According to KOSIS(Korean Statistical Information Service), the number of child abuse reports in 2020 was 42,251 and the actual number of child abuse cases was 30,905. As you can see in the graph below, the numbers are increasing steadily every year. The world is progressing, but why does this happen? What can we do to help? Let us ponder over the problem together on November 19th for the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse.
- Range of Child Abuse
The definition of child abuse includes not only active acts of abuse but also neglect in a passive sense. Considering the concept of child abuse broadly, it is abuse not only to physically punish children but also to scream or verbally abuse them. According to Kim Soon-gyu, a Professor in the Department of Social Welfare, it can also be considered abuse not to provide children with educational opportunities or proper care such as food, a clean family environment, or clothing, etc. Likewise, fighting in front of children is considered child abuse.
- Change in Perception
Kim said that the perception of child abuse has changed significantly compared to the past. This can also be seen through changes in child abuse laws. One of them is the revised Child Welfare Act enacted in October 2020. "That was a big change in our approach to child abuse," Kim added. Before the law was revised, field investigations were the role of private child protection agencies. After the revision of the Child Welfare Act, public institutions can conduct on the spot field investigations of incidents of child abuse. In other words, the public's role in the prevention of child abuse has been strengthened. It is similar to the current child abuse response system in the United States. "However, laws related to children in Korea are also called laws made with children's blood," Kim added. The change in perception of child abuse is improving due to changes in child abuse related laws, but in fact, the enactment and revision of child abuse-related laws are specifically targeting serious child abuse crimes.
- Meaning of Statistics
According to Kim, the number of reports of child abuse is increasing year after year, which she interprets as the increasing awareness of child abuse rather than a sudden increase in actual abuse. "This should not be misunderstood. In fact, the number of child abuse reports and child abuse prosecutions are different." In other words, a high number of child abuse allegations does not necessarily mean a high number of child abuse prosecutions. Legal intervention is possible only when it is judged by the court as child abuse, so reports and legal prosecutions may be separate.
- Right Attitudes to Wisely Deal with Child Abuse
Kim believes that preventing child abuse is more important than treatment after the fact. Child abuse mostly occurs with familiar people and places in the daytime and it often occurs long-term as it is difficult for others to recognize. That is why people need to raise awareness about child abuse and pay careful attention when they are around children. The same responsibility goes for university students, as well. As a member of society, if you see children being abused or frequently hear children crying nearby, you had better carefully observe and report it to 112.
After child abuse occurs, psychological therapy for children and intervention aimed at wrongdoing parents and families is required. This is because the cause for abuse may be due to a parent’s mental illness or a social structural problem such as unemployment. “Family and parents are the primary and essential source for children’s wellbeing, and therefore we need to strengthen the structure of the family,” Kim stated.
The recent revision of the Child Welfare Act expands the public’s responsibility for child abuse prevention and emphasizes the role of professional child protection agencies. In this situation, cooperation between local governments, police, child protection agencies, and schools will be imperative to cope with and prevent child abuse.
| It is not easy to recognize child abuse that usually occurs at home. However, there is some circumstantial evidence to suspect child abuse. If a child wears clothes inappropriate for the season, is not clean, does not eat breakfast, has bruises on the body all the time, does not speak much, or shows sudden emotional distress, abuse can be suspected. In the case of sexual abuse, children might fear going near the place of abuse or fear people similar to their abuser, and complain of pain in their genitals. As children are unskilled to express themselves, careful observation is needed in these situations. |
- ‘Good Day’ for Children
As university students, what can we do to help children affected by child abuse and improve their rights? The JBNU central club ‘Good Day’ conducts various campaigns and volunteer activities every month to defend children’s rights and prevent child abuse in cooperation with ‘Good Neighbors’, a Non-Governmental Organization. The members are divided into five teams to conduct programs with legally protected children or to plan and hold campaigns to support the rights of the children.
Choi Ji-sun, a member of the Good Day campaign team, who participated in every campaign held by Good Day this year, said that the campaign held at JBNU in April and the one at Nosong Square in front of Jeonju City Hall in May were the most memorable for her. “I could feel the significance of the campaign as I saw schoolmates listen and be educated on the blind spots of child abuse. Also, it was rewarding to provide children with fun activities such as making a pinwheel that has the four major rights of children on it so that they can remember their rights for a long time.”
Another campaign team member, Han Sin-woo, said she noticed the impact the media was having through online campaigns. “It certainly seems that people are interested in what they have encountered a lot. I’ve come to realize the responsibility the campaign team has to deliver information to people.” She also mentioned the advantages of club activities allowing them to plan and conduct comprehensive campaigns directly through Good Neighbors. “It is meaningful to design the campaigns because I have to pay attention to children and how to garner people’s attention to create a happier world,” she said.
Good Day recruits new members twice a year. Anyone who is interested in Good Neighbors and Good Day, and loves children is eligible to be a part of Good Day.
At the end of the interview, Professor Kim said, “I hope it will serve as an opportunity for everyone to pay attention and raise awareness of child abuse.” Currently, there are a total of six child protection institutions in Jeollabuk-do that manage child abuse cases, while public officials in charge of child abuse cases are assigned to fourteen cities and counties. It is time for all of us to make efforts to create a society without child abuse.
| Kim Eun-ji Editor-in-chief, Park Ji-woo Reporter