The Director of Children’s Services, Sharon Shoesmith, who was removed" from her post at Balls' insistence, was accused of insufficient management oversight over the assistant director of children's services. There was also insufficient supervision of front-line social workers by senior management.
The review concluded that there was little evidence that the local safeguarding children board made life any safer for young people in the area. It failed to challenge the work of its members and frontline staff. A total of 51 out of the 121 established social worker posts are filled by agency staff which results in a lack of continuity for children and their families.
Unfortunately, for those demanding answers about what happened to Baby P, the review did not address his case more precisely. Ofsted said the case review into his death was inadequate and Balls ordered a fresh review to be published by the end of March 2009. He resisted calls from the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to publish the full text of the existing review which, according to those who have read it, is "a litany of disaster".
"This two week investigation leaves a swath of questions unanswered," said Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green. "I have never read anything as damning and devastatingly critical as this report is, but it looks at practice and management rather than the actual issues around Baby P and that is frustrating.
"There can be no halfway house when it comes to protecting our local children. Either Haringey council children's service is up the job or not and the report clearly shows not. It should be taken into full special measures now rather than after more reports."
Here are some of the major findings:
• Failure to identify children at immediate risk and act on evidence
• Social workers, health professionals and police did not communicate well
• Poor gathering, recording and sharing of information
• Inconsistent frontline practice and supervision by senior management
• Insufficient management oversight of the assistant director of children's services by the director of children's services and chief executive
• Over-dependence on performance data which was not always accurate
• Poor child protection plans
• Failure to ensure all requirements of the inquiry into Victoria Climbié's murder in 2000 were met
• Failure to speak directly to children at risk
• Inadequate serious case review into Baby P's death
• High turnover of social workers resulted in heavy reliance on agency staff
• Heavy workloads for social workers, with true number of children allocated to
them not always accurately counted.
Who suffers at the end of the day in such cases? Is it possible to curb some of the shortcomings that are highlighted above to ensure maximum protection of children?
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
A Woman Tries to Hang Her Only Son
“Mmangwana o tshwara thipa ka fa bogaleng.” This is a Tswana proverb that says that mothers are the can do anything including risking their own lives to protect their children from any form of abuse. Whether this proverb still holds water is something that we will have to find out…
It is increasingly becoming common for parents and mothers for that matter to try to take away innocent lives of their own children. The cause for this is still to be established...
Here’s a matter in which a young mother tried to take away the life of her only son…
On November 27, 2008 there was a report that a twenty-six year old woman of Tsolamosese ward in Mogoditshane was remanded in custody after she allegedly tried to hang her 5 year old boy child.
The report revealed that the woman had an argument with the child, which resulted in the woman attempting to hang the child. The woman is said to have locked herself in the house with the child and tied him with a rope in an attempt to hang him. The child shouted for help and family members came to rescue the child.
The woman has been slapped with an attempted murder charge, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Extenuating circumstances are the only hope for a reduced sentence.
Reports from Mogoditshane Police confirmed that their office was handling the case involving a woman who nearly hanged her own child for inexplicable reasons. The woman had already appeared for mention on a Tuesday. According to Police reports the boy has been put under custody of her grandparents while the mother was still held under police custody.
If found guilty should this mother be sentenced to life imprisonment or do you think she can be pardoned?
Let’s hear your views…
It is increasingly becoming common for parents and mothers for that matter to try to take away innocent lives of their own children. The cause for this is still to be established...
Here’s a matter in which a young mother tried to take away the life of her only son…
On November 27, 2008 there was a report that a twenty-six year old woman of Tsolamosese ward in Mogoditshane was remanded in custody after she allegedly tried to hang her 5 year old boy child.
The report revealed that the woman had an argument with the child, which resulted in the woman attempting to hang the child. The woman is said to have locked herself in the house with the child and tied him with a rope in an attempt to hang him. The child shouted for help and family members came to rescue the child.
The woman has been slapped with an attempted murder charge, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Extenuating circumstances are the only hope for a reduced sentence.
Reports from Mogoditshane Police confirmed that their office was handling the case involving a woman who nearly hanged her own child for inexplicable reasons. The woman had already appeared for mention on a Tuesday. According to Police reports the boy has been put under custody of her grandparents while the mother was still held under police custody.
If found guilty should this mother be sentenced to life imprisonment or do you think she can be pardoned?
Let’s hear your views…
How Domestic Violence Affects Children
The effects of witnessing violence on children have gross negative impact on their psychological development. This is a serious problem that requires more robust intervention and yet it has not been receiving much attention across the globe in the past. Unfortunately the literature on this issue has been largely limited to clinical descriptions of children's behavioral and emotional problems elicited primarily from assessment of children in women's shelters.
Most of these assessments used a standardized checklist which measures internalizing problems such as depression, somatic or physiological complaints, anxiety and withdrawal. In many instances, externalizing problems such as disobedience, destructiveness and aggression have not been coming very clearly in most of the available literature. However, some recent studies have improved methodologically by including suitable comparison groups as well as additional standardized measures.
More importantly, the studies have also considered examining a wider range of children's dysfunctional and adaptive behaviors. These studies represent the beginning efforts to document the effects of domestic violence on children's behavior, their cognitive and social problem-solving abilities. This also includes their coping and emotional functioning. A discussion of this literature in terms of age, stage of development and gender has been outlined below.
Here is short summary of the effects on children of either witnessing and/or being victims of domestic violence:
Infants
Infants are reactive to their environment; when distressed they cry, refuse to feed or withdraw and are particularly susceptible to emotional deprivation. They are extremely vulnerable.
Toddlers
Toddlers, who are beginning to develop basic attempts to relate causes to emotional expressions, can often be seen to have behavioral problems such as frequent illness, severe shyness, low self- esteem and trouble in daycare as well as social problems such as hitting, biting or being argumentative. Gender differences can emerge at this stage.
Preschool age
At preschool age, children believe that everything revolves around them and is caused by them. If they witness violence or abuse, they believe they have caused it. Some studies have shown preschool boys to have the highest ratings for aggressive behavior and the most serious somatic difficulties of any age group.
Primary school age children
Primary school age children, particularly in the latter stage, begin to learn that violence is an appropriate way of resolving conflict in human relationships. They often have difficulties with schoolwork and girls in this age group have been found to have the highest clinical levels of both aggression and depression.
Adolescents
Finally, adolescents see the violence as their parents' problem and they often regard the victim as being responsible. Ongoing conflict between parents has a profound influence on adolescent development and future adult behaviors, and can be the strongest predictor of violent delinquency.
It must be emphasized that, while there is no doubt that children who either witness and/or are victims of domestic violence are all affected in terms of their behavioral, cognitive and emotional adjustment, the research is still not conclusive enough to determine that there is a definitive set response for gender, age or stage of development. Unfortunately the sample sizes of some of the studies are also often not large enough to warrant firm conclusions being drawn. The inconsistencies suggest that there are still many more factors to be taken into account, including: the extent and frequency of the violence; the role of the child in the family; the number of repeated separations and moves; and economic and social disadvantage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that children's responses to witnessing and/or experiencing domestic violence between their parents vary considerably. No typical reactions emerge, even though there is sufficient evidence that exposure to domestic violence can and often detrimentally influence the children's behaviors. Nonetheless, at various stages of their development, children are able to understand and cope with what is happening between their parents.
For this issue to receive the attention it deserves there has to be linkages between domestic violence and child abuse. In spite of this, changes in definitions and parameters of child abuse and domestic violence, as well as legislative reforms, though necessary, are not sufficient to bring about a fundamental shift in the attitudes by members of the community at large. The is need for an integrated response from a wide variety of agencies such as the law enforcement agencies such as police, professionals such as social workers, lawyers and health workers. Teachers and the community members need to be informed and should be willing to be part of a joint effort to bring about some serious changes.
References:
Alexander, R. 1988, The Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987. Law Institute Journal. March pp 166-169.
Ammerman, R.T. and Herson, M. (eds) 1990, Treatment of Family Violence, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Blanchard, A., Molloy, F. and Brown, L. 1992, 'I Just Couldn't Stop Them': Western Australian Children Living with Domestic Violence: A Study of Children's Experiences and Service Provision, Curtin University School of Social Work, Western Australia.
Bowker, L.H., Arbittel, M. and McFerron, J.R. 1988, 'On the relationship between wife beating and child abuse' in: Feminist Perspectives on Wife Abuse, eds K. Yllo and M. Bograd, Sage, California.
Calvert, G. 1993, Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: the National Strategy, National Child Protection Council, Canberra.
James, M. 1994, ‘Domestic Violence as a Form of Child Abuse: Identification and Prevention’. Issues in Child Abuse Prevention Number 2 July 1994
Carlson, B.E. 1984, 'Children's observations of inter-parental violence' in: Battered Women and Their Families, ed. A.R. Roberts, Springer, New York.
Christopoulos, C., Cohn, D., Shaw, D., Joyce, S., Sullivan-Hanson, J., Kraft, S. and Emery, R. 1987, 'Children of abused women: adjustmenet at time of shelter residence', Journal of the Marriage and the Family, vol. 49, pp. 611-19.
Church, J. 1984, Violence Against Wives: Its Causes and Effects, John Church (Publisher), Christchurch, New Zealand.
Cummings, E.M. 1987, 'Coping with background anger in early childhood', Child Development, vol.58, pp.976-84.
Cummings, E.M., Zahn-Waxler, C. and Radke-Yarrow, M. 1981, 'Young children's responses to expressions of anger and affection by others in the family', Child Development, vol.52, pp.1274-82.
Cummings, E.M., Iannotti, R.J. and Zahn-Waxler, C. 1985, 'Influence of conflict between adults on the emotions and aggression of young children', Developmental Psychology, vol.21, pp.495-507.
Davis, L. and Carlson, B. 1987, 'Observation of spouse abuse: what happens to the children?', Journal of Interpersonal Violence vol.2, no.3, pp.278- 91.
Most of these assessments used a standardized checklist which measures internalizing problems such as depression, somatic or physiological complaints, anxiety and withdrawal. In many instances, externalizing problems such as disobedience, destructiveness and aggression have not been coming very clearly in most of the available literature. However, some recent studies have improved methodologically by including suitable comparison groups as well as additional standardized measures.
More importantly, the studies have also considered examining a wider range of children's dysfunctional and adaptive behaviors. These studies represent the beginning efforts to document the effects of domestic violence on children's behavior, their cognitive and social problem-solving abilities. This also includes their coping and emotional functioning. A discussion of this literature in terms of age, stage of development and gender has been outlined below.
Here is short summary of the effects on children of either witnessing and/or being victims of domestic violence:
Infants
Infants are reactive to their environment; when distressed they cry, refuse to feed or withdraw and are particularly susceptible to emotional deprivation. They are extremely vulnerable.
Toddlers
Toddlers, who are beginning to develop basic attempts to relate causes to emotional expressions, can often be seen to have behavioral problems such as frequent illness, severe shyness, low self- esteem and trouble in daycare as well as social problems such as hitting, biting or being argumentative. Gender differences can emerge at this stage.
Preschool age
At preschool age, children believe that everything revolves around them and is caused by them. If they witness violence or abuse, they believe they have caused it. Some studies have shown preschool boys to have the highest ratings for aggressive behavior and the most serious somatic difficulties of any age group.
Primary school age children
Primary school age children, particularly in the latter stage, begin to learn that violence is an appropriate way of resolving conflict in human relationships. They often have difficulties with schoolwork and girls in this age group have been found to have the highest clinical levels of both aggression and depression.
Adolescents
Finally, adolescents see the violence as their parents' problem and they often regard the victim as being responsible. Ongoing conflict between parents has a profound influence on adolescent development and future adult behaviors, and can be the strongest predictor of violent delinquency.
It must be emphasized that, while there is no doubt that children who either witness and/or are victims of domestic violence are all affected in terms of their behavioral, cognitive and emotional adjustment, the research is still not conclusive enough to determine that there is a definitive set response for gender, age or stage of development. Unfortunately the sample sizes of some of the studies are also often not large enough to warrant firm conclusions being drawn. The inconsistencies suggest that there are still many more factors to be taken into account, including: the extent and frequency of the violence; the role of the child in the family; the number of repeated separations and moves; and economic and social disadvantage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that children's responses to witnessing and/or experiencing domestic violence between their parents vary considerably. No typical reactions emerge, even though there is sufficient evidence that exposure to domestic violence can and often detrimentally influence the children's behaviors. Nonetheless, at various stages of their development, children are able to understand and cope with what is happening between their parents.
For this issue to receive the attention it deserves there has to be linkages between domestic violence and child abuse. In spite of this, changes in definitions and parameters of child abuse and domestic violence, as well as legislative reforms, though necessary, are not sufficient to bring about a fundamental shift in the attitudes by members of the community at large. The is need for an integrated response from a wide variety of agencies such as the law enforcement agencies such as police, professionals such as social workers, lawyers and health workers. Teachers and the community members need to be informed and should be willing to be part of a joint effort to bring about some serious changes.
References:
Alexander, R. 1988, The Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987. Law Institute Journal. March pp 166-169.
Ammerman, R.T. and Herson, M. (eds) 1990, Treatment of Family Violence, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Blanchard, A., Molloy, F. and Brown, L. 1992, 'I Just Couldn't Stop Them': Western Australian Children Living with Domestic Violence: A Study of Children's Experiences and Service Provision, Curtin University School of Social Work, Western Australia.
Bowker, L.H., Arbittel, M. and McFerron, J.R. 1988, 'On the relationship between wife beating and child abuse' in: Feminist Perspectives on Wife Abuse, eds K. Yllo and M. Bograd, Sage, California.
Calvert, G. 1993, Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: the National Strategy, National Child Protection Council, Canberra.
James, M. 1994, ‘Domestic Violence as a Form of Child Abuse: Identification and Prevention’. Issues in Child Abuse Prevention Number 2 July 1994
Carlson, B.E. 1984, 'Children's observations of inter-parental violence' in: Battered Women and Their Families, ed. A.R. Roberts, Springer, New York.
Christopoulos, C., Cohn, D., Shaw, D., Joyce, S., Sullivan-Hanson, J., Kraft, S. and Emery, R. 1987, 'Children of abused women: adjustmenet at time of shelter residence', Journal of the Marriage and the Family, vol. 49, pp. 611-19.
Church, J. 1984, Violence Against Wives: Its Causes and Effects, John Church (Publisher), Christchurch, New Zealand.
Cummings, E.M. 1987, 'Coping with background anger in early childhood', Child Development, vol.58, pp.976-84.
Cummings, E.M., Zahn-Waxler, C. and Radke-Yarrow, M. 1981, 'Young children's responses to expressions of anger and affection by others in the family', Child Development, vol.52, pp.1274-82.
Cummings, E.M., Iannotti, R.J. and Zahn-Waxler, C. 1985, 'Influence of conflict between adults on the emotions and aggression of young children', Developmental Psychology, vol.21, pp.495-507.
Davis, L. and Carlson, B. 1987, 'Observation of spouse abuse: what happens to the children?', Journal of Interpersonal Violence vol.2, no.3, pp.278- 91.
Learn How Domestic Violence Act Saves Children in Botswana
Domestic violence is not a new phenomenon in Botswana. It is been prevalent since time immemorial but what is new is the increase is number of women who are reported to be abused.
In the past most of the abused women chose to suffer in silence under the guise that they wanted to save the family from embarrassment. This is why the magnitude of this is still not known. What we know is that at least women now speak out and report some of the threats made by their partners unlike in the past when they chose to conceal their ordeal. Children were the most seriously affected victims under such circumstances because they get affected physically, emotionally and psychological which has a negative impact in their developmental well-being.
What I was taught in Child Psychology is that behavior is learnt and can be unlearnt. Children learn what they live… If children are living under abusive environments they will grow to become abusers.
The Botswana Domestic Violence Act is aimed at giving protection to people who are abused at home, including safeguarding the well-being of children in such families. The Act received overwhelming support from Members of Parliament, including men, since it is seen as being gender neutral. We have had that some of the men folks are also being physically, verbally or emotional abused by their female partners. For men the situation is even worse because they can’t talk about it or disclose the ordeal unlike women who freely share information with others about their experiences.
The Act is a step in the right direction and was applauded by many because abuse in the home affects everyone. It is believed that domestic violence can also contribute to the spread of HIV infection. The upbringing of children is crucial hence the need for couples or partners to live peacefully. As stated earlier, children who are brought up in abusive families end up being abusers when they grow up. Members of the public need to be fully educate about it.
Members of the public need to be taught all the laws that protect their rights and well-being including children. Enforcement of such laws should be effective to ensure protection of victims. The law provides that, a police officer can accompany an abused person to his or her home to take his or her clothing to seek refuge elsewhere particularly a place of safety.
Part of the Act deals with orders and it provides that an applicant may make an application in court for an interim or restraining order. According to provisions of the Act, the court may issue an interim order ex parte where it is satisfied that domestic violence has occurred. It can also be issued in a situation where there is a serious risk of harm to the applicant and the order is meant to ensure the immediate protection of the applicant from the perpetrator.
An interim order may direct a police officer or deputy sheriff to remove the applicant from the residence where the abuse takes place to a place of safety. The order could also prohibit the perpetrator from committing an act of domestic violence or entering specific parts of the residence. It could also restrain the perpetrator from entering the applicant's work place or communicating with the complainant. The court may also authorize the issuing of a warrant of arrest of the perpetrator where it is satisfied that the applicant or child is under imminent danger from the said perpetrator.
According to the Act an interim order shall be served personally upon the respondent and shall provide for a return date upon which he or she may be heard in court. The court can also issue a tenancy or occupation order. The Act provides that an occupation order shall grant the applicant or child the exclusive right to live in the resident occupied or belonging to the applicant or respondent.
The Act further provides that tenancy order shall grant the applicant or child the exclusive or non-exclusive tenancy of the residence with such order as to payment of rental or mortgage as shall be just. Where a lease agreement to a residence is in the name of the respondent and the applicant, who is not party to the agreement is granted an occupation or tenancy order, the landlord shall not evict the applicant on the basis that the applicant is not party to that lease agreement.
Unless the court directs otherwise, where an order is granted and the respondent was responsible for the payment of mortgage or the rent, he or she shall continue to be so responsible. The penalty for contravening the court order is a fine, not exceeding P5, 000 or imprisonment term not exceeding two years or both.
The penalties under this Act, we hope, will certainly deter people from getting involved indespicable domestic violence and putting other people’s lives at risk.
I don’t know what your views are but if you think otherwise let’s discuss the issue…
In the past most of the abused women chose to suffer in silence under the guise that they wanted to save the family from embarrassment. This is why the magnitude of this is still not known. What we know is that at least women now speak out and report some of the threats made by their partners unlike in the past when they chose to conceal their ordeal. Children were the most seriously affected victims under such circumstances because they get affected physically, emotionally and psychological which has a negative impact in their developmental well-being.
What I was taught in Child Psychology is that behavior is learnt and can be unlearnt. Children learn what they live… If children are living under abusive environments they will grow to become abusers.
The Botswana Domestic Violence Act is aimed at giving protection to people who are abused at home, including safeguarding the well-being of children in such families. The Act received overwhelming support from Members of Parliament, including men, since it is seen as being gender neutral. We have had that some of the men folks are also being physically, verbally or emotional abused by their female partners. For men the situation is even worse because they can’t talk about it or disclose the ordeal unlike women who freely share information with others about their experiences.
The Act is a step in the right direction and was applauded by many because abuse in the home affects everyone. It is believed that domestic violence can also contribute to the spread of HIV infection. The upbringing of children is crucial hence the need for couples or partners to live peacefully. As stated earlier, children who are brought up in abusive families end up being abusers when they grow up. Members of the public need to be fully educate about it.
Members of the public need to be taught all the laws that protect their rights and well-being including children. Enforcement of such laws should be effective to ensure protection of victims. The law provides that, a police officer can accompany an abused person to his or her home to take his or her clothing to seek refuge elsewhere particularly a place of safety.
Part of the Act deals with orders and it provides that an applicant may make an application in court for an interim or restraining order. According to provisions of the Act, the court may issue an interim order ex parte where it is satisfied that domestic violence has occurred. It can also be issued in a situation where there is a serious risk of harm to the applicant and the order is meant to ensure the immediate protection of the applicant from the perpetrator.
An interim order may direct a police officer or deputy sheriff to remove the applicant from the residence where the abuse takes place to a place of safety. The order could also prohibit the perpetrator from committing an act of domestic violence or entering specific parts of the residence. It could also restrain the perpetrator from entering the applicant's work place or communicating with the complainant. The court may also authorize the issuing of a warrant of arrest of the perpetrator where it is satisfied that the applicant or child is under imminent danger from the said perpetrator.
According to the Act an interim order shall be served personally upon the respondent and shall provide for a return date upon which he or she may be heard in court. The court can also issue a tenancy or occupation order. The Act provides that an occupation order shall grant the applicant or child the exclusive right to live in the resident occupied or belonging to the applicant or respondent.
The Act further provides that tenancy order shall grant the applicant or child the exclusive or non-exclusive tenancy of the residence with such order as to payment of rental or mortgage as shall be just. Where a lease agreement to a residence is in the name of the respondent and the applicant, who is not party to the agreement is granted an occupation or tenancy order, the landlord shall not evict the applicant on the basis that the applicant is not party to that lease agreement.
Unless the court directs otherwise, where an order is granted and the respondent was responsible for the payment of mortgage or the rent, he or she shall continue to be so responsible. The penalty for contravening the court order is a fine, not exceeding P5, 000 or imprisonment term not exceeding two years or both.
The penalties under this Act, we hope, will certainly deter people from getting involved indespicable domestic violence and putting other people’s lives at risk.
I don’t know what your views are but if you think otherwise let’s discuss the issue…
Friday, November 28, 2008
A Call for an End to Corporal Punishment on Children and Adolescents
Corporal punishment is still prevalent and entrenched in many societies of the world today. It is widespread despite its negative impact on children and adolescents. My intention is not open a can of worms by opening a debate on this controversial issue. I am merely highlighting what is perceived by many child rights activists as a potential threat to the full protection of children and adolescents. The continuous widespread of corporal punishment on children by older people under the guise of punishment or discipline violates their physical integrity and human dignity. This subsequently destroys their self esteem and impinges negatively on their development into fully fleshed adults.
Several speakers at the just ended World Congress III on Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, which was held in Rio de Janeiro on 25-28 November 2008, made it abundantly clearly that corporal punishment markedly increases children’s vulnerability to exploitation. Corporal punishment and the threat of it may be used by adults to coerce children into sexual relationships within or outside the family. Children are sometimes forced into early marriages under threat of corporal punishment, to which they succumb easily.
The fact that corporal punishment of children is currently socially accepted when all states criminalize even the most minor assault on adults truly reflects and reinforces the low status that children find themselves in. They being regarded as less than human, and relegated to objects and commodities that can be used for sexual gratification. This is the very status that allows them to become economic commodities in the sex industry particularly sex tourism.
Prohibiting corporal punishment of children gives them equal protection under the criminal law from assault, wherever they are and whoever the perpetrator is. This provides fundamental protection from all forms of assault, and asserts children’s right to full respect for their physical integrity and human dignity. This is a necessary step to eliminate sexual abuse and exploitation of children and adolescents.
The Committee on the Rights of the child alluded to the fact that, “addressing the widespread acceptance or tolerance of corporal punishment of children and eliminating it, in the family, schools and other settings, is not only an obligation of states parties under the Convention. It is also a key strategy for reducing and preventing all forms of violence in societies.” Abolishing corporal punishment will ensure that the legal frameworks put in place to address sexual exploitation extend to contributing factors. Replacing corporal punishment in families with positive parenting and non-violent relationships between adults and children will strengthen and protect families, reducing children’s vulnerability to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Delegates were urged to support the inclusion in the Document of the World Congress III on Sexual Exploitation of children and Adolescents of an explicit recommendation for full prohibition of all violence against children. This includes prohibition of corporal punishment of boys and girls. Children need more, not less protection from violence by the state, adults and other members of society.
The time for action is now, tomorrow never comes…
Several speakers at the just ended World Congress III on Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, which was held in Rio de Janeiro on 25-28 November 2008, made it abundantly clearly that corporal punishment markedly increases children’s vulnerability to exploitation. Corporal punishment and the threat of it may be used by adults to coerce children into sexual relationships within or outside the family. Children are sometimes forced into early marriages under threat of corporal punishment, to which they succumb easily.
The fact that corporal punishment of children is currently socially accepted when all states criminalize even the most minor assault on adults truly reflects and reinforces the low status that children find themselves in. They being regarded as less than human, and relegated to objects and commodities that can be used for sexual gratification. This is the very status that allows them to become economic commodities in the sex industry particularly sex tourism.
Prohibiting corporal punishment of children gives them equal protection under the criminal law from assault, wherever they are and whoever the perpetrator is. This provides fundamental protection from all forms of assault, and asserts children’s right to full respect for their physical integrity and human dignity. This is a necessary step to eliminate sexual abuse and exploitation of children and adolescents.
The Committee on the Rights of the child alluded to the fact that, “addressing the widespread acceptance or tolerance of corporal punishment of children and eliminating it, in the family, schools and other settings, is not only an obligation of states parties under the Convention. It is also a key strategy for reducing and preventing all forms of violence in societies.” Abolishing corporal punishment will ensure that the legal frameworks put in place to address sexual exploitation extend to contributing factors. Replacing corporal punishment in families with positive parenting and non-violent relationships between adults and children will strengthen and protect families, reducing children’s vulnerability to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Delegates were urged to support the inclusion in the Document of the World Congress III on Sexual Exploitation of children and Adolescents of an explicit recommendation for full prohibition of all violence against children. This includes prohibition of corporal punishment of boys and girls. Children need more, not less protection from violence by the state, adults and other members of society.
The time for action is now, tomorrow never comes…
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Call for Zero Tolerance of Sexual Exploitation of Children
Sexual exploitation of children is one of the worst scourges of our time. This phenomenon destroys children’s self esteem. It negatively affects their dignity and self worth.
There must be zero tolerance for sexual exploitation of children in the world. This is what the Third World Congress on sexual exploitation of children which was held in Rio de Janeiro from 25-28 November 2008 called for.
There is a growing proliferation of pedophilia among society especially on the internet. Nowadays many children face problems such as incest, cyber sexual exploitation, pornography, sex tourism, prostitution and trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes.
The harming and ill-treatment of children is inexcusable. It has to be stopped forthwith. The protection of children from all forms of abuse is possible and requires collaborative efforts. There is need to strengthen legal frameworks followed by practical plans of action. This involves enactment of new laws and ensuring effective enforcement of such laws.
Challenges of sexual exploitation are enormous and therefore require collaborative efforts of all role players with children in the forefront. Those who deal with children’s issues should understand sexual exploitation broadly. Social workers, teachers, nurses and the police should be capacitated to deal effectively with sexual exploitation of children. These people should know what the rights of children are and what is in their best interests. It is important to ensure that children involved in criminal activities are treated as victims and not as perpetrators, as it is currently the case in many countries. We need to put children first and not justice first.
Resources have to be channeled towards prevention of child sexual exploitation. The legal framework should be able to deter the perpetrators from committing crimes against children. There is also a need for transformation of attitudes and mindset among family members who are generally involved in the abuse of children.
The “Child Abuse Watchdog” was in Rio de Janeiro and captured critical issues of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. So stay tuned for more on this…
Obrigado! Thank you!
There must be zero tolerance for sexual exploitation of children in the world. This is what the Third World Congress on sexual exploitation of children which was held in Rio de Janeiro from 25-28 November 2008 called for.
There is a growing proliferation of pedophilia among society especially on the internet. Nowadays many children face problems such as incest, cyber sexual exploitation, pornography, sex tourism, prostitution and trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes.
The harming and ill-treatment of children is inexcusable. It has to be stopped forthwith. The protection of children from all forms of abuse is possible and requires collaborative efforts. There is need to strengthen legal frameworks followed by practical plans of action. This involves enactment of new laws and ensuring effective enforcement of such laws.
Challenges of sexual exploitation are enormous and therefore require collaborative efforts of all role players with children in the forefront. Those who deal with children’s issues should understand sexual exploitation broadly. Social workers, teachers, nurses and the police should be capacitated to deal effectively with sexual exploitation of children. These people should know what the rights of children are and what is in their best interests. It is important to ensure that children involved in criminal activities are treated as victims and not as perpetrators, as it is currently the case in many countries. We need to put children first and not justice first.
Resources have to be channeled towards prevention of child sexual exploitation. The legal framework should be able to deter the perpetrators from committing crimes against children. There is also a need for transformation of attitudes and mindset among family members who are generally involved in the abuse of children.
The “Child Abuse Watchdog” was in Rio de Janeiro and captured critical issues of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. So stay tuned for more on this…
Obrigado! Thank you!
How to make prevention of abuse and violence against children a global priority
Prevention of abuse and violence against children is the responsibility of all and sundry. Prevention is always better than cure hence the need to prioritize it. We all have a role to play to safeguard the rights of children.
A Guide for national NGOs and citizen action which focuses on combating child sexual exploitation and abuse have been developed for all to follow.
The objective of the guide is to inspire and mobilize NGOs and trigger citizen action to:
• Create a global culture of prevention.
• Increase prevention measures.
• Help implement the framework provided by the Convention on the rights of the Child- a global obligation for governments.
• Follow-up on the recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against children.
• Empower, inform and facilitate the participation of young people in preventing abuse and violence against them
• Lobby government.
The guidelines are targeting all citizens-men, women and children-worldwide. This embraces all civil society organizations particularly NGOs, educational settings, grassroots groups, faith based organizations, the media and various networks dealing with child abuse, child rights and development issues.
Meaningful participation of children and young people is essential all matters that affect their rights and well-being. It is of paramount importance that their views are taken into consideration when formulating abuse and violence prevention and elimination laws and policies. In most cases, children who face violence tend to suffer in silence hence the need to make special efforts to make it possible for them to feel safe enough to speak out about violent incidents against them.
A Guide for national NGOs and citizen action which focuses on combating child sexual exploitation and abuse have been developed for all to follow.
The objective of the guide is to inspire and mobilize NGOs and trigger citizen action to:
• Create a global culture of prevention.
• Increase prevention measures.
• Help implement the framework provided by the Convention on the rights of the Child- a global obligation for governments.
• Follow-up on the recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against children.
• Empower, inform and facilitate the participation of young people in preventing abuse and violence against them
• Lobby government.
The guidelines are targeting all citizens-men, women and children-worldwide. This embraces all civil society organizations particularly NGOs, educational settings, grassroots groups, faith based organizations, the media and various networks dealing with child abuse, child rights and development issues.
Meaningful participation of children and young people is essential all matters that affect their rights and well-being. It is of paramount importance that their views are taken into consideration when formulating abuse and violence prevention and elimination laws and policies. In most cases, children who face violence tend to suffer in silence hence the need to make special efforts to make it possible for them to feel safe enough to speak out about violent incidents against them.
Learn How to Protect Children from Cyber Sexual Exploitation
Cyber sexual exploitation is on the increase across the globe; children are increasingly being sexually exploited through the use of the internet. The exploitation of children takes place across borders because the internet has no boundaries. For instance, a child in Africa can be sexual exploited by a pedophilia in the UK or Australia.
Cyber sexual exploitation may easily go unnoticed and yet the child would suffer psychological distress in silence without the knowledge of those who could assist. This is why it is important for the social workers and other law enforcement officers to be able to detect such problems and deal with them head on.
Sometimes it is not about the enactment of a new law but the new thinking and changing the mindset. There is no need to use too many words but to apply new strategies to deal with emerging problems. Children are better placed to identify ways of how they could be protected from cyber sexual exploitation.
There is need for education campaigns among children and members of society on cyber safety against sexual exploitation of children. Children believe that there should be global web page on the internet on safety measures against cyber sexual exploitation. Governments should also provide safety measures for children and their families in dealing with this problem effectively. Law enforcement agencies should publish details of perpetrators online and offline for children to know the perpetrators. The media should publish publications on the cyber sexual exploitation measures that can be undertaken by children to protect themselves from cyber sexual exploitation. There is need for a united front from all spheres on this matter.
Children need to be protected from sex tourism. Children are abused by tourists in hotels and the problem starts on the internet through which perpetrators stalk children and book hotels online without anybody knowing. Role players and law enforcement agencies need to be on the alert for such acts of abuse and exploitation of children.
Tomorrow may be too late! Action is needed now…
Cyber sexual exploitation may easily go unnoticed and yet the child would suffer psychological distress in silence without the knowledge of those who could assist. This is why it is important for the social workers and other law enforcement officers to be able to detect such problems and deal with them head on.
Sometimes it is not about the enactment of a new law but the new thinking and changing the mindset. There is no need to use too many words but to apply new strategies to deal with emerging problems. Children are better placed to identify ways of how they could be protected from cyber sexual exploitation.
There is need for education campaigns among children and members of society on cyber safety against sexual exploitation of children. Children believe that there should be global web page on the internet on safety measures against cyber sexual exploitation. Governments should also provide safety measures for children and their families in dealing with this problem effectively. Law enforcement agencies should publish details of perpetrators online and offline for children to know the perpetrators. The media should publish publications on the cyber sexual exploitation measures that can be undertaken by children to protect themselves from cyber sexual exploitation. There is need for a united front from all spheres on this matter.
Children need to be protected from sex tourism. Children are abused by tourists in hotels and the problem starts on the internet through which perpetrators stalk children and book hotels online without anybody knowing. Role players and law enforcement agencies need to be on the alert for such acts of abuse and exploitation of children.
Tomorrow may be too late! Action is needed now…
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Peer pressure: A deadly problem among children.
Peer pressure is one of the worst prolems that children find themslves struggling with nowadya. This can result in loss of life if those involved are not cautious enough...
It is not my intention to raise people's emotions especially those who lost their loved ones at Matsha College in 2003. I am sending a positive message for the current and future children of Botswana because they are our future leaders...
On the 17 September, 2003 it was reported by BOPA that at least five students of Matsha Community College in Kang died and eight others were in critical condition after allegedly drinking a concentrated alcohol chemical called methonol.
The then director of Secondary Education Rueben Motswakae told BOPA in an interview that so far 13 students have been admitted in different hospitals in the country, eight of them in critical condition.
He said five students were air lifted to Princess Marina Hospital while one student was admitted at Jwaneng Hospital and the other at Mabutsane Primary Hospital. Three students were admitted at Hukuntsi hospital in stable conditions.
The deceased who were boarders came from the villages of Bobonong, Salajwe, Lokgwabe, Hukuntsi and Rakops. Their names have been withheld pending notification of the next of kin.
Motswakae said over 30 students received treatment at Kang clinic, adding that the number was likely increase as more students were coming forward with the information that they took the chemical.
He said the tragedy unfolded on a Saturday when some students at the school got into the Agricultural and Science Laboratory and stole methanol and pethyl-acetate chemicals that were said to 100 percent alcohol concentrated.
The reason for stealing the chemical was solely to get drunk, he said, adding that some diluted the chemical with coffee while others used water. This could be attributed to peer pressure...
Motswakae said some students started complaining of dizziness on a Sunday but did not report to the school authorities, as they were scared.
However, it was only on a Monday when the situation became serious that the school authorities knew about the matter after spotting one student walking naked in the school premises. The student was sent home to Mabutsane, as he appeared drunk.
The same day five students approached the authorities confessed to having stolen chemicals from the lab and drinking them to get high.
The five were rushed to Hukuntsi Hospital but two died on the way and three died later after arrival. Motswakae said the condition of the student who was sent home is not yet known and the police have been asked to trace him and advise him to go to hospital.
What can you say about this? Can children avoid peer pressure or resist it to save their lives?
It is not my intention to raise people's emotions especially those who lost their loved ones at Matsha College in 2003. I am sending a positive message for the current and future children of Botswana because they are our future leaders...
On the 17 September, 2003 it was reported by BOPA that at least five students of Matsha Community College in Kang died and eight others were in critical condition after allegedly drinking a concentrated alcohol chemical called methonol.
The then director of Secondary Education Rueben Motswakae told BOPA in an interview that so far 13 students have been admitted in different hospitals in the country, eight of them in critical condition.
He said five students were air lifted to Princess Marina Hospital while one student was admitted at Jwaneng Hospital and the other at Mabutsane Primary Hospital. Three students were admitted at Hukuntsi hospital in stable conditions.
The deceased who were boarders came from the villages of Bobonong, Salajwe, Lokgwabe, Hukuntsi and Rakops. Their names have been withheld pending notification of the next of kin.
Motswakae said over 30 students received treatment at Kang clinic, adding that the number was likely increase as more students were coming forward with the information that they took the chemical.
He said the tragedy unfolded on a Saturday when some students at the school got into the Agricultural and Science Laboratory and stole methanol and pethyl-acetate chemicals that were said to 100 percent alcohol concentrated.
The reason for stealing the chemical was solely to get drunk, he said, adding that some diluted the chemical with coffee while others used water. This could be attributed to peer pressure...
Motswakae said some students started complaining of dizziness on a Sunday but did not report to the school authorities, as they were scared.
However, it was only on a Monday when the situation became serious that the school authorities knew about the matter after spotting one student walking naked in the school premises. The student was sent home to Mabutsane, as he appeared drunk.
The same day five students approached the authorities confessed to having stolen chemicals from the lab and drinking them to get high.
The five were rushed to Hukuntsi Hospital but two died on the way and three died later after arrival. Motswakae said the condition of the student who was sent home is not yet known and the police have been asked to trace him and advise him to go to hospital.
What can you say about this? Can children avoid peer pressure or resist it to save their lives?
Can Youth curb crime by participating in crime prevention?
Youth could curb crime by taking part in crime prevention activities... This was said by the Deputy school head urges young people to participate in crime prevention
in September 2003.
The Deputy head teacher of Lotlamoreng CJSS, Ms Batanang Bokete has urged young people to participate in crime prevention committees to help combat crime.
Bokete said this when addressing a one-day youth workshop at Goodhope. She said the youth should take the lead because currently elderly people dominated committees.
She said Botswana Police Service was committed to providing a professional law enforcement service for a peaceful, safe and secure nation, in partnership with the community.
She said peace, safety and security were essential elements to ensure continued prosperity as articulated in Vision 2016.
She said police service has a vital role in promoting these attributes.
Bokete said the youth should come up with constructive strategies to achieve goals on fighting crime.
She explained that the police workshops were organised to sensitise the youth on crime and provide them with the skills for preventing criminal activities.
She challenged the youth to be on forefront to prevent activities affecting their lives as stated in the national youth policy.
She said they should not allow criminals to take advantage of their ignorance to indulge in criminal activities. Bokete appealed to the youth to avoid night gangs that could lure them into committing crime and destroying their future.
She said such gangs could also involve them in murder and rape cases.
She also spoke about vandalism perpetrated by students in education institutions, saying it was costing government a lot of money.
Barolong Paramount Chief Kgosi Lotlamoreng II commended the police for their efforts to sensitise the youth on crime prevention.
He said government was concerned about the alarming rate of crime committed by the youth.
Can youth form crime prevention clubs to deal with crime prevention?
in September 2003.
The Deputy head teacher of Lotlamoreng CJSS, Ms Batanang Bokete has urged young people to participate in crime prevention committees to help combat crime.
Bokete said this when addressing a one-day youth workshop at Goodhope. She said the youth should take the lead because currently elderly people dominated committees.
She said Botswana Police Service was committed to providing a professional law enforcement service for a peaceful, safe and secure nation, in partnership with the community.
She said peace, safety and security were essential elements to ensure continued prosperity as articulated in Vision 2016.
She said police service has a vital role in promoting these attributes.
Bokete said the youth should come up with constructive strategies to achieve goals on fighting crime.
She explained that the police workshops were organised to sensitise the youth on crime and provide them with the skills for preventing criminal activities.
She challenged the youth to be on forefront to prevent activities affecting their lives as stated in the national youth policy.
She said they should not allow criminals to take advantage of their ignorance to indulge in criminal activities. Bokete appealed to the youth to avoid night gangs that could lure them into committing crime and destroying their future.
She said such gangs could also involve them in murder and rape cases.
She also spoke about vandalism perpetrated by students in education institutions, saying it was costing government a lot of money.
Barolong Paramount Chief Kgosi Lotlamoreng II commended the police for their efforts to sensitise the youth on crime prevention.
He said government was concerned about the alarming rate of crime committed by the youth.
Can youth form crime prevention clubs to deal with crime prevention?
Are mothers capable of taking their Babies' lives?
On the 24 November, 2008 it was reported that members of the Botswana Police Service in Kazungula were searching for the mother of a newly born baby, who was rescued from a pit latrine recently.
The baby was found by the owner of the toilet wrapped and tied in a plastic bag in Kazungula.
It was retrieved from the latrine by the police and members of the community and only suffered minor injuries.
Assistant Superintendent Chakalisa Nkoni of Kazungula Police Station said the girl was rushed to Kasane Primary Hospital where she was treated for shock.
Mr Nkoni said the baby was doing well at the hospital adding that Kazungula police officers bought new clothes for her.
The search for the mother of the baby is still on. "This is the first incident of its kind this year and we appeal to the community to help us locate the baby's mother," Mr Nkoni said.
He applauded the residents of Kazungula for coming in large numbers to help them rescue the baby, saying such cooperation between the police and the community was crucial in fighting crime.
"It took us almost three hours to retrieve the baby from the latrine," he said.
The owner of the toilet, Mr Bernard Moyo said he heard a sound when he visited the latrine but he could tell where it came from. "I thought dogs were killing a goat behind the toilet".
He said when the sound increased he went out of the toilet to establish where it was coming from but found nothing.
According to Bopa report, "It was as if someone was being suffocated," he said, adding that his wife finally realised that it was the baby and they reported the matter to the police.
What can be done to stop mothers from killing their newly born babies?
We will address this when we come back...
The baby was found by the owner of the toilet wrapped and tied in a plastic bag in Kazungula.
It was retrieved from the latrine by the police and members of the community and only suffered minor injuries.
Assistant Superintendent Chakalisa Nkoni of Kazungula Police Station said the girl was rushed to Kasane Primary Hospital where she was treated for shock.
Mr Nkoni said the baby was doing well at the hospital adding that Kazungula police officers bought new clothes for her.
The search for the mother of the baby is still on. "This is the first incident of its kind this year and we appeal to the community to help us locate the baby's mother," Mr Nkoni said.
He applauded the residents of Kazungula for coming in large numbers to help them rescue the baby, saying such cooperation between the police and the community was crucial in fighting crime.
"It took us almost three hours to retrieve the baby from the latrine," he said.
The owner of the toilet, Mr Bernard Moyo said he heard a sound when he visited the latrine but he could tell where it came from. "I thought dogs were killing a goat behind the toilet".
He said when the sound increased he went out of the toilet to establish where it was coming from but found nothing.
According to Bopa report, "It was as if someone was being suffocated," he said, adding that his wife finally realised that it was the baby and they reported the matter to the police.
What can be done to stop mothers from killing their newly born babies?
We will address this when we come back...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tips on How to Assess Possible Sexual Abuse in the Preschool Age Child
Sexual abuse among children is not always talked about in many African families. This is taboo especially as it would expose the family to ridicule and embarrassment. This therefore makes the assessment of possible sexual abuse in a preschool age child a complex undertaking.
According to Walker there are two goals of assessing abuse in a preschool age child are:
1. To provide a sufficient amount of information from which to determine the child’s current emotional status so as to design a treatment plan if necessary.
2. To assess who did what to the child in order to provide future protection of the child." Not all mental health professionals agree with respect to the ‘correct’ procedure or technique.
When assessing sexual abuse among preschool age children the following four parts should be taken into consideration:
• Medical evaluation and diagnosis of the child;
• Psychological evaluation of the parents;
• Evaluation of the family dynamics and home life; and
• Developmental and psychological evaluation of the preschool age child.
Ideally the psychologists assessing possible sexual abuse in the preschool child should interview all members of the family, the babysitter, the preschool teacher, and any other persons who might have knowledge about the child and the family. The following key components should be covered prior to interviewing the child.
• The child’s personal history, including psycho-sexual development.
• The child’s family history.
• History of the child’s development.
• A list of persons having access to the child.
• A list of what the child calls each member of the family group, including pets.
• A list of what the child calls the genitals and elimination functions.
• An idea of the child’s daily routine activities.
• Observations of usual and unusual behaviors.
It is important for the child’s parents to be asked about their marital history, custody, visitation, and what limits they set on their own sexual behavior in the presence of the child victim.
When observing the young child and his or her respective parents, particularly if there is the possibility that allegations in the context of a custody dispute may be false can be very helpful. Custodial parents may protest vehemently, claiming it will traumatize the child and that the child has no relationship with the other parent or is terrified of him. Sometimes these concerns may be legitimate, whereas at other times they point to a parent trying to suppress certain information. The medical expert needs to weigh the risks against the benefits of observing the child with the alleged perpetrator when he is a family member.
Generally, the interview of the child for possible sexual abuse is divided into the following phases:
• establishing rapport and giving permission to talk;
• obtaining the history of abuse;
• probing for details and validating information;
• Closure.
In most cases, it is rare to get conclusive physical evidence of sexual child abuse in preschool children. As such, the medical practitioner has to base his or her judgment about the credibility of an accusation on statement, emotions, and behaviors of the child and the child’s family. There are two basic processes that a medical practitioner can follow during an interview and when assessing whether the alleged sexual abuse took place or getting the child to confirm the medical practitioner’s belief that the abuse indeed took place.
Medical practitioners who are interested in assessing whether abuse took place should try to use all means possible to avoid distortion of the interview data via unsuitable suggestion or undue influence. Generally, these professionals have to be much more nondirective in their approach to the interview. Medical practitioners interested in confirming that the abuse did take place are able to justify through the use of more disturbing methods. Some examples of methods used in an intrusive manner are leading questions and anatomically ‘correct’ dolls. It is worth noting that both of these methods have their own pros and cons.
Some experts have argued that the person assessing the child should know nothing about the alleged abuse before the interview with the child. Furthermore, such information will predispose the practitioner to ask certain types of questions which will ‘suggest’ certain types of responses from the child. In some cases, other experts contend that leading questions are necessary with preschool age children.
Similarly, while using anatomically correct dolls with alleged victims, it is suggested that the practitioner needs to present the dolls to the child victim of abuse and say, "let’s pretend that this is you.’ If the child does not name the adult dolls, the practitioner can say, ‘Let’s pretend that this is mommy’ (or daddy, or whoever), and suggest a situation, such as bedtime...Any information about where the sexual abuse took place or the suspected offender can be induced in the ‘let’s pretend’ situation".
Others have suggested that the child should not be given any directions about what to name the dolls or which situation to put them in. They contend that doing so might suggest wrong information to the child, which may misdirect the interview in one direction, and reduce the chances that some other type of abuse that the child victim has experienced will be exposed.
To conclude, one can say that with the current differences of opinion regarding the methodologically appropriate method to be used in a preschool child sexual abuse assessment probably the best advice for both the mental health and legal community is to videotape all interviews with the child.
Do realize how complex it is to Assess Possible Sexual Abuse in the Preschool Age Child
References
1. Children in need of care regulations, 2005
2. D. Schetky & A. Green, Child Sexual Abuse; A Handbook for Health Care And Legal Professionals 117 (1988).
3. L.E.A. Walker, Handbook On Sexual Abuse Of Children 175, 1988.
4. Schetky & Green, supra not 4 at 63-71 write that the objectives of a clinical evaluation for child sexual abuse are: (1) understanding the child and allegations in the context of family dynamics and the child’s development; (2) validating sexual abuse; (3) evaluating the need for treatment; (4) diagnosis; (5) assessing competency to testify; (6) preparing the child emotionally for the physical exam; and (7) developing and implementing disposition plans.
5. Haugaard & Reppucci, The Sexual Abuse Of Children A Comprehensive Guide To Current Knowledge And Intervention Strategies 156 (1988).
6. T. Musty, Preschool Children’s Erroneous Allegations Of Sexual Molestation, 148 American Journal Of Psychiatry, 1988.
7. L.E.A. Walker Supra Note 6..
8. Schetky & Green Supra Note 4 .
eBlogzilla
According to Walker there are two goals of assessing abuse in a preschool age child are:
1. To provide a sufficient amount of information from which to determine the child’s current emotional status so as to design a treatment plan if necessary.
2. To assess who did what to the child in order to provide future protection of the child." Not all mental health professionals agree with respect to the ‘correct’ procedure or technique.
When assessing sexual abuse among preschool age children the following four parts should be taken into consideration:
• Medical evaluation and diagnosis of the child;
• Psychological evaluation of the parents;
• Evaluation of the family dynamics and home life; and
• Developmental and psychological evaluation of the preschool age child.
Ideally the psychologists assessing possible sexual abuse in the preschool child should interview all members of the family, the babysitter, the preschool teacher, and any other persons who might have knowledge about the child and the family. The following key components should be covered prior to interviewing the child.
• The child’s personal history, including psycho-sexual development.
• The child’s family history.
• History of the child’s development.
• A list of persons having access to the child.
• A list of what the child calls each member of the family group, including pets.
• A list of what the child calls the genitals and elimination functions.
• An idea of the child’s daily routine activities.
• Observations of usual and unusual behaviors.
It is important for the child’s parents to be asked about their marital history, custody, visitation, and what limits they set on their own sexual behavior in the presence of the child victim.
When observing the young child and his or her respective parents, particularly if there is the possibility that allegations in the context of a custody dispute may be false can be very helpful. Custodial parents may protest vehemently, claiming it will traumatize the child and that the child has no relationship with the other parent or is terrified of him. Sometimes these concerns may be legitimate, whereas at other times they point to a parent trying to suppress certain information. The medical expert needs to weigh the risks against the benefits of observing the child with the alleged perpetrator when he is a family member.
Generally, the interview of the child for possible sexual abuse is divided into the following phases:
• establishing rapport and giving permission to talk;
• obtaining the history of abuse;
• probing for details and validating information;
• Closure.
In most cases, it is rare to get conclusive physical evidence of sexual child abuse in preschool children. As such, the medical practitioner has to base his or her judgment about the credibility of an accusation on statement, emotions, and behaviors of the child and the child’s family. There are two basic processes that a medical practitioner can follow during an interview and when assessing whether the alleged sexual abuse took place or getting the child to confirm the medical practitioner’s belief that the abuse indeed took place.
Medical practitioners who are interested in assessing whether abuse took place should try to use all means possible to avoid distortion of the interview data via unsuitable suggestion or undue influence. Generally, these professionals have to be much more nondirective in their approach to the interview. Medical practitioners interested in confirming that the abuse did take place are able to justify through the use of more disturbing methods. Some examples of methods used in an intrusive manner are leading questions and anatomically ‘correct’ dolls. It is worth noting that both of these methods have their own pros and cons.
Some experts have argued that the person assessing the child should know nothing about the alleged abuse before the interview with the child. Furthermore, such information will predispose the practitioner to ask certain types of questions which will ‘suggest’ certain types of responses from the child. In some cases, other experts contend that leading questions are necessary with preschool age children.
Similarly, while using anatomically correct dolls with alleged victims, it is suggested that the practitioner needs to present the dolls to the child victim of abuse and say, "let’s pretend that this is you.’ If the child does not name the adult dolls, the practitioner can say, ‘Let’s pretend that this is mommy’ (or daddy, or whoever), and suggest a situation, such as bedtime...Any information about where the sexual abuse took place or the suspected offender can be induced in the ‘let’s pretend’ situation".
Others have suggested that the child should not be given any directions about what to name the dolls or which situation to put them in. They contend that doing so might suggest wrong information to the child, which may misdirect the interview in one direction, and reduce the chances that some other type of abuse that the child victim has experienced will be exposed.
To conclude, one can say that with the current differences of opinion regarding the methodologically appropriate method to be used in a preschool child sexual abuse assessment probably the best advice for both the mental health and legal community is to videotape all interviews with the child.
Do realize how complex it is to Assess Possible Sexual Abuse in the Preschool Age Child
References
1. Children in need of care regulations, 2005
2. D. Schetky & A. Green, Child Sexual Abuse; A Handbook for Health Care And Legal Professionals 117 (1988).
3. L.E.A. Walker, Handbook On Sexual Abuse Of Children 175, 1988.
4. Schetky & Green, supra not 4 at 63-71 write that the objectives of a clinical evaluation for child sexual abuse are: (1) understanding the child and allegations in the context of family dynamics and the child’s development; (2) validating sexual abuse; (3) evaluating the need for treatment; (4) diagnosis; (5) assessing competency to testify; (6) preparing the child emotionally for the physical exam; and (7) developing and implementing disposition plans.
5. Haugaard & Reppucci, The Sexual Abuse Of Children A Comprehensive Guide To Current Knowledge And Intervention Strategies 156 (1988).
6. T. Musty, Preschool Children’s Erroneous Allegations Of Sexual Molestation, 148 American Journal Of Psychiatry, 1988.
7. L.E.A. Walker Supra Note 6..
8. Schetky & Green Supra Note 4 .
eBlogzilla
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Signs of Abuse in the Family on children and women
Domestic violence is common nowadays in many families. Children and women happen to be the ones who are always on the receiving end due to domestic violence. This calls for concerted efforts from child protection agencies and law enforcement agencies.
Are you a victim of abuse?
Read on to learn how you can tell that you are or your children are becoming or already victims of abuse…
It is apparent that abuse in the household is generally perpetrated by the men folks as opposed to the women folks. The worst thing is that most of the victims of domestic violence do not always reveal their ordeal for the sake of the family.
How do you know that something is wrong?
I caution you to be careful of the looming abuse…
Women folks you should be on the look out for signs of domestic violence and other types of abuse… Check out this …
Child abuse research and other related surveys have shown that you may be becoming or already are a victim of abuse if you:
• Feel like you have to be extra careful to keep him from getting angry.
• Are frightened by his temper.
• Feel you can't live without him.
• Stop seeing other friends or family members,
• Give up activities you enjoy most because he doesn't like them.
• Are afraid to tell him your worries and feelings about the relationship.
• Are often compliant because you are afraid to hurt his feelings;
• Have the urge to "rescue" him when he is troubled.
• Feel that you are the only one who can help him
• Feel that you should try to change his behavior and attitude.
• Find yourself apologizing to yourself or others for your partner's behavior when you are treated badly.
• Stop expressing opinions if he doesn't agree with them.
• Stay because you feel he will kill himself if you leave.
• Believe that his jealousy is a sign of love.
• Have been kicked, hit, shoved, or had things thrown at you by him when he was jealous or angry.
• Believe the critical things he says to make you feel bad about yourself.
• Believe that there is something wrong with you if you don't enjoy the sexual things he makes you do.
• Believe in the traditional ideas of what a man and a woman should be and do -- that the man makes the decisions and the woman pleases him.
• Last but not least, have been abused as a child or seen your mother abused.
If you are abused know that you are not alone and that you are not to blame. You cannot control your partner’s violence.
Here are some of the ways you and your kids can make yourselves safer from abuse:
• Call the police if you have been assaulted.
• Charging abusive males is a necessary step in reducing physical violence.
• Tell someone and keep a record of all incidents for evidence.
• Write down the details for yourself as soon as possible after the assault.
Keep it in a safe place where he won't find it.
• Develop a safety plan. Memorize emergency numbers. Keep spare house and car keys handy. Know where you can stay in an emergency.
• Consider ending the relationship as soon as possible. Without intervention, his violence will increase in frequency and severity as time passes.
• Recognize that no one has the right to control you and that it is everyone's human right to live without fear.
You need to be on the look out for men who:
• Do not listen to you, ignore you or talk over you.
• Sit or stand too close to you, making you uncomfortable and seem to enjoy it.
• Do only what they want or push you to get what they want.
• Express anger and violence towards women either through words or physically.
• Have a bad attitude toward women.
• Are overly possessive or jealous.
• Drink or use drugs heavily.
Are you dating one already?
Are you a victim of abuse?
Read on to learn how you can tell that you are or your children are becoming or already victims of abuse…
It is apparent that abuse in the household is generally perpetrated by the men folks as opposed to the women folks. The worst thing is that most of the victims of domestic violence do not always reveal their ordeal for the sake of the family.
How do you know that something is wrong?
I caution you to be careful of the looming abuse…
Women folks you should be on the look out for signs of domestic violence and other types of abuse… Check out this …
Child abuse research and other related surveys have shown that you may be becoming or already are a victim of abuse if you:
• Feel like you have to be extra careful to keep him from getting angry.
• Are frightened by his temper.
• Feel you can't live without him.
• Stop seeing other friends or family members,
• Give up activities you enjoy most because he doesn't like them.
• Are afraid to tell him your worries and feelings about the relationship.
• Are often compliant because you are afraid to hurt his feelings;
• Have the urge to "rescue" him when he is troubled.
• Feel that you are the only one who can help him
• Feel that you should try to change his behavior and attitude.
• Find yourself apologizing to yourself or others for your partner's behavior when you are treated badly.
• Stop expressing opinions if he doesn't agree with them.
• Stay because you feel he will kill himself if you leave.
• Believe that his jealousy is a sign of love.
• Have been kicked, hit, shoved, or had things thrown at you by him when he was jealous or angry.
• Believe the critical things he says to make you feel bad about yourself.
• Believe that there is something wrong with you if you don't enjoy the sexual things he makes you do.
• Believe in the traditional ideas of what a man and a woman should be and do -- that the man makes the decisions and the woman pleases him.
• Last but not least, have been abused as a child or seen your mother abused.
If you are abused know that you are not alone and that you are not to blame. You cannot control your partner’s violence.
Here are some of the ways you and your kids can make yourselves safer from abuse:
• Call the police if you have been assaulted.
• Charging abusive males is a necessary step in reducing physical violence.
• Tell someone and keep a record of all incidents for evidence.
• Write down the details for yourself as soon as possible after the assault.
Keep it in a safe place where he won't find it.
• Develop a safety plan. Memorize emergency numbers. Keep spare house and car keys handy. Know where you can stay in an emergency.
• Consider ending the relationship as soon as possible. Without intervention, his violence will increase in frequency and severity as time passes.
• Recognize that no one has the right to control you and that it is everyone's human right to live without fear.
You need to be on the look out for men who:
• Do not listen to you, ignore you or talk over you.
• Sit or stand too close to you, making you uncomfortable and seem to enjoy it.
• Do only what they want or push you to get what they want.
• Express anger and violence towards women either through words or physically.
• Have a bad attitude toward women.
• Are overly possessive or jealous.
• Drink or use drugs heavily.
Are you dating one already?
Child Abuse Institutions
Child Abuse Institutions are more common nowadays..
In all countries around the world today, there is no empirical evidence that counters the assertion that institutionalised children are exposed to multiple disadvantages and are vulnerable to both physical and sexual abuse (Utting, 1997; Tolfree, 1995).
The problems associated with orphanhood have reached new psychological, social, economic and political dimensions. It is evident that orphans face a plethora of problems stemming from abuse by those who are supposed to protect them, such as their caregivers, religious leaders and even teachers. They face impoverishment, stigmatisation, isolation and rejection by members of society because of their HIV status (STPA, 1999). Some of the emerging problems from the implementation of the Orphan Care programme in Botswana include separation of orphan siblings between relatives for ulterior motives.
Relatives strive to have custody of orphans in order to access their monthly food basket and other benefits such clothing and toiletry. On the basis of these problems, the Government has been involved in extensive consultations with stakeholders to find ways of addressing the myriad problems faced by orphans and other vulnerable children. As a result the Government is developing Foster Care Regulations known as Children in Need of Care Regulations which will regulate and formalise the fostering of orphans. Some of the orphans can not be fostered by anybody because they are visibly showing signs and symptoms of AIDS and as such, residential care becomes the only option for such children.
A total of 189 countries, including Botswana, signed the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in June 2001. This Declaration is particularly relevant to children growing up without families. Articles 65–67 of this Declaration spell out the obligations of states in relation to the care and protection of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Article 65 spells out that by 2003, develop and by 2005 implement national policies and strategies to build and strengthen governmental, family and community capacities to provide a supportive environment for orphans and girls and boys infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This include providing appropriate counselling and psychosocial support, ensuring their enrolment in school and access to shelter, good nutrition, health and social services on an equal basis with other children. Further more, to protect orphans and vulnerable children from all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, trafficking and loss of inheritance, as reflected under Article 66. The Declaration wants to ensure non-discrimination and full and equal enjoyment of all human rights through the promotion of an active and visible policy of de-stigmatisation of children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS as stated under Article 67.
Finally, the Declaration will pressurise the international community, especially donor countries, civil society, and the private sector, to complement effectively national programmes. These would also support programmes for children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in the affected regions and in countries at high risk and to direct special assistance to sub-Saharan Africa.
References
Short Term Plan of Action (STPA) on the Care of Orphans in Botswana. Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing. 1999. Gaborone. Botswana.
Tolfree, D. K. (1995) Roofs and Roots: The Care of Separated Children in the Developing World. Aldershot. Arena.
Tolfree, D.K. (2003). Save the Children Sweden. Stockholm. Sweden.
Toynbee, B (1998) " Children of despair." The Guardian, 3 June, 22.
Triseliotis, J., Sellick, C. and Short, R. (1995) Foster Care. London: Batsford.
In all countries around the world today, there is no empirical evidence that counters the assertion that institutionalised children are exposed to multiple disadvantages and are vulnerable to both physical and sexual abuse (Utting, 1997; Tolfree, 1995).
The problems associated with orphanhood have reached new psychological, social, economic and political dimensions. It is evident that orphans face a plethora of problems stemming from abuse by those who are supposed to protect them, such as their caregivers, religious leaders and even teachers. They face impoverishment, stigmatisation, isolation and rejection by members of society because of their HIV status (STPA, 1999). Some of the emerging problems from the implementation of the Orphan Care programme in Botswana include separation of orphan siblings between relatives for ulterior motives.
Relatives strive to have custody of orphans in order to access their monthly food basket and other benefits such clothing and toiletry. On the basis of these problems, the Government has been involved in extensive consultations with stakeholders to find ways of addressing the myriad problems faced by orphans and other vulnerable children. As a result the Government is developing Foster Care Regulations known as Children in Need of Care Regulations which will regulate and formalise the fostering of orphans. Some of the orphans can not be fostered by anybody because they are visibly showing signs and symptoms of AIDS and as such, residential care becomes the only option for such children.
A total of 189 countries, including Botswana, signed the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in June 2001. This Declaration is particularly relevant to children growing up without families. Articles 65–67 of this Declaration spell out the obligations of states in relation to the care and protection of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Article 65 spells out that by 2003, develop and by 2005 implement national policies and strategies to build and strengthen governmental, family and community capacities to provide a supportive environment for orphans and girls and boys infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This include providing appropriate counselling and psychosocial support, ensuring their enrolment in school and access to shelter, good nutrition, health and social services on an equal basis with other children. Further more, to protect orphans and vulnerable children from all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, trafficking and loss of inheritance, as reflected under Article 66. The Declaration wants to ensure non-discrimination and full and equal enjoyment of all human rights through the promotion of an active and visible policy of de-stigmatisation of children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS as stated under Article 67.
Finally, the Declaration will pressurise the international community, especially donor countries, civil society, and the private sector, to complement effectively national programmes. These would also support programmes for children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in the affected regions and in countries at high risk and to direct special assistance to sub-Saharan Africa.
References
Short Term Plan of Action (STPA) on the Care of Orphans in Botswana. Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing. 1999. Gaborone. Botswana.
Tolfree, D. K. (1995) Roofs and Roots: The Care of Separated Children in the Developing World. Aldershot. Arena.
Tolfree, D.K. (2003). Save the Children Sweden. Stockholm. Sweden.
Toynbee, B (1998) " Children of despair." The Guardian, 3 June, 22.
Triseliotis, J., Sellick, C. and Short, R. (1995) Foster Care. London: Batsford.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Child Abuse in Children’s Homes
Institutional care while not the best option is sometimes unavoidable. Apparently, support should be given to centres that are suitable for children with special needs, but placement should not be considered permanent.
The increase in the number of children living out of family care is a growing concern especially in developing countries and this can be attributed to several problems. Out of the estimated 14.5 million orphans in the world, 12 million are in Sub- Saharan African (UNAIDS 2002). This has accelerated the use of residential care as more and more parents succumb to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Other contributing factors include armed conflict and genocide in many African countries such as Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra-Leone, which have resulted in the killing of parents, displacement of children from their families and necessitated urgent solutions to childcare problems (Tolfree, 2003).
There are some existing tensions and dilemmas found in residential care and placement of children. There is serious concern in respect of the growing use of residential care especially in developing countries. As such, children’s rights are violated in residential care centres. There is need to put child protection plans and strategies in place to address children’s problems through the use of other alternative methods of care and protection of children.
The reasons for so many children – over 8 million world-wide, living in residential care are diverse and complex. The socio-economic problems, globalisation, poverty, migration, HIV/AIDS pandemic, armed conflict and various forms of exploitation and abuse have affected the ability of families to raise their own children (Tolfree, 1995).
In many developing countries, residential care is the main strategy for helping children in need of care and protection. Save the Children argues that many features of residential care are an abuse of children’s rights and is concerned that the issue of children living in institutional care is escaping international attention and needs placing on the international agenda. Another concern is that the search for good community-based childcare alternatives is not being given enough attention by governments and donors. Through working with children, there is need to find better solutions for helping children affected by poverty, armed conflict and HIV/AIDS.
References
Save the Children Fund, UK, 1991.Sellick, C., (1998, p.303). The Use of Institutional Care for Children across Europe. European Journal of Social Work vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 301-310, 1998.
Short Term Plan of Action (STPA) on the Care of Orphans in Botswana. Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing. 1999. Gaborone. Botswan
Tolfree, D. K. (1995) Roofs and Roots: The Care of Separated Children in the Developing World. Aldershot. Arena.Tolfree, D.K. (2003). Save the Children Sweden. Stockholm. Sweden.
The increase in the number of children living out of family care is a growing concern especially in developing countries and this can be attributed to several problems. Out of the estimated 14.5 million orphans in the world, 12 million are in Sub- Saharan African (UNAIDS 2002). This has accelerated the use of residential care as more and more parents succumb to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Other contributing factors include armed conflict and genocide in many African countries such as Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra-Leone, which have resulted in the killing of parents, displacement of children from their families and necessitated urgent solutions to childcare problems (Tolfree, 2003).
There are some existing tensions and dilemmas found in residential care and placement of children. There is serious concern in respect of the growing use of residential care especially in developing countries. As such, children’s rights are violated in residential care centres. There is need to put child protection plans and strategies in place to address children’s problems through the use of other alternative methods of care and protection of children.
The reasons for so many children – over 8 million world-wide, living in residential care are diverse and complex. The socio-economic problems, globalisation, poverty, migration, HIV/AIDS pandemic, armed conflict and various forms of exploitation and abuse have affected the ability of families to raise their own children (Tolfree, 1995).
In many developing countries, residential care is the main strategy for helping children in need of care and protection. Save the Children argues that many features of residential care are an abuse of children’s rights and is concerned that the issue of children living in institutional care is escaping international attention and needs placing on the international agenda. Another concern is that the search for good community-based childcare alternatives is not being given enough attention by governments and donors. Through working with children, there is need to find better solutions for helping children affected by poverty, armed conflict and HIV/AIDS.
References
Save the Children Fund, UK, 1991.Sellick, C., (1998, p.303). The Use of Institutional Care for Children across Europe. European Journal of Social Work vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 301-310, 1998.
Short Term Plan of Action (STPA) on the Care of Orphans in Botswana. Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing. 1999. Gaborone. Botswan
Tolfree, D. K. (1995) Roofs and Roots: The Care of Separated Children in the Developing World. Aldershot. Arena.Tolfree, D.K. (2003). Save the Children Sweden. Stockholm. Sweden.
Abuse and Violence against women and children in society
Abuse and Violence against women and children in societyAbuse cases and killings by partners is on the increase. It is common for the so called lovers to kill each other in the name of love. This is especially happening among the young lovers or young couples. There is no empirical evidence so far to show the causes and the magnitude of the problem. What we know is that this is another cause of death third to AIDS and the road carnage in Botswana.
Violence against women and children can not be justified or acceptable in society.
It is indeed a crime. Violence:
• is life threatening.
• has no place in the family or in the community.
• is learned behavior. It can, therefore, be changed.
• is a choice.
• is a power issue.
• is never justified. No behavior of any woman justifies or provokes violence.
• is never the responsibility of the woman being abused. Responsibility for violence rests with the batterer.
• Does not stem from "loss of control". Control is what the batterer wants.
• Occurs in all classes, races, and cultural groups. The issue of violence is complex. We need to understand the social, personal, economic, political, cultural, and religious dimensions of violence in a multicultural context.
In the recent past in South Africa, Zimbabwean immigrant women and children faced specific problems, such as:
• xenophobia
• immigration policy/laws
• language barriers
• service access/lack of availability
• lack of experience with social services
• distrust of the judicial system
• isolation
• low economic status.
The community has the right and the responsibility to get involved. The more that is known about violence, the more effective the community can be in intervening and preventing violence against women and children. This could bring violence to an end...
Violence against women and children can not be justified or acceptable in society.
It is indeed a crime. Violence:
• is life threatening.
• has no place in the family or in the community.
• is learned behavior. It can, therefore, be changed.
• is a choice.
• is a power issue.
• is never justified. No behavior of any woman justifies or provokes violence.
• is never the responsibility of the woman being abused. Responsibility for violence rests with the batterer.
• Does not stem from "loss of control". Control is what the batterer wants.
• Occurs in all classes, races, and cultural groups. The issue of violence is complex. We need to understand the social, personal, economic, political, cultural, and religious dimensions of violence in a multicultural context.
In the recent past in South Africa, Zimbabwean immigrant women and children faced specific problems, such as:
• xenophobia
• immigration policy/laws
• language barriers
• service access/lack of availability
• lack of experience with social services
• distrust of the judicial system
• isolation
• low economic status.
The community has the right and the responsibility to get involved. The more that is known about violence, the more effective the community can be in intervening and preventing violence against women and children. This could bring violence to an end...
Monday, November 17, 2008
Child Protection Perspective
Child protection is not a new concept..
Some attempts to protect and uphold the rights of the children can be traced to the 1924 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the 1959 Declaration on the Rights of the Child. Other international treaties on child protection that have taken centre stage include the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the 1996 Hague Convention on the protection of the child.
Most countries have shown their commitment to uphold the children’s rights by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child except Somalia and the United States of America.
It is gratifying that almost all the countries have ratified the UNCRC and have pledged to make laws and repeal existing laws to make them consistent with the provisions of the Convention. However there is caution that, " the Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Convention) notwithstanding its near universal acceptance, must in many respects be viewed as a promising starting point on the long and winding road to the global improvement of the status of children" (Rwezaura, 1989:p). He argues that the world community is quite diverse socially, economically and culturally, and therefore cannot understand or interpret the Convention on the Rights of Child the same way.
There will always be culturally determined differences in the understanding of what sexual exploitation or abuse or what kind of work is risky to the child or what conduct, customs and practices are not in best interests of the child (An-Naim, 1992).
The methods and processes to protect and uphold the rights of children may vary quite considerably from one culture to another and from region to region. However, the underlying values and philosophy constituting the foundation of human dignity and integrity are largely cross-cultural and universal and hence the ability of the international community to reach normative consensus on the rights of the child as stipulated in the Convention (Ncube, 1998).
References
An-Naim. A, ‘and Goldbasch, 1992. Human Rights in Cross Cultural Perspectives, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. Ncube, W. 1998. (ed), Law, Culture, Tradition and Children's Rights in Eastern and Southern Africa. Brookfield, USA: Ashgate.Rwezaura, B. " Changing community Obligations to the Elderly in Contemporary Africa", Journal of Social Development in Africa 4, 1989.
Some attempts to protect and uphold the rights of the children can be traced to the 1924 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the 1959 Declaration on the Rights of the Child. Other international treaties on child protection that have taken centre stage include the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the 1996 Hague Convention on the protection of the child.
Most countries have shown their commitment to uphold the children’s rights by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child except Somalia and the United States of America.
It is gratifying that almost all the countries have ratified the UNCRC and have pledged to make laws and repeal existing laws to make them consistent with the provisions of the Convention. However there is caution that, " the Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Convention) notwithstanding its near universal acceptance, must in many respects be viewed as a promising starting point on the long and winding road to the global improvement of the status of children" (Rwezaura, 1989:p). He argues that the world community is quite diverse socially, economically and culturally, and therefore cannot understand or interpret the Convention on the Rights of Child the same way.
There will always be culturally determined differences in the understanding of what sexual exploitation or abuse or what kind of work is risky to the child or what conduct, customs and practices are not in best interests of the child (An-Naim, 1992).
The methods and processes to protect and uphold the rights of children may vary quite considerably from one culture to another and from region to region. However, the underlying values and philosophy constituting the foundation of human dignity and integrity are largely cross-cultural and universal and hence the ability of the international community to reach normative consensus on the rights of the child as stipulated in the Convention (Ncube, 1998).
References
An-Naim. A, ‘and Goldbasch, 1992. Human Rights in Cross Cultural Perspectives, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. Ncube, W. 1998. (ed), Law, Culture, Tradition and Children's Rights in Eastern and Southern Africa. Brookfield, USA: Ashgate.Rwezaura, B. " Changing community Obligations to the Elderly in Contemporary Africa", Journal of Social Development in Africa 4, 1989.
Child Abuse Laws in Botswana
In Botswana there are several laws that are meant to address child abuse and neglect.
Here are some of the child abuse laws that protect children…
The Children’s Act and Child Abuse
The Children’s Act Section 11 finds any parent or guardian of a child or any person having custody of a child who neglects, mistreats or exploits a child guilty of an offence. Neglect may include the unreasonable failure to provide for adequate food, clothing, housing, health and care of the child and exposing a child to conditions or circumstances likely to cause him/her physical, mental or psychological distress or damage.
The Children’s Act also provides that any parent or guardian having custody of a child is guilty of an offence if s/he causes or conduces to the seduction, abduction or prostitution of the child.
Although the sale and trafficking of children is virtually unknown in the country, both the Penal Code and the Children’s Act make the abduction of children criminal offences.
Penal Code
The Penal Code covers forms of abuse against children, namely, abduction of females for immoral purposes, abduction of persons below 16 years, indecent assault of young children, defilement of persons below 16 years of age, unlawful carnal knowledge of children
The Penal Code has provisions which deal with sexual abuse and exploitation. Section 141 holds that any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of another person or who causes the penetration of a sexual organ or instrument into the person of another without consent is guilty of rape.
The Employment ActThe Employment Act protects children against exploitation and hazardous employment. The Act defines a child as a person under the age of 15 years and a young person as a person who has attained the age of 15 years but is under the age of 18 years. The law permits employment of children 13 to 15 years of age in light work that is unlikely to be harmful to their health or development and that will not prejudice their benefiting from school or vocational programmes. No child shall be permitted to work more than 6 hours a day or 30 hours a week.
Birth Registration Act
The CRC states that every child has the right to a name and a nationality and the right to protection from being deprived of his or her identity. Therefore birth registration is a fundamental means of securing these rights for children.
Botswana has a Births and Deaths Registration Act which makes birth registration compulsory. There is a Department of Civil and National Registration in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs which is responsible for the registration of civil registration and national identity cards in the country.
So far, the department has 32 registration offices countrywide, 30 of which are networked. In order to reach remote areas, the department has mobile offices which register civil events and issue national identity cards and birth certificates. Any person who has attained age 16 years must have a national identity card.
A levy of BWP5.00 (US$1.00) to a maximum of BWP500.00 (US$100.00) is charged for late registration. At the moment, there are no waivers for any communities, including children under the age of 18 years. A maximum of BWP500.00 (US$100.00) or six months imprisonment or both fine and charge is administered for late registration. AT the moment, there are no waivers for any communities, including children under the age of 18 years.
Here are some of the child abuse laws that protect children…
The Children’s Act and Child Abuse
The Children’s Act Section 11 finds any parent or guardian of a child or any person having custody of a child who neglects, mistreats or exploits a child guilty of an offence. Neglect may include the unreasonable failure to provide for adequate food, clothing, housing, health and care of the child and exposing a child to conditions or circumstances likely to cause him/her physical, mental or psychological distress or damage.
The Children’s Act also provides that any parent or guardian having custody of a child is guilty of an offence if s/he causes or conduces to the seduction, abduction or prostitution of the child.
Although the sale and trafficking of children is virtually unknown in the country, both the Penal Code and the Children’s Act make the abduction of children criminal offences.
Penal Code
The Penal Code covers forms of abuse against children, namely, abduction of females for immoral purposes, abduction of persons below 16 years, indecent assault of young children, defilement of persons below 16 years of age, unlawful carnal knowledge of children
The Penal Code has provisions which deal with sexual abuse and exploitation. Section 141 holds that any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of another person or who causes the penetration of a sexual organ or instrument into the person of another without consent is guilty of rape.
The Employment ActThe Employment Act protects children against exploitation and hazardous employment. The Act defines a child as a person under the age of 15 years and a young person as a person who has attained the age of 15 years but is under the age of 18 years. The law permits employment of children 13 to 15 years of age in light work that is unlikely to be harmful to their health or development and that will not prejudice their benefiting from school or vocational programmes. No child shall be permitted to work more than 6 hours a day or 30 hours a week.
Birth Registration Act
The CRC states that every child has the right to a name and a nationality and the right to protection from being deprived of his or her identity. Therefore birth registration is a fundamental means of securing these rights for children.
Botswana has a Births and Deaths Registration Act which makes birth registration compulsory. There is a Department of Civil and National Registration in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs which is responsible for the registration of civil registration and national identity cards in the country.
So far, the department has 32 registration offices countrywide, 30 of which are networked. In order to reach remote areas, the department has mobile offices which register civil events and issue national identity cards and birth certificates. Any person who has attained age 16 years must have a national identity card.
A levy of BWP5.00 (US$1.00) to a maximum of BWP500.00 (US$100.00) is charged for late registration. At the moment, there are no waivers for any communities, including children under the age of 18 years. A maximum of BWP500.00 (US$100.00) or six months imprisonment or both fine and charge is administered for late registration. AT the moment, there are no waivers for any communities, including children under the age of 18 years.
Removal of an abused child to a place of safety
There’s an old adage that says ignorance of the law is no excuse...
Many people remain ignorant of the law despite all efforts to ensure that laws are published in the Government gazette for them to read them. Who is to blame for the society’s ignorance of the law? Here’s how to remove a child to a place of safety in Botswana under the Children in need of care Regulations…
Section 15 (1) of the Children’s Act of 1981 provides that where any person observing a child has reasonable cause to believe that the child is in need of care he shall immediately make a report thereof to the social welfare or a police officer in the district in which the child resides.
A social welfare officer or a police officer to whom a report has been made under the above section may remove or cause to be removed to a place of safety the child in question and shall as soon as thereafter as may be , subject to the provisions of section 17 (5), bring the child or cause him or her to be brought before the children’s court of the district in which the child is resident..
The child has to be brought before the court within 5 days of the removal.Where there is no immediate need for the removal of the child to a place of safety, the court may order that the parent or guardian of the child to bring the child before the court on a specified date.
The police officer who carries out the removal of the child to a place of safety must have an order in writing from the children’s court.
Power of a parent or guardian to bring a child before the Court Under Regulation 4 a parent or guardian who brings a child before the Court on the ground that he or she is unable to control the child, and that the child be dealt with the child as a child in need of care has to sign a consent form.
The best interests of the childThe best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration in determining any question with respect to the removal of the child to an institution or a foster home.
When determining the best interests of the child, the following key factors are taken into consideration:
• The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child in the light of the child’s age and understanding;
• The physical, emotional and educational needs of the child;
• The likely effect on the child of any change in his or her environment;
• the age, sex, background and any other relevant characteristics of the child.
• any harm already suffered or that is likely to be suffered by the child, if the child is not removed from his or her home.
Home environment similar to that of natural parentsWhen making an order for the placement of a child with a foster parent, if it is in the best interest of the child, the child shall be placed in a home environment similar to that of his or her natural parents. This is to curb further trauma and stress related with the environment.
Delay is likely to be prejudicial.
In the proceedings relating to the removal of a child to an institution or foster home the court must apply the general principle that any delay in determining the question is likely to be prejudicial to the welfare of the child.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
8 Key Causes of Child abuse
Here are the 8 key causes of child abuse in Botswana:
1. HIV/AIDS Scourge
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has had serious dire consequences for children, most notably in fuelling the orphan crisis. Using the international definition which states that an orphan is a “child below the age of 18 who has lost one or both parents” the prevalence of orphans among children below 18 years in Botswana is 17.2% (137,805 children) (National Situation Analysis 2007). The Botswana definition states that an orphan is a ‘child below 18 years who has lost one (single) or both parents (married couples), biological or adoptive, the prevalence of orphans among children below 18 years stands at 6.5% (51,806 children by end of 2007).
Orphans are potentially extremely vulnerable to child abuse and exploitation, to withdrawal from education, to child labour, to emotional distress and trauma. It is recognised that orphans and vulnerable children have complex psychosocial needs which cannot be met by food baskets alone. Elderly female care givers are under serious stress due to role reversal. The movement of children between relatives for access to their benefits, for domestic and agricultural labour is a cause of concern.
The impact of the scourge is also experienced by children who are not necessarily orphaned. The National Situation Analysis 2007 found a prevalence rate of 4.4%, for children vulnerable because they lived in a household where there was a person who had been critically ill for at least 3 months.
2. Poverty
Children can become vulnerable due to poverty and especially absolute poverty. In the National Situation Analysis 30.6% of the children were found to be vulnerable because they lived in a household where there is no one gainfully employed. The effects of poverty are being compounded by the impacts of environmental factors including drought, flooding and climate change which can lead to loss of livelihoods and homes and internal displacement.
3. Dysfunctional families
Some children struggle to grow up in families prone to internal conflicts, alcoholism, violence, abuse and poor parenting skills. These children are unlikely to enjoy their fundamental rights and are even driven onto the streets to support themselves. Children with unmet emotional needs are also particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
4. Discrimination and marginalisation of minority groups
Some children from minority groups, especially San children can be found living in appalling conditions in squatter encampments on the outskirts of some of the country’s towns and large villages. These children’s basic rights to education, health care and shelter are compromised. They are extremely vulnerable to abuse.
5. Abandonment, child labour and Child headed households
A child may be vulnerable due to a wide range of circumstances such as abandonment, child labour, heading a household, living in a household headed by a child, disability, internal displacement, illegal immigration, separation from parents, imprisonment of parents especially mothers, residence in squatter settlements, residence on remote farms and unmet psychosocial needs even in financially secure families.
6. Gender Issues
Boys and girls may be vulnerable, but in gender specific ways. Girls are more likely to be sexually abused, engaged in transactional and intergenerational sex, and used in domestic labour. Boys may be withdrawn from school for agricultural labour or to work on the streets. Both boys and girls are heading households and caring for their younger siblings.
7. The health status of children
35.5% of Botswana’s population is under the age of 15 years. In terms of health status, the country has relatively high infant mortality and under-five mortality rates [87 & 120 per 1,000 live births respectively ] and it is estimated that around 14,000 children aged 0-14 years are living with HIV. The good news is that in 2005, 84% of these children who were in need received ART, the highest percentage in sub-Saharan Africa .
8. Access and retention of children in education
While there is high enrolment rate of children into primary education [almost 95%], not all these children complete their basic education, and drop out rates are high in remoter rural areas.
Pre school provision remains very patchy and is largely provided by civil society organisations with limited and often insecure access to resources. Although 2009 will see the beginning of the roll out of formal pre-school education for four year olds, this will still leave a significant unmet need.
1. HIV/AIDS Scourge
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has had serious dire consequences for children, most notably in fuelling the orphan crisis. Using the international definition which states that an orphan is a “child below the age of 18 who has lost one or both parents” the prevalence of orphans among children below 18 years in Botswana is 17.2% (137,805 children) (National Situation Analysis 2007). The Botswana definition states that an orphan is a ‘child below 18 years who has lost one (single) or both parents (married couples), biological or adoptive, the prevalence of orphans among children below 18 years stands at 6.5% (51,806 children by end of 2007).
Orphans are potentially extremely vulnerable to child abuse and exploitation, to withdrawal from education, to child labour, to emotional distress and trauma. It is recognised that orphans and vulnerable children have complex psychosocial needs which cannot be met by food baskets alone. Elderly female care givers are under serious stress due to role reversal. The movement of children between relatives for access to their benefits, for domestic and agricultural labour is a cause of concern.
The impact of the scourge is also experienced by children who are not necessarily orphaned. The National Situation Analysis 2007 found a prevalence rate of 4.4%, for children vulnerable because they lived in a household where there was a person who had been critically ill for at least 3 months.
2. Poverty
Children can become vulnerable due to poverty and especially absolute poverty. In the National Situation Analysis 30.6% of the children were found to be vulnerable because they lived in a household where there is no one gainfully employed. The effects of poverty are being compounded by the impacts of environmental factors including drought, flooding and climate change which can lead to loss of livelihoods and homes and internal displacement.
3. Dysfunctional families
Some children struggle to grow up in families prone to internal conflicts, alcoholism, violence, abuse and poor parenting skills. These children are unlikely to enjoy their fundamental rights and are even driven onto the streets to support themselves. Children with unmet emotional needs are also particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
4. Discrimination and marginalisation of minority groups
Some children from minority groups, especially San children can be found living in appalling conditions in squatter encampments on the outskirts of some of the country’s towns and large villages. These children’s basic rights to education, health care and shelter are compromised. They are extremely vulnerable to abuse.
5. Abandonment, child labour and Child headed households
A child may be vulnerable due to a wide range of circumstances such as abandonment, child labour, heading a household, living in a household headed by a child, disability, internal displacement, illegal immigration, separation from parents, imprisonment of parents especially mothers, residence in squatter settlements, residence on remote farms and unmet psychosocial needs even in financially secure families.
6. Gender Issues
Boys and girls may be vulnerable, but in gender specific ways. Girls are more likely to be sexually abused, engaged in transactional and intergenerational sex, and used in domestic labour. Boys may be withdrawn from school for agricultural labour or to work on the streets. Both boys and girls are heading households and caring for their younger siblings.
7. The health status of children
35.5% of Botswana’s population is under the age of 15 years. In terms of health status, the country has relatively high infant mortality and under-five mortality rates [87 & 120 per 1,000 live births respectively ] and it is estimated that around 14,000 children aged 0-14 years are living with HIV. The good news is that in 2005, 84% of these children who were in need received ART, the highest percentage in sub-Saharan Africa .
8. Access and retention of children in education
While there is high enrolment rate of children into primary education [almost 95%], not all these children complete their basic education, and drop out rates are high in remoter rural areas.
Pre school provision remains very patchy and is largely provided by civil society organisations with limited and often insecure access to resources. Although 2009 will see the beginning of the roll out of formal pre-school education for four year olds, this will still leave a significant unmet need.
Birth Registration: A Child’s important step towards accessing essential services
Birth Registration is a child’s important step towards accessing essential services..
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that a child has a right to a name and a nationality. The Convention provides for the registration of a child immediate after birth. It is unfortunate that in 2006, births around 15 million children went unregistered.
Birth registration is one of the fundamental rights of children and is a prerequisite to fulfilling other human rights and access to essential services. This includes access to education, health care, and protection from child labor, child marriage, underage military service, child trafficking, and harassment by police.
Civil registration is of utmost importance for both states and individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. In 2006, 36 % of the 51 million children who born have not had their birth registration were found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa also has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world and the number of children orphaned by AIDS in this region is projected to keep increasing.
A child’s birth certificate may ensure success to key HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, such as health care, education and other services. A parent’s death certificate is of equal critical importance for the child’s right to inheritance and properly to be protected. A child with a birth certificate “has so many chances… It will be very good for that child” (focus group discussion with HIV positive parents, Mukujju health Centre, Uganda, August 2008).
The Committee of United nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (2008) General Comment No. 3: HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child said:
“The committee wishes to emphasize the critical implications of proof of identity for children affected by HIV/AIDS as it relates to securing recognition as a person before the law, safeguarding the protection of rights, in particular to inheritance, education, health and other social services… In this respect birth registration is critical to ensuring the rights of the child and is also necessary to minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of affected children”.
A strong civil registration system also helps policy and decision-makers meet the challenges of HIV/AIDS by planning the appropriate scale of budget allocations and distribution of prevention, treatment, care and support services. Such systems keep track of AIDS IN terms of the total number of AIDS-related deaths, the survival rate of those on ART and the number of children affected and orphaned by the pandemic.
The data compiled by birth and death registration further provides the foundation for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), such as MDG 4, reducing child mortality, and MDG 6, combating HIV/AIDS.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that a child has a right to a name and a nationality. The Convention provides for the registration of a child immediate after birth. It is unfortunate that in 2006, births around 15 million children went unregistered.
Birth registration is one of the fundamental rights of children and is a prerequisite to fulfilling other human rights and access to essential services. This includes access to education, health care, and protection from child labor, child marriage, underage military service, child trafficking, and harassment by police.
Civil registration is of utmost importance for both states and individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. In 2006, 36 % of the 51 million children who born have not had their birth registration were found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa also has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world and the number of children orphaned by AIDS in this region is projected to keep increasing.
A child’s birth certificate may ensure success to key HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, such as health care, education and other services. A parent’s death certificate is of equal critical importance for the child’s right to inheritance and properly to be protected. A child with a birth certificate “has so many chances… It will be very good for that child” (focus group discussion with HIV positive parents, Mukujju health Centre, Uganda, August 2008).
The Committee of United nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (2008) General Comment No. 3: HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child said:
“The committee wishes to emphasize the critical implications of proof of identity for children affected by HIV/AIDS as it relates to securing recognition as a person before the law, safeguarding the protection of rights, in particular to inheritance, education, health and other social services… In this respect birth registration is critical to ensuring the rights of the child and is also necessary to minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of affected children”.
A strong civil registration system also helps policy and decision-makers meet the challenges of HIV/AIDS by planning the appropriate scale of budget allocations and distribution of prevention, treatment, care and support services. Such systems keep track of AIDS IN terms of the total number of AIDS-related deaths, the survival rate of those on ART and the number of children affected and orphaned by the pandemic.
The data compiled by birth and death registration further provides the foundation for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), such as MDG 4, reducing child mortality, and MDG 6, combating HIV/AIDS.
The Best Interest of the Child: Is it always given paramount consideration?
The best interest of the child should be given paramount consideration at all times to ensure protection of children from all forms of abuse and neglect. Our concern is whether the best interest is always given paramount consideration by key service providers.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that the best interests of the child will always be of paramount consideration when dealing matters affecting the child’s well-being
Factors that come to mind that can be taken into account in determining the best interests of the child include:
• the need to protect the child from harm;
• the capacity of the child’s parents or other person to care for and protect the child;
• the child’s spiritual, physical, emotional and educational needs;
• the child’s age, maturity, sex, background, and language;
• the child’s cultural, ethnic or religious identity;
• the likely effect on the child of any change in the child’s circumstances;
• the importance of stability and continuity in the child’s living arrangements and the likely effect on the child of any change in, or disruption of, those arrangements; and
• any wishes or views expressed by the child, having regard to the child’s age, maturity and level of understanding in determining the weight to be given to those wishes or views; or
• any other factor which will ensure the general well – being of the child.
• No discrimination against any child on the basis of sex, family, color, race, ethnicity, place of origin, language, religion, economic status, parents, physical or mental status, or any other status;
• Children including those who are most vulnerable to be exposed to the same challenges, activities and opportunities that promote their health and development as all other children.
• every child shall be cared for and protected from harm;
• the parents, family and community of a child have the primary responsibility of safeguarding and promoting the child’s well – being;
• every child shall have stable, secure and safe relationships and living arrangements;
• every child shall have the most appropriate form of care for his or her development .
Experience has shown that people who want custody of children are not always honest in dealing with the best interest of the child. Even social workers involved in such matters at times find themselves being swayed by the best interests of adults as opposed to those of children. For instance those who tell the truth in ambiguous areas like determination of custody and child abuse, are often hesitant in speech, while those who lie come across as very sure of what they are saying, and hence make a better impression upon many magistrate courts.
On many occasions, some dishonest persons who have their own best interests at heart in visitation rights and custody battles care only about what they want and not about what is in the best interest of the child. It is important for the social workers to guard against being swayed by these kind of people to the detriment of the very children that they want to protect.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that the best interests of the child will always be of paramount consideration when dealing matters affecting the child’s well-being
Factors that come to mind that can be taken into account in determining the best interests of the child include:
• the need to protect the child from harm;
• the capacity of the child’s parents or other person to care for and protect the child;
• the child’s spiritual, physical, emotional and educational needs;
• the child’s age, maturity, sex, background, and language;
• the child’s cultural, ethnic or religious identity;
• the likely effect on the child of any change in the child’s circumstances;
• the importance of stability and continuity in the child’s living arrangements and the likely effect on the child of any change in, or disruption of, those arrangements; and
• any wishes or views expressed by the child, having regard to the child’s age, maturity and level of understanding in determining the weight to be given to those wishes or views; or
• any other factor which will ensure the general well – being of the child.
• No discrimination against any child on the basis of sex, family, color, race, ethnicity, place of origin, language, religion, economic status, parents, physical or mental status, or any other status;
• Children including those who are most vulnerable to be exposed to the same challenges, activities and opportunities that promote their health and development as all other children.
• every child shall be cared for and protected from harm;
• the parents, family and community of a child have the primary responsibility of safeguarding and promoting the child’s well – being;
• every child shall have stable, secure and safe relationships and living arrangements;
• every child shall have the most appropriate form of care for his or her development .
Experience has shown that people who want custody of children are not always honest in dealing with the best interest of the child. Even social workers involved in such matters at times find themselves being swayed by the best interests of adults as opposed to those of children. For instance those who tell the truth in ambiguous areas like determination of custody and child abuse, are often hesitant in speech, while those who lie come across as very sure of what they are saying, and hence make a better impression upon many magistrate courts.
On many occasions, some dishonest persons who have their own best interests at heart in visitation rights and custody battles care only about what they want and not about what is in the best interest of the child. It is important for the social workers to guard against being swayed by these kind of people to the detriment of the very children that they want to protect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
