CHILD ABUSE

MANUAL
Child abuse is more than bruises and broken bones.

MA Applied Psychology 2022-24

Vanshita Sharma
Ankita Raghav
Nishita Rawat
CONTENT

01 INTRODUCTION

02 IDENTIFYING CHILD ABUSE

03 IMPACT OF CHILD ABUSE

04 REPORTING CHILD ABUSE

05 CURRENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK

06 PREVENTION

07 RECOMMENDATION

08 REFERENCES
 INTRODUCTION 01
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?

Any form of violence, abuse or neglect used against a child is

called child abuse It can occur when someone hurts a child
through the use of words, gestures or actions and makes a child
feel ashamed, helpless, angry, hurt or miserable. A child can be
hurt in different ways. It can be any action which affects the child's
body or feelings and thoughts.

Child abuse can result in all or any of the following:

(a) Physical injury
(b) Negligent treatment or maltreatment
(c) Psychological and emotional harm
(d) Verbal abuse
(e) Sexual abuse
(f) Trafficking
(g) Economic exploitation
(h) Child marriage
(I) Corporal punishment

Some effects of child abuse are:

(a) Physical impairment
(b) Long-lasting health issues
(c) Loss of basic self-respect, dignity and confidence which make a
child feel unloved, unwanted and worthless
(d) The long-term impact on growth and development – mental,
social and even physical
 IDENTIFYING 02
CHILD ABUSE
The effect of abuse is different for every child as it depends on the kind
of abuse, frequency, duration and severity of the maltreatment, as well
as the relationship between the abused and the perpetrator. (Child
Welfare Information Gateway, 2019) In Indian households,beating up a
child is considered an act of ‘teaching him/her a lesson’. This not only
installs a fear of the adult in the child’s mind but also the idea that
physical abuse is the key to getting things done by others. When it
comes to sexual abuse, the impact is internal and sometimes, difficult to
detect.

UNDERSTANDING AND RECOGNISING

TYPES OF ABUSE

Different Forms of Child Abuse

Physical Emotional Sexual

Neglect
abuse abuse abuse

1 Physical abuse is inflicted on children:

• To discipline them and teach them a lesson or to
make them realise that what they have done is
‘wrong’.
• To exert ‘control’ and authority over a child and to
build fear in them so that they behave in a certain
way.
 Emotional abuse occurs when:
• Children are denied love, security, and the 2
company of friends and relatives.
• Parents/a family member or anyone who is taking
care of the child do not care for them or praise them.
• Parents, a family member or anyone who is taking
care of the child humiliate them.
• Older children bully the younger ones, or some
fellow students or peers or siblings bully other
children to assert their power.

3 What is bullying?
Bullying is a problem which many children
experience. Bullying is when someone (or group)
intentionally uses words or actions against a person
to cause distress and risk to their safety or comfort
or wellbeing. It is repeated unwelcome behaviour
and is a result of a person or group of persons trying
to exercise their power on others

Neglect
Neglect is different from other forms of abuse. In 4
other forms of abuse a caregiver/parent does
something wrong or does something that they are
not supposed to do. However, in the case of neglect
the caregiver/parent fails to do what she/he is
supposed to do
IMPACT OF CHILD 03
ABUSE
The impact of child abuse is lifelong and irrevocable. The
victims of abuse, the altruistic children, generally have
emotional, psychological, physical and mental impact on
their lives which harms their past, present as well as future.
The impact of child abuse is not only over the abused child;
contemporary findings show that soaring levels of child
abuse have dreadful repercussions on the country’s
economy as well over a stretched period of time.

Impact
of child
abuse

Psychological
Socio- Physical
and
economic
Behavioral
 SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT

The social and economic costs of child abuse and neglect are
difficult to calculate. Some costs are straightforward and
directly related to maltreatment, such as hospital costs for
medical treatment of injuries sustained as a result of physical
abuse and foster care costs resulting from the removal of
children when they cannot remain safely with their families.
Other costs, less directly tied to the incidence of abuse,
include lower academic achievement, adult criminality, and
lifelong mental health problems.

Child maltreatment can cause excessive or prolonged

activation of stress response systems in the body and brain,
known as toxic stress. Toxic stress can have lifelong,
damaging effects on learning, behavior, and health. While
children from all backgrounds deal with adverse experiences
and toxic stress, children growing up in minority
communities are often subject to more in comparison.
Racism and discrimination have been also shown to
contribute to toxic stress and affect the developing brain.
Supportive, responsive relationships with adults early in life
can prevent or reverse the damaging effects of toxic stress.
PHYSICAL IMPACT

Physical impact can result in physical injuries, such as bruises,

burns, and wounds. Victims may experience frustration from
the work environment, leading to increased aggression and
sensitivity, which can lead to abuse and a worsening of
parent-child relationships. Boys often experience more severe
abuse recurrence. Physical impacts can include self-
mutilation or suicidal attempts. Neglecting a child can lead to
under-development, lack of mental growth, and seclusion
from peers, relatives, and teachers. Neglecting children is also
linked to obesity and malnutrition.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL

IMPACT

Child abuse has severe psychological effects, including age-

inappropriate sexualization, distorted views of sex, confusion
about sexual identity, and a lack of awareness about one's
body. It can lead to anxiety, fear, eating and sleeping
disorders, and difficulty building trust in relationships. Child
abuse is a significant driver of depression, and unrealistic
parental expectations create inner turmoil. It erodes a child's
confidence and self-esteem, making them emotionally
vulnerable and prone to submissive behavior.
 04
REPORTING
OF CHILD
ABUSE
Protecting children from maltreatment is a primary societal responsibility.
Reporting is one thing, but making sure you have the right questions, the
right attitude, and know the steps of supporting a child who has gone
through abuse is just as important as making that report.

STEP 1: RECOGNIZE

The signs of child abuse aren't always obvious, and a child might not be able to tell
anyone what's happening to them. Sometimes, children don't even realise that
what's happening to them is abuse.
There are different types of child abuse and the signs that a child is being abused
may depend on the type.
Some common signs that there may be something concerning happening in a
child’s life include:
unexplained changes in behaviour or personality
becoming withdrawn
seeming anxious
becoming uncharacteristically aggressive
lacks social skills and has few friends, if any
poor bond or relationship with a parent
knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age
running away or going missing
always choosing to wear clothes which cover their body.

These signs do not necessarily indicate that a child is being abused; there may be
other factors influencing their behaviour; however, it can be helpful in assessing the
situation.
You may also notice some concerning behaviour from adults who you know have
children in their care, which makes you concerned for the child/children’s safety and
wellbeing.
 STEP 2: RESPOND

Recognizing abuse, whether it be witnessing it or a child telling you about it,

requires a response. That response can make all the difference for that child or
youth getting help, holding the perpetrators accountable, and starting or
continuing the process of their healing. One of the key elements of making
reports, that is often overlooked, is how to appropriately respond to disclosures of
abuse from kiddos and youth, the language to use, and what to tell them after
they disclose. When it comes to disclosing abuse, whether it be your own child or
not, it can be incredibly scary and takes a huge amount of courage and bravery –
do not take this lightly. If a child or youth discloses to you, that means a lot!
Here are some of the steps to follow
while responding to child abuse:
 STEP 3: REPORT

If you find out that child sexual abuse is taking place, you must report it to
the police, who in turn must record your complaint in writing. If you don’t,
you can be punished with jail time of 6 months or a fine. If you are aware of
any incident and are reasonably certain that a child is a victim of any form of
sexual abuse please use any of the mentioned ways to contact an authority to
help the child out. There are multiple ways to reach out to an authority that
will help, so please use any way that suits you the most.

You can complain:

Online:
The government has an online complaint system where you can file your
complaint. Your complaint will be filed to the National Commission for
Protection of Child Rights.

Phone:
You can contact the following numbers:

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights- 9868235077

Childline India (Childline is a helpline for offences committed against
children)- 1098

Email:
You can send an email to National Commission for Protection of Child Rights:
[email protected]
.
Police:
Call 100 to contact the police about any information you have about any
incident of child sexual abuse. Please read more about Police Complaint
here.

Mobile App:
You can download the mobile app called the POCSO e-box (Android users
only) and report the abuse directly through it.

Post/Letter/Messenger:
You can write to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
with your complaint or send a messenger to this address:

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS (NCPCR)

5th Floor,Chandralok Building 36, Janpath,

New Delhi-110001 India.

Don’t be worried about what will happen to the child once you complain.
The child will be taken care of by the local police/Special Juvenile Police
who will inform the Child Welfare Committee2 who will further appoint a
Support Person to assist the child and the family of the child in the legal
process that will follow after the complaint.
CURRENT LEGAL
FRAMEWORK IN 05
INDIA
The Constitution contains provisions in respect of children under Part
III of the Constitution, i.e. Fundamental Rights, and Part IV of the
Constitution, i.e. Directive Principles.

COMMISSIONS FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD PROTECTION OF

CHILD RIGHTS (CPCR) ACT 2005

This was set up to make sure all the laws, policies and mandates are
in consonance with the Child Rights perspective in the Constitution
of India and the UN Convention on the Rights of Child. It involves
examining and reviewing the legal procedures, prepare periodic
reports upon the working of the legal safeguards, inquire into abuse
cases and initiate legal proceedings, spread awareness of child rights,
undertake research in child rights, inspect institutions for juvenile
offenders, inquire and investigate complaints of violation of the rights
of the child, and undertake other necessary functions for the
protection of children.

JUVENILE JUSTICE (CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN) ACT,

2015

This provides for punishment to such persons who abuse children

kept under their charge or control. These include parents, school
principals or teachers, in-charge or staff of a children's home or any
institution where children live, a doctor or a nurse who is treating the
child, Anganwadi teachers, the employer, etc. Special care is to be
given to children in childcare institutions in the aspects of health,
education, nutrition, de-addiction, treatment of diseases, vocational
training, skill development, counselling etc.
 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES
ACT (POCSO), 2015

This deals with sexual offences against persons below 18 years of age, who
are deemed as children. The Act for the first time, defines “penetrative
sexual assault”, “sexual assault” and “sexual harassment”. The offence is
considered graver if it is committed by a police officer, public servant, any
member of the staff at a remand home, protection or observation home,
jail, hospital or educational institution, or by a member of the armed or
security forces.
The Act is a comprehensive law to provide for the protection of children
from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography,
while safeguarding the interests of the child at every stage of the judicial
process by incorporating child-friendly mechanisms for reporting,
recording of evidence, investigation and speedy trial of offences through
appointment of Special Public Prosecutors and designated Special Courts.
06 PREVENTION
The very fIrst step towards prevention is
building an atmosphere of trust
condentiality and openness fordiscussing
sexual issues.

School based prevention programs that teaches the

children and adolescents to be safe by organizing more
awareness programmes on child sexual issues.
Teaching children and adolescents about safe and
unsafe touch, how to recognize it and what to do in case
if it happens to them or someone else in their
knowledge.
Teaching children and adolescents about the procedure
of reporting sexual abuse cases so that the perpetrators
are nabbed and they do not target more children
Creating awareness in the society regarding the myths
and facts about child sexual abuse.
Sensitizing parents for building a rapport with their
children in discussing about issues of sexual abuse.
Training parents in recognizing child sexual abuse and
dealing with it.
 A Few Important Things To Know

Persons (other than

Emergency numbers to
Agencies for children parents) who may be
remember
helpful in situations

Panchayat
Police
members
Child Helpline/NGOs
Aanganwadi
Child Welfare
worker Police : 100
Committees (CWC)
School teacher Women Helpline :
Magistrate
ANM/Doctor 1091
State Commission
Asha didi Child Helpline : 1098
for Protection of
Child Protection Ambulance Number
Child Rights
Committee : 102
District Child
District Child
Protection
Protection Officer
Committee
District officials
07 RECOMMENDATION

The child abuse problem can be prevented to a maximum extent by

increasing the awareness of the child at an early stage and preparing them
for such situations.

The curriculum in schools to include sex education can be a step

forward to increase the awareness of children regarding sexuality,
improving their knowledge and prevention of abuse.
Introduction of training programmes for teachers to address their deep
cultural beliefs related to sex education, their role in shaping the
personality of a child on a regular basis.
Educational programs related to self-protection, knowledge related to
abuse which help the child to recognise the signs related to abusive
behaviours and be warned in advance and abstain from perpetrators in
a clever way.
Building of systems to increase the awareness at family and
community level, the empowerment of families to expose the
perpetrators within the family and not protect them due to pressure or
coercion.
The large population and socio-economic barriers in India call for a
more sophisticated public health approach. This requires functioning
at grass root levels to facilitate proper implementation, monitoring and
surveillance of the existing child protection programmes in India and
also aid in further research to inform future policies to strengthen the
existing policies and devise new ones.
Formation of committees or government bodies to monitor the
adequate allocation of resources to programs related to child abuse.
Incorporation of officials from an external agency like the UN, UNICEF,
WHO to monitor the utilisation of funds to improve the accountability
and to prevent opportunistic behaviour by the stakeholders involved in
child abuse prevention and awareness programs.
Development of monitoring, surveillance and research bases for data
collection to ncrease the evidence base on the success or failure of the
implemented policies and nterventions.
HELPLINE
Organization Helpline Number Location

Bachpan Bachao
1800-102-7222 New Delhi
Andolan

Arpan 9819086444 Maharashtra

CHILDLINE (Ministry
of Woman and Child
1098 Pan-India
Development,
Government of India)

Sakshi - violence (0124) 2562336/

New Delhi
intervention center 5018873

CHILDLINE 112 Andhra Pradesh

Delhi Commission for

Protection of Child 9311551393 Delhi
Rights (DCPCR)

RAHI- Recovering
and Healing from
Incest. A support (011) 26238466/
centre for women 26224042, 26227647
survivors of child
sexual abuse

Kailash Satyarthi
Children's 011 – 47511111 New Delhi
Foundation

Aarambh India +91 8104461284 Mumbai

FOUNDATION FOR +91 96890 62202 /

CHILD PROTECTION- +91 91122 99785 / +91 Maharashtra
MUSKAAN 91122 99784
 REFERENCES
Child abuse - Diagnosis & treatment - Mayo Clinic. (2022, May 19).
Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/child-abuse/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370867

Gladding, S. T. (2009, September 1). Counseling: A Comprehensive

Profession, 6/E. Pearson Education India.

Gonzalez D, Bethencourt Mirabal A, McCall JD. Child Abuse and

Neglect. 2023 Jul 4. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL):
StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29083602.

Pathak, A. U. (n.d.). Child Abuse in India - An Analysis.

Indiathink.Org. Retrieved January 3, 2021, from
http://indiathink.org/Child-Abuse-in-India-An-Analysis-by-Amisha-
u-Pathak.pdf

Paul, V. K., Rathaur, V. K., Bhat, N. K., Sananganba, R., Ittoop, A. L., &
Pathania, M. (2021, January 1). Child abuse: A social evil in Indian
perspective. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care;
Medknow. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1862_20

Raj M, C., & A, N. (2021, April 30). CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN INDIA.
International Journal of Advanced Research, 9(04), 353–360.
https://doi.org/10.21474/ijar01/12694

Roy, Priyadarshini Madik, S. I. (2020). Child Abuse: Is India Well-

Equipped for the Challenge? International Journal of Policy
Sciences and Law, 01(02), 941–965. https://ijpsl.in/wp-
content/uploads/2020/12/Child-Abuse-Is-India-Well-Equipped-for-
the-Challenge_Sneha-Roy-Indira-Priyadarshini-Madiki.pdf