children and women victims of violence abuse and neglect

There are four common types of abuse and neglect: Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Emotional abuse, Neglect.. a Incidence and Prevalence In 2017 there were over 123,000 new reported cases o

HO CHI MINH UNIVERSITY OF LAW UNITED UNION HCMULAW ADVANCED PROGRAM

Name: Nguyen Hoang Nam Phuong

Name of subject: Victimology

Instructor: LL.M Dinh Ha Minh

Class: CLC44D

TABLE OF CONTENT

L VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN wd

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HL CURRENT SITUATION AND MEASURES TO PROTECT CHILDREN

AND WOMEN FROM VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND NEGLECT 10 3.1 Reality of violence against children and women cc c2 2222 cscs xe II 3.2 _ Measures to protect children and women from violence, abuse and neglect II

I VIQLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN Child abuse and neglect are serious public health problems and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) They can have long-term impacts on health, opportunity, and wellbeing This issue includes all types of abuse and neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (such as a religious leader, a coach, a teacher) that results in harm, the potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child There are four common types of abuse and neglect: Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Emotional abuse, Neglect

No matter what form of violence a child is exposed to, her experience may lead to serious and lifelong consequences Violence can result in physical injury, sexually transmitted infections, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, unplanned pregnancy and even death Evidence also suggests that toxic stress associated with violence in early childhood can permanently impair brain development and damage other parts of the

nervous system

Despite these grave physical and mental health consequences, the vast majority of child victims never seek or receive help to recover What’s more, children who grow up with violence are more likely to re-enact it as young adults and caregivers themselves, creating a new generation of victims

I.1 Physical abuse Physical violence includes beating, burning, kicking, punching, biting, maiming or killing, or the use of objects or weapons

Physical abuse is the deliberate intention to inflict pain When someone hears the term “child abuse”, they most commonly associate it with physical abuse Wounds, bruises, burns, fractures, and sore muscles are signs of physical abuse, but abuse can also result from severe acts of discipline Injunes that don’t comcide with the explanation and untreated medical or dental needs are also red flags for physical abuse

Physical violence sends a clear message to the victim from the perpetrator: “I can do things to you that you do not want to happen.” Such violence demonstrates differences of social power, or may intend to promote particular demands, sometimes regularly, through coercion Physical violence in intimate relationships, often referred to as domestic violence, continues to be a widespread phenomenon in every country

Physical assault can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age or any other characteristic Physical assault can also include the following:

- Discrimination or hate crime— if the assault was motivated by hostility towards a person or group due to a protected characteristic

- Domestic violence — if the assault happened within a relationship or between family members

- Sexual assault and rape —1f the assault was of a sexual nature You should suspect that physical abuse has occurred when:

- Achild discloses physical abuse - It's hard to see how the injuries could have been caused by an accident Maybe the

injuries have a pattern They could be in a straight line or a circle Or the injuries could be located on areas of the body that usually are protected It could be the inside of the legs and arms, the back, the genitals, and the buttocks

- The explanation for the injury changes, or the explanation is just not believable - There are signs that the child has been hurt before It could be new mjunes over

the scars of healed ones - Frequent physical injuries that are attributed to the child being clumsy or accident-

prone - The child hasn’t received medical care for his or her injury

The effects of child physical abuse can last a lifetime Those effects may be hearing and vision loss, a life-long disability or a brain injury It can also result in cognitive delays and severe emotional issues

1.2 Sexual abuse Along with socio-economic development, the situation of child sexual abuse crimes is becoming more and more complicated, increasing in number and number of cases each year Children who are sexually abused are not only female children but also male children Sexual abusers are not only strangers but are mostly people who have close and mtimate relationships with the victim Acts of domestic violence and violence against children often occur between parents and their minor children Warrantors are often people with low education, limited legal knowledge, and drug addiction

Acts of sexual abuse of children are often lewdness, sexual intercourse, and rape Acts of violence against children often take place in unhappy families, parents are addicted or in families with complicated marriages, living with aunts and uncles, stepchildren, common children, and lack of attention parents' mind and education

Children who are abused and abused are often physically weak and less able to protect themselves Children in special circumstances lack a father, have a mother, have parents who lack care or are in unhappy families, parents are drug addicts, are in prison Difficult and special circumstances, Lacking the protection and care of their parents, children are not aware of the danger to themselves, in addition, criminals often take advantage of their special circumstances and weaknesses to commit crimes acts that violate the law

a) Incidence and Prevalence In 2017 there were over 123,000 new reported cases of child physical abuse and over 58,000 new reported cases of child sexual abuse in the US, resulting in incidence rates of 165 and 78 per 100,000 children, respectively, and 578 fatalities While the prevalence of physical abuse is similar between the sexes, sexual abuse 1s more common among females

According to statistics from the General Department of Police - Ministry of Public Security, although it is only a small part compared to reality, each year an average of 1,600 - 1,800 cases of child abuse are discovered, out of 1,000 cases of sexual abuse, The number of cases in which children are victims accounts for 65%, the majority of victims are girls aged 12-15 (accounting for 57.46%), however the number of children under 6 years old being abused is a very alarming problem dynamic, accounting for 13.2% 2016 statistical data of the General Department of Police - Ministry of Public Security shows that the Police force investigating social order crimes nationwide discovered more than 1,373 cases of child sexual abuse, with more than 1,352 cases object; of which hundreds of child rape cases (accounting for 30.1%), with 438 defendants (accounting for 32.3%) were prosecuted; 465 cases of sexual intercourse with children (accounting for 33.8%), with 461 defendants (accounting for 34.1%) According to statistics from the Supreme People's Court, in 5 years (from 2012 - 2016), Courts at all levels accepted according to first instance procedures 9,305 cases with 10,656 defendants Of these, 8,674 cases were brought to tral according to first instance procedures (accounting for 93.2%), with 9,873 defendants (accounting for 92.65%)

Ho Chi Minh City currently has about 1.8 million children (accounting for 18.8% of the city's population); Children with special circumstances account for more than 10,000 children and at risk of falling into special circumstances living in the community of about 19,500 children In 2021, the city had 114 abused children, in 2022 it increased to 147 children and in the first 4 months of 2023, there were 65 abused children

b) Health Consequences Various studies have found that compared to no abuse, physical or sexual abuse in childhood is associated with increased risk throughout the life course of mental illness such as depression suicide attempts and suicidal ideation; substance use, including smoking, alcohol abuse, and drug use; obesity; sexually transmitted infections, risky sexual behavior, or both; and potentially some chronic diseases such as arthritis, ulcers, and migraines Childhood physical and sexual abuse are also related to increased risk of subsequent violence of various forms Males and females who experienced childhood sexual abuse frequently experience sexual victimization as young adults (15.0 percent

and 29.7 percent, respectively) and engage in sexual aggression perpetration (10.4 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively)

Additionally, the odds of delinquent and violent behavior are 1.7 times higher for people who experienced childhood sexual abuse than for those who do not Compared to adolescents who did not experience physical abuse in childhood, those who did are 1.28 times more likely to report carrying a weapon An estimated 25 percent of reported weapon carrying by female youth is attributable to experiences of childhood sexual abuse The associations with revictimization, perpetration, delinquent and violent behavior, and weapon carrying highlight potential community-level consequences of childhood physical and sexual abuse

L3 Emotional abuse Emotional or psychological child abuse is a pattern of behavior that impairs a child's emotional development or sense of self-worth This may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance Use the following resources to understand and identify the signs, symptoms, and effects of child emotional abuse

Emotional abuse can occur alongside physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect and 1s one of the most difficult forms of abuse to recognize Often, it is subtle and insidious, gradually eroding a child's self-esteem and sense of security and belonging

Like other forms of abuse, child emotional abuse is about power and control The perpetrator manipulates and controls the child by using hurtful and emotionally damaging words and actions Experiencing emotional abuse is linked to devastating long-term consequences, including increased rates of illness and mental health disorders

1.3.1 Signs of emotional abuse Emotional abuse can be harder to detect than other forms of child abuse Typically, it takes place in the confines of a child’s home, often with no outside witnesses There might not be any obvious, outward signs that abuse is taking place (as there would be with physical abuse) Sometimes, a child's behavior is the only thing that indicates that there is a problem

Developmentally inappropriate behavior, such as acting very immature or too mature for their age, can be a sign of abuse, as can dramatic behavioral changes For example, a child who used to be self-assured and did not seek extra attention might suddenly become clingy to non-abusive adults Additionally, a child might start acting out or having trouble socially or academically

Behaviors that can be signs of emotional abuse include: - Anxiety, depression, and/or avoidance

- Declining performance at school - Delayed emotional development - Desire to hurt themselves or other people - Desperately seeking affection from other adults - Developmental regression (for example, bedwetting) - Frequent complaints of headaches, stomachaches, or other somatic symptoms with

no known cause - Loss of interest in social activities or other interests - Low self-esteem

1.3.2 Impact of emotional abuse The consequences of child abuse in any form can be severe and often persist well into adulthood A child often believes that they are responsible for the abuse and that it means they are unloved, unlovable, and unwanted

a) Self-conscious Harsh and scolding words from the abuser will make children gradually become self- conscious, shy and distrustful of themselves Before the abuser's authority, children feel small, weak and useless In the long run, this personality will affect the child's learning process and future

In addition, children also tend to live alone and separate from people around them Instead of having fun with friends, children spend time alone and are afraid of contact with others In cases where parents mentally abuse their children, the children will lock themselves in the room and only go out when necessary such as eating, going to school, getting things, etc

The situation of children being shy and having low self-esteem when subjected to mental abuse is common in preschool and elementary school children Children entering puberty will be more sensitive, so they often form a mentality of opposition and resistance instead of withdrawal However, psychological developments due to psychological abuse also depend heavily on the personality and content of the harsh words

b) Increased acts of violence In contrast to the reaction of fear, anxiety and shyness, children may increase their violent behavior if they are mentally abused for a long time When being abused, children will think that people with authority can bully and oppress weaker people with words or actions Therefore, children will say harsh words similar to those of the abuser to some other subjects (students in the same class who are physically weak, have poor families, or may be their biological siblings) family, )

Victims of mental abuse always face negative emotions Gradually these emotions pile up, causing the child's psychology to become resentful and easily agitated When an incident occurs, children easily develop harsh words and aggressive behaviors such as aggression, fighting with others and even cruel and inhumane acts with animals

c) Causes nervous tension Mental stress is a condition children face when they are mentally abused Children don't have as many relationships as adults A child's life revolves around family, friends and teachers If these relationships bring negativity to children, they are susceptible to mental stress Furthermore, because children do not have enough understanding to deeply understand that they are victims of violence, they do not seek to share it with others

d) Increased psychological problems Prolonged mental abuse can cause children to experience psychological problems such as: behavioral disorders, self-harm syndrome, anxiety disorders, depression, personality disorder In addition, children also encounter physical problems such as slow growth, stunting, slow height development, problems with sleep, digestion, impaired memory, ability to absorb and think least

14 Neglect Neglect is the failure of a parent or other caregiver to provide for a child’s basic needs Neglect generally includes the following categories:

- Physical (e.g., failure to provide necessary food or shelter, lack of appropriate supervision)

- Medical (e.g., failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment, withholding medically indicated treatment from children with life-threatening conditions)

- Educational (e.g., failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs) - Emotional (e.g., inattention to a child’s emotional needs, failure to provide

psychological care, permitting a child to use alcohol or other drugs A child who exhibits the following signs may be a victim of neglect: Frequently absent from school, begs or steals food or money, lacks needed medical care (including immunizations), dental care, or glasses, consistently dirty and has severe body odor, lacks sufficient clothing for the weather, abuses alcohol or other drugs, states that there 1s no one at home to provide care

Neglect changes childhood Children who've been neglected might experience short- term and long-term effects These can include: problems with brain development, taking risks, like running away from home, using drugs and alcohol or breaking the law, getting

into dangerous relationships, difficulty with relationships later in life, including with their own children, a higher chance of having mental health problems, including depression.

I VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Violence against women does not mean only physical violence It is much broader and includes sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse The National Plan targets two main types of violence against women — domestic and family violence, and sexual assault

On an international level, the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women provides the following definition: “The term violence against women means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”

ILI Sexual abuse a) Incidence and Prevalence

A 2018 analysis of prevalence data from 2000-2018 across 161 countries and areas, conducted by WHO on behalf of the UN Interagency working group on violence against women, found that worldwide, nearly 1 in 3, or 30%, of women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence or both

Over a quarter of women aged15-49 years who have been in a relationship have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner at least once in their lifetime (since age 15) The prevalence estimates of lifetime intimate partner violence range from 20% in the Western Pacific, 22% in high-income countries and Europe and 25% in the WHO Regions of the Americas to 33% im the WHO African region, 31% in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, and 33% in the WHO South-East Asia region

b) Consequences of sexual violence Sexual violence can cause extremely serious consequences as follows:

- Violent sexual acts can increase the risk of unwanted pregnancy - Sexual violence is also one of the causes of premature birth and miscarriage - Sexual violence is also the act of not using safe sex methods, performing rough

sexual acts, etc., increasing the risk of gynecological infections in women and contracting some sexually transmitted diseases Sexual diseases, the most common are HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B, genital warts, - Sexual violence also haunts women for many years Victims often have

nightmares, sleep disorders, eating disorders, etc., which can lead to depression and many different types of psychological disorders

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