Child rights protection campaign launched

In continued effort to promote community awareness on the prevention of child abuse and neglect, the Division of Youth Services has mapped out month-long activities.

Called “For the Children” campaign with this year’s theme Protecting Children is Everyone’s Mission, a proclamation signing is scheduled today at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.

Advocating agencies said Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, children and community leaders were invited to endorse April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month.

DYS officer Cheryl Cepeda said the public should be properly educated on the dangers of child abuse and to address abuse and neglect issues in the Commonwealth.

“By becoming advocates for continual public awareness and various prevention efforts, our community can become a safer and healthier place for everyone,” said Ms. Cepeda.

The For the Children campaign kicked off with the Penny Drive while other activities which include lighting of the blue ribbons, big truck day and floating memories are all scheduled in April.

Based on the Fiscal Year report of the DYS, child abuse and neglect cases dropped by 160 from 368 in 1999 to 208 in FY 2000. The agency saw the highest number in 1997 were total child abuse and neglect cases reached 750 followed by 670 in 1998.

Based on studies, chronic illness, depression, school problems and unexplained injuries are but few of the signs that a child is living in a violent home where abuse is literally a daily occurrence.

Children living with a violent family are at high risk of suffering physical abuse themselves, regardless whether they are literally being abused physically. Emotional and mental effects are far more dangerous resulting to psychological trauma later in their lives.

These abuse cases are likely to result in cognitive, developmental delay, stress-related physical ailments of a child, affecting even their emotional and mental behavior.

Reports also claimed that abuse is sometimes done with intention to hurt while at other times, without malicious intent and awareness. Regardless, it leaves physical and emotional scars that last a lifetime and most often continue in a tragic cycle.

Physical abuse include hitting, slapping, pushing, shaking while emotional or verbal abuse include put-downs, insults and threats. Neglect include failing to provide for a child’s physical or emotional needs and sexual abuse include any sexual contact with a child, using a child for pornography, or exposing a child to adult sexual activity.

But whatever it is, abuse is a behavior that is intended to control and subjugate another human being through the use of fear, humiliation and verbal or physical assaults. (EGA)