Presentation on child abuse for education students at Benguet State University

1. Child Abuse
Celia P. Munson
Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor with
Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center
Www.bukallife.org

2. Quote
“The test of the morality of a society is what it
does for its children.”
-Dietrich Bonnhoeffer
“Children are gifts from the Lord. God takes our
treatment of children very seriously.'
-John and Becky Leverington
(child abuse specialists)

3. Definitions

Child Abuse

Physical Abuse

Emotional Abuse

Neglect

Spiritual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse

4. Child Abuse
...is the treatment of a child under the age of 18,
often in the context of a relationship of
responsibility, trust, or power that endangers or
impairs the health or welfare of a child.
(Leveringtons)

5. Physical Abuse
...is any act that results in a non-accidental
physical injury. Such acts may include, but are
not limited to, slapping, punching, beating,
kicking, biting, shaking, burning, holding under
water, pulling hair, or holding against one's will.
(CS & PN BPS)

6. Emotional Abuse
...is defined by a pattern of behavior over time
that impairs or risks impairing a child's
functioning or physical, mental, spiritual, moral,
or social development. It includes acts of
commission and acts of omission.

7. Emotional Abuse (cont)
Acts of commission may include, but are not limited to
unreasonable restriction of movement, patterns of
belittling, denigrating, ridiculing, yelling at (loud speech
that harms by bringing emotional degradation),
threatening, scaring, humiliating, shaming,
scapegoating, blaming, derogatory name-calling,
publically singling out a child for negative treatment or
exclusion, intimidating, using jokes as put-downs,
sarcasm, discriminating against, continual disapproval,
rejecting, bullying, hazing, unpredictable responses,
constant family discord, and double message
communication, or other non-physical forms of hostile or
rejecting treatment, as well as withholding love, support,
or guidance.

8. Emotional Abuse (cont)
Acts of omission may include, but are not limited to, the
failure to provide a developmentally appropriate and
supportive environment, including the availability of a
primary attachment figure, so the child can develop a
stable and full range of emotional and social
competencies commensurate with her/his personal
potentials and in the context of the society in which the
child dwells.
(SIL)

9. Neglect
...is the failure to provide the child with basic
needs of food, clothing, warmth and shelter,
safe living conditions, emotional and physical
security and protection, medical and dental
care, cleanliness, education, and appropriate
supervision reasonably available to the family
or caretakers. The failure to provide these
needs must also cause or have a high
probability of causing harm to the child's health
or physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social
development. This includes the failure to
properly supervise and protect children from
harm as much as feasible. (SIL)

10. Spiritual Abuse
...“misuse of a position of power, leadership, or
influence to further the selfish interests of someone
other than the individual who needs help.”
(Watchman Fellowship)
It is not a separate type of abuse, but rather aspects
of spiritually abusive behavior involves, but is not
limited to, using Scripture to control or manipulate
a child, to protect the offender, or to manage the
child for the convenience of the adult are evident in
most cases of physical, emotional, and sexual
abuse. (SIL)

11. Sexual Abuse
… is the involvement of the child in sexual activity with
an adult or another child, which includes, but is not
limited to,

Verbal: remarks that include sexual threats,
solicitation, sexual explicit language (whether in
person, on the telephone, or via text messaging or the
Internet), or any verbal expression with the intent to
arouse or stimulate.

Visual: indecent exposure, showing or taking of
suggestive pictures, pornographic material of genitals,
or the showing of unclothed persons, any sexual
activity or simulated sexual activity such as
masturbation or intercourse, peeping, leering, or
staring.

12. Sexual Abuse (cont)

Physical Touching: physical contact (or penetration
by penis, fingers, or any other body part, or object)
with a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic
area, buttocks, or in the case of a female, breasts,
or causing a child to perform any of these acts.
Masturbation in front of or to the victim, rubbing,
holding, or kissing for the purpose of sexual
gratification.
(CS & PN BPS)

13. How Abuse Occurs
Trust is built
Opportunity is developed
Access is gained
Abuse only takes seconds or minutes
Mixed messages: fun/uncomfortable

14. Symptoms of Abuse
We will focus on symptoms of Sexual
Abuse since it is:

Often the hardest to identify

Typically not reported

Often linked to other types of abuse

15. Sexual Abuse Indicators
Copying adult sexual behavior
Persistent, inappropriate, unusual, or aggressive sexual play
with other children, themselves, toys, or pets
Displaying sexual knowledge, through language or behavior,
that is beyond what is normal for their age
Compulsive masturbation
Excessive curiosity about sexual matters or genitalia
Unusually seductive with classmates, teachers, and other
adults
Sexual promiscuity
Excessive concern about sexual identity

16. Sexual Abuse Indicators
(young children)
Bed wetting
Fecal soiling
Eating problems (overeating, undereating)
Fears or phobias
Overly compulsive behavior
School problems or significant change in school performance
Regression to behavior already mastered, such as thumb
sucking, bed wetting, etc.
Inability to concentrate
Sleep disturbances (e.g., nightmares, fearful about falling
asleep, fretful sleep patterns, or sleeping long hours)

17. Statistics to keep in mind:
False reports constitute 1 - 4% of reported cases.
Child Abuse cases in Baguio:
290 (2007)
340 (2008)
Child Abuse cases in CAR handled by DSWD
208 (2009)
Also note that child abuse is notoriously
underreported... for many reasons:

18. Why do children not report
sexual abuse
Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation
Syndrome (Dr. Roland Summit)
− Secrecy
− Helplessness
− Entrapment and Accommodation
− Delayed and Unconvincing
Disclosure
− Retraction

19. Why do children not report
sexual abuse (cont)
Too young to put what has happened into words.
Coerced by someone who’s bigger and in authority.
Manipulated into “playing a fun game” which they are told will
just be their secret.
Bribed not to tell with favors or gifts.
Threatened with harm to themselves or their family.
Love the person who abuses them and are afraid of getting
him or her into trouble.
Believe that the abuse is somehow their own fault. They
often feel guilty, or ashamed.
Afraid they will not be believed or will be punished.

20. Why do children not report
sexual abuse (cont)
Confused because this person is nice to them in other ways.
Confused by the fact that there is a sense of pleasure tied to
a feeling of wrongness.
Been taught to respect their elders.
Don't know who to trust.
They hate conflict, and suspect this will cause a conflict if the
abuser is confronted, so suffer in silence.
The abuse is painful, so they want to forget it.
They don’t have a good relationship with their parents, get in
trouble for other things already, or haven’t been taught
open, healthy communication.
Don’t want their friends and others to know about the abuse.

21. Four Common Mistakes

Forming conclusions about the
truthfulness of the report

Minimizing the seriousness of the
actions

Promising not to tell anyone

Handling it on your own

22. Six Key Responses
I’m very sorry about what happened
It’s not your fault
You’ve done the right thing to tell
I will help and support you
We need to tell the designated administrator, so
she/he can help insure you and others are safe
He/She will take it seriously and get the proper
help

23. Scripture for Thought

Psalm 127:3-4

Matthew 18:6

Mark 10:13-16

Luke 9:48

Ephesians 6:4

Colossians 3:21

24. Additional Thoughts
Children are gifts from the Lord, and rewards
from the Lord.
We are stewards of children, a weighty
responsibility
Society oftens devalues children and their
caretakers
We are to guide and encourage children for them
to reach the potential God has for them.

25. References

Www.childsafetyprotectionnetwork.org

“Child Sexual Abuse Prevention,” International
Counseling Ministries. 2006

National Statistical Coordination Board,
www.nscb.gov.ph.

“Child Protection in the Philippines,” Save the
Children.

“Member Care & Counseling Seminar,” Narramore
Christian Foundation, Chiang Mai, Oct 2012