The SWD receives about 1,000 child abuse cases each year. The Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse: reorganizing families is at high risk

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Written by: Yuan Shu

2021-04-13 14:58

Last update date: 2021-04-13 14:58

The 5-year-old girl suspected of being abused to death by her father and stepmother caused a public outcry, and the issue of child abuse once again aroused heated discussions in society.

According to SWD figures, 1,006 and 940 cases were received in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Among them, the proportion of bodily injury/abuse was the highest, followed by sexual assault and neglect.

Huang Cuiling, director-general of the Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse, pointed out that abused children are not only injured physically, but emotionally and psychologically, and some will last a lifetime.

She revealed that the association receives more than 1,100 calls for help each year, of which 60% to 70% are from parents and relatives. Schools, social workers and neighbourhoods will also call for notifications. Only dozens of cases are from abused children.

According to the SWD, there were 1,006 and 940 related cases in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The types of bodily injury/abuse were 430 and 389 respectively. Sexual assault ranked second, with 305 and 313 respectively; and Negligence accounted for the third place, with 237 and 201 decibels.

Child abuse can be detected both physically and mentally

How can I be aware that children are being abused?

Huang Cuiling, director-general of the Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse, said that we can observe from two aspects.

Abused children generally suffer physical harm, such as inexplicable bruises, burns, fractures or unidentified wounds on the body, all of which are reasonable suspicions that the child is being abused.

The abused children will also be psychologically and mentally different. The abused children will have developmental delays, underweight, excessive thinness, etc., and will also experience behavioral regression. For example, they have been able to deal with their own health problems, but suddenly they no longer know how Handling: Older children may also have self-harm, suicidal tendencies, and unwillingness to get along with others.

Huang Cuiling, Director-General of the Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

(Information Picture/Photo by Huang Shuhui)

After being abused, it has a profound impact or becomes the second abuser

Being abused can have a great impact on children, and many situations will slowly emerge in the future life, including anti-social tendencies, depression, anxiety, etc. after growing up, and sometimes hurt yourself.

Many people also have extreme emotions, do not know how to get along with others, etc., and have the opportunity to attack their peers.

Huang Cuiling said that many abused children have grown up and set up their own families. This way of treating children will also be passed on. "The abused will become the second abuser. When treating children, copy the behavior and not conscious."

Pay more attention to children's conditions and avoid leading questions

Huang said that the Association receives more than 1,000 calls for help every year.

In addition to complaints from neighbors and co-workers, 60% to 70% came from the parents themselves, and some were from their spouses who abused their children and asked for help. Many parents were more self-aware and realized that they were treating their children differently. Come for help.

In addition, there are more than ten cases from children themselves, but most of them are concentrated in elementary and middle school students. "If you are more detailed, you may not be able to call."

If children are found to be abnormal, they need to be handled carefully.

Huang Cuiling pointed out that when inquiring, you can pay more attention to the recent situation of the child, "near the schedule?" In addition, do not ask inductive questions, such as "Did dad beat you?" Instead, it should be changed to "How did the wound get done?" Wait.

Huang Cuiling, director-general of the Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse, pointed out that divorced and reorganized families are high-risk families for child abuse, especially those with children. "Adults need to adapt and balance."

(Profile picture)

Family reorganization is a high-risk child abuse family, you can consider receiving agency counseling before reorganization

Among the cases that aroused public opinion this time, the case of a girl who was battered to death was a reorganization of the family.

Huang Cuiling continued that divorced and reorganized families are high-risk families for child abuse, especially those with children. "Adults need to adapt and balance."

She pointed out that if it is a remarried family, consider looking for counseling from an agency to establish a healthy and sustainable family relationship.

What happens in the reorganization of the family, which requires vigilance?

Huang Cuiling said that if you find that one party has been hitting and scolding a child, you need to solve it. "Emotions are said to be a killer. Under emotions, even if you only want to punish lightly, you will not be careful and heavy."

She also pointed out that single-parent families, divorced families, and parental drug abuse are all families at high risk of child abuse and need to pay more attention.

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3-year-old boy and female worker arrested for child abuse in Deli Building, Quarry Bay

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