Child abuse is defined as deliberately inflicting physical or emotional harm on a child. It includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as physical and emotional neglect. Child abuse can seriously impair a child's growth, development and health, potentially causing permanent disability or death. The Special Child Protection Law of the Philippines defines and prohibits various forms of child abuse and establishes penalties for committing abuse.

1. Child Abuse Definition: The act of deliberately inflicting or causing to inflict: Physical injuries upon a child Unreasonable deprivation of basic needs for survival * *any act that debases, degrades or demeans the child

2. any act of commission or omission that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health and development. It 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.

3. Special Child Protection Law (RA 7610) – Child Abuse maltreatment of a child, whether habitual or not, which include any of the following: Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment; Any act by deeds or words that debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being;

4. Special Child Protection Law (RA 7610) – Child Abuse Unreasonable deprivation of his basic needs for survival, such as food and shelter; Failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting to serious impairment of his growth / development / in his impermanent incapacity or death

5. Consequences of Child Abuse Seriously impair growth and development Permanent incapacity (physical and psychological) Death

6. Major Forms of Child Abuse Physical Abuse/Maltreatment (also known as Child Battering) non-accidental injury Ex. Hitting, kicking, slapping, shaking, burning, pinching, hair pulling, biting, choking, throwing, shoving, whipping, paddling

7. Major Forms of Child Abuse Physical Neglect Failure to provide for physical needs Ex. Lack of supervision, inappropriate housing / shelter, inadequate provision of food, inappropriate clothing for season/weather, abandonment, denial of medical care, inadequate hygiene

8. Major Forms of Child Abuse Emotional Abuse/Maltreatment Any attitude / behavior, which interferes with a child’s mental health / social development Ex. Yelling, screaming, name-calling, shaming, negative comparisons to others, telling them that they are ‘bad, no good, worthless, a mistake’

9. Major Forms of Child Abuse Emotional Abuse/Maltreatment Failure to provide affection and support necessary for the development of a child’s emotional, social, physical, intellectual well-being Ex. Ignoring, lack of physical affection (hugs), not saying ‘I love you’, withdrawal of attention, lack of praise and positive reinforcement

10. Major Forms of Child Abuse Sexual Abuse Involvement in sexual activity with an adult or any person bigger/older Child used as a sexual object Ex. Fondling, penetration, intercourse, exploitation, pornography, exhibitionism, child prostitution, goup sex, oral sex, or forced observation of sexual acts

11. Signs and Symptoms of Child Abuse Emotional Abuse Apathy Depression Hostility / stress Lack of concentration Eating disorder

12. Signs and Symptoms of Child Abuse Neglect Unsuitable clothing for the weather Dirty or unbathed Extreme hunger Apparent lack of supervision

13. Effects of Child Abuse Psycho-social Effects Socially-withdrawn/avoidant behavior Learning problems Extreme depression and suicide Sense of alienation Emotional breakdown

14. Psychological Impact of Child Sexual Abuse “ Damaged Goods” Syndrome Regression/Immature behavior Guilt – responsibility for sexual behavior responsibility for disclosure responsibility for disruption of family

15. Psychological Impact of Child Sexual Abuse Repressed Anger/Hostility anger at the offender/s anger at family members who failed them anger at themselves Inability to Trust Blurring of role boundaries

16. Psychological Impact of Child Physical Abuse Anxiety/ Fears Sleep disturbances/nightmares Psychosomatic complaints Mood changes Hypervigilance ( Frozen Watchfulness) and exaggerated startle response

17. Psychological Impact of Child Physical Abuse Impaired self-control aggressive and assaultive behaviors oppositional behaviors conduct problems inattention/hyperactivity

18. Penalty Under the 1977 rape law, death penalty law and the Revised Penal Code, any government / public official who is found guilty of inflicting any forms of abuse to a child has a higher penalty .

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