Prevent Child Abuse and Protect Our Children

Child abuse consists of any act of commission or omission that endangers or impairs a child’s physical or emotional health and development. Child abuse includes any damage done to a child which cannot be reasonably explained and which is often represented by an injury or series of injuries appearing to be non-accidental in nature.

 We will look after our children

Forms of Child Abuse

Physical abuse

Any non-accidental injury to a child. This includes hitting, kicking, slapping, shaking, burning, pinching, hair pulling, biting, choking, throwing, shoving, whipping, and paddling.

Sexual abuse

Any sexual act between an adult and child. This includes fondling, penetration, intercourse, exploitation, pornography, exhibitionism, child prostitution, group sex, oral sex, or forced observation of sexual acts.

Neglect

Failure to provide for a child’s physical needs. This includes lack of supervision, inappropriate housing or shelter, inadequate provision of food and water, inappropriate clothing for season or weather, abandonment, denial of medical care and inadequate hygiene.

Emotional abuse

Any attitude or behaviour which interferes with a child’s mental health or social development. This includes yelling, screaming, name-calling, shaming, negative comparisons to others, telling them they are “bad, no good, worthless” or “a mistake.” It also includes the failure to provide the affection and support necessary for the development of a child’s emotional, social, physical and intellectual well-being. This includes ignoring, lack of appropriate physical affection (hugs), not saying “I love you,” withdrawal of attention, lack of praise and lack of positive reinforcement.

Here are some actions you can take to help children and their parents.

1. Be a good example.
Respect your family members. Use a courteous tone of voice with them. When children misbehave, let them know that you dislike what they did, not who they are. Don't hit your kids; violence teaches violence. Apologize when you're wrong. Say "I love you" more often. Reward good behaviour. 

2. Be a friend to a parent.
Listen. Sometimes, just being able to express anger and frustration helps ease tensions. Go shopping with a parent and child. Children are usually better behaved when their adults are happier and more relaxed. Invite a parent to go jogging or bowling or golfing. Exercise helps relieve stress. 

  

3. Reach out to neighbours or relatives with children.
Offer to babysit to give them a much-needed break.

4. Praise and encourage the children you know.
Mean words can make a child feel worthless, ugly, and unloved, and the hurt can last a lifetime. So be positive. Tell a child you're proud of her and why. Stick up for her; don't let others tease or make fun of her. Smile. Let her know she is important to you. Say, "You're terrific. I like you!"

5. Take action...don't wait for someone else to do it!
Arrange for a speaker on child abuse and neglect to come to your temple, church, club, or workplace. The more we all know about abuse and neglect, the more we can do to stop it.

6. Organize safety systems for your neighbourhood.
Arrange for neighbours who are at home most of the day to watch out for children on their way to and from school. Set up "safe houses" where children can go if they feel threatened or afraid. Participate in a telephone network for neighbourhood children who are home alone after school and need help, advice, or reassurance.

7. Volunteer.
Volunteer your time in a child crisis shelter, parenting support program, drug abuse prevention or treatment program, or shelter for the homeless.

8. Form a Carpenters Guild.
Work with others in your temple, church, mosque, club, workplace or social organisation to repair homes of disadvantaged families to make them more liveable for children. 

9. Start a resource room.
Call your local authority and collect diapers, clothing, toys, books, and formula to help ease the transition for children who must be removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect.  

10. Work in a day-care centre.
Volunteer your time in a day-care centre that serves abused and neglected children. Work with your temple church, club, or organization to form a partnership with a child-care centre that serves low-income children.

11. Be a mentor.
Help a pregnant teenager learn parenting skills. Or be a mentor to a pre-teen through one of the school mentoring programs. 

12. Learn more about child abuse and child abuse prevention.
Teach others. Plan an adult education program in your church, club, or organization to inform people about children's needs. Open your group's facility to local education programs for parents. 

13. Become a foster parent.

It's not an easy job, but the rewards are great when you help a child learn what it feels like to be safe. 

14. Get involved with the child welfare body

This could be done either provincial or district level with those who are responsible for.

15. Understand which children are most likely to be abused.
Although child abuse occurs in all racial, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic groups, physical abuse and neglect are more likely among people living in poverty. Children who are most likely to be abused are children who are mentally retarded, premature, unwanted, stubborn, inquisitive, demanding, or have a disability 

16. Report suspected child abuse and neglect. Please contact your local law enforcement agency if you think a child is being neglected, sexually abused, or physically or emotionally abused. Children are hardly ever abused only once. If you suspect it, you must report it. That's the law. Reporting suspected child abuse makes it possible for a family to get help. For this please contact: 

National Child Protection Authority: http://www.childprotection.gov.lk/ or Children & Woman  Bureau , Sri Lanka Police: http://www.police.lk/index.php/child-a-women-bureau.