Social News
Author: Zheng Qiuling
2021-04-23 00:01
Last update date: 2021-04-23 00:01
The death of a 5-year-old girl who was abused by her father and stepmother is distressing.
The police recorded a total of 769 child abuse cases last year, a slight drop from the previous year. However, it may be related to the suspension of classes under the epidemic and the reduction of opportunities for children to seek help from the outside world. There are still serious and appalling cases, including a 7-year-old boy who was taken by his mother. The head was showered with hot water, and some young children were strangled and so on.
In addition, the number of cases of children staying alone at home rose by 23% to 300 cases. The longest involved case was an 8-year-old boy whose single mother was entrusted with a friend during her stay in the Mainland for 3 months, but she was "not entrusted". Look at the buildings more carefully to expose.
Regarding the "Offence without Protection" proposed by the Law Reform Commission, the police stated that they are open and welcome improvements to the existing mechanism.
In 40% of cases, children take the initiative to confide in others
The police received 769 child abuse cases last year, including 383 child personal crimes and 386 child sexual crimes, including 74 cases involving assault and serious assault, which is a decrease of about 5% compared with the 725 cases in 2019.
According to analysis, most cases of child abuse occur at home. 70% of the perpetrators are parents, stepparents or family members, and 30% are unrelated persons, such as domestic helpers and teachers.
Child abuse crimes were exposed. In 40% of cases, children took the initiative to confide in others, half of whom were teachers and social workers, followed by other family members.
Epidemic suspension of classes and reduced opportunities for help
Chief Inspector Zhang Baoyue of the Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Group said that although child abuse cases have fallen, they are believed to be related to fewer reports during the epidemic, including the suspension of face-to-face teaching and social activities, as well as minor injuries and quick recovery. Opportunities for outsiders to seek help are reduced.
He pointed out that most of the child abuse cases in Hong Kong are relatively few and serious, and most of them are related to the education industry. Parents use violent methods to punish them, such as punching and kicking, beating with canes, chopsticks, etc., and some are not "disobedient" by children. , But the parental relationship disagreement or economic problems anger the children.
At the end of last year, Mule's 7-year-old son "attempted to murder"
The more serious case occurred in February this year. Due to marital and financial problems, a 36-year-old woman drenched her 7-year-old and 10-year-old children with hot water. Neighbors heard the call for help.
At the end of last year, a 43-year-old mother lost control of her emotions while teaching a 7-year-old child’s homework. She strangled her neck with a scarf. Fortunately, she stopped her hands in time. However, due to guilt, she tried to hang herself in the room. His father received a call from the boy for help. Reported to the police and the case was listed as "attempted murder."
The number of children staying alone at home increased by 23%
Although the overall number of child abuse cases fell, the number of cases involving "abuse or neglect of children or young persons under custody" rose from 244 to 300, an increase of 23%.
According to Zhang Baoyue's analysis, during the epidemic, husband and wife were separated from each other and could not find a caregiver for entrustment. There were also cases in which both parents had to work to make ends meet.
Relevant cases are mainly detected by security patrols, social workers' visits, or when children leave home to find relatives or buy food, enthusiastic passers-by assist the police.
Single mother stranded in the Mainland for three months to take care of her 8-year-old child by her friend
The longest case involved was in June last year. When patrolling the building, security guards noticed that an 8-year-old boy was left alone at home for four consecutive days, so he asked the Social Welfare Department for help and referred the police for follow-up.
The investigation found that after visiting relatives in the Mainland in March last year, the mother who lived with her stayed in the Mainland due to the epidemic. During the three months she was away from Hong Kong, she took care of her relatives and friends. She only contacted by phone every day. The younger sister’s boyfriend left the boy alone, and the boy’s father never visited him because he had separated.
Feng Haojian, clinical psychologist of the Psychological Services Division (left), and Zhang Baoyue, Chief Inspector of the Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Group (right).
(Photo by Zheng Qiuling)
Feng Haojian, a clinical psychologist in the Psychological Services Division, said that in addition to signs such as injuries, children will have emotional changes after being abused, becoming silent, resisting communication, and whether they will become violent when getting along with other children. As a neighbor, if you hear children crying more frequently, or it is not a "twisting", it is a signal of abuse.
Zhang Baoyue pointed out that 80% of cases will be arrested after the police receive a report. If the investigation finds that the person involved is at risk of continuing child abuse, the social worker of the SWD will arrange for custody, and an inter-departmental meeting will be held to follow up the case.
Regarding the Law Reform Commission’s “crime without protection”, which stipulates that caregivers shall be held legally responsible for not reporting child abuse cases, Zhang Baoyue said that the police are open and welcome improvements to the existing mechanism. The police have been in close contact with relevant government departments.
Founder of the organization’s guidelines for protecting children: I don’t want to watch the news and find that the victim is my student
Girl torture case│Law Reform Commission advocates "no protection crime" caregiver can be exempted from criminal liability if notified
5-year-old girl torture case│Prevention of child abuse will promote the establishment of a mandatory notification mechanism, comprehensive legislation to prohibit corporal punishment
The 5-year-old girl was tortured and killed. The police officer who had seen the short message of her father and stepmother was also very angry
5-year-old girl tortured and murdered, two children suffer for 5 months, official reprimands defendant for selfishness and hurts children’s self-esteem
A 5-year-old girl was abused and murdered by her father and stepmother
01News
Child Abuse Police Service