Child Abuse Issue 1

Child Abuse Issue 1

Let us embark on a journey through this most unpleasant predatory behaviour pattern within the human behavioural characteristics, every now and again showing its ugly fangs with an alarmingly increasing statistic, globally.

Let us start out by just touching the surface for now, in a way to lay a foundation for what is to come.

Definition

Though definitions are variable, it can be said that the ‘child abuse syndrome’ (also known as the ‘battered baby’ or ‘non-accidental injury in childhood’) exits when an infant or child suffers repetitive physical injuries inflicted by a parent or guardian, in circumstances that exclude an accident.

Modes of death in child abuse

The majority of deaths are caused manually:

•  either by hitting or beating of the hands;
• shaking;
•  throwing;
• dropping;

and less often by

• burning; and
• suffocation.

The most common mode of death is head injury.  Next in frequency is rupture of an abdominal viscus, leaving a wide range of miscellaneous injuries to account for the small remainder.

Surface Bruising

The skin and bones tell a story which the child is either too young or too frightened to tell.

Skin bruising is the most common injury and may be observed almost anywhere on the child’s body. 

There are however specific indications which emphasise child abuse, and they are as follows:

• bruising around the limbs, especially the wrist and forearms, upper arms, thighs and – in small infants – around the ankles;
• the buttocks are a frequent site of bruising from hand smacks or beating with a strap;
• bruises on the thigh are less common, but on the outer side may signify slaps and on the inner, possible sexual interference;
• the face is often bruised, especially the cheeks and mouth area, from slaps, which may also be present on the forehead and ears;
•  associated damage to the mouth and eyes is common;
• bruising of the scalp is harder to see because of the hair, but is often part of the deeper head injury;
• bruises on the chest, abdomen and neck are usually from finger pressure rather than slaps or blows;
• those on the abdomen and lower chest may be associated with deep visceral injury.

In the above pictures some of the indications can be seen that is directly linked to child abuse – we will take it slow – these pictures are enough to start with at this stage.

Biblical Perspective

Proverbs 23:13-14

Do not hold back discipline from the mere boy.  In case you beat him with the rod, he will not die.  With the rod you yourself should beat him, that you may deliver his very soul from Sheol itself.

South African Legalistic Perspective

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996

Section 28(1)(d)

Every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.

Child Care Act, 1983 (No. 74 of 1983)
Chapter 8 Prevention of Ill-treatment and Unlawful Removal of Children, and Prohibition of Employment of certain Children
50. Ill-treatment or abandonment of children

1)      Any parent or guardian of a child or any person having the custody of a child who-

a)        ill-treats that child or allows it to be ill-treated; or

b)        abandons that child,

or any other person who ill-treats a child, shall be guilty of an offence.

2)      Any person legally liable to maintain a child who, while able to do so, fails to provide that child with adequate food, clothing, lodging and medical aid, shall be guilty of an offence.

3)      Any person convicted of any offence under this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding R20 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

As one can clearly observe by all means a difficult position we find ourselves in.  Even delivering corporal punishment to your child can be construed as assault – abuse.  On the one side the Bible teaches to discipline your child with a ‘rod’, which in itself does not mean to kick him, burn him with an iron or cigarettes for that matter – see the two photo’s – that is abuse, murder, a sick mind – not normal corporal punishment.

But when we view the legalistic implications we might be moving into a future where physical as well as psychological punishment will become absolute.

I found it very interesting that law reformers in South Africa sought to interview children about their corporal punishment and not grown-ups years later to rather reflect on the effect it had on them as time went by!

But we must be careful when we measure normal corporal punishment against child abuse itself – as there is a vast difference between these two fields, as we will see in the coming issues.

Where do I stand – with God of course – how does God speak and guide my life in raising my son – among other ways predominantly through His Word obviously – will my constitutional right to religion weigh more than the freedom and protection rights being awarded to children in our day and age – I seriously doubt it – we may be in it for the long haul as well as a rather unpleasant and bumpy ride!!

See you next time – and remember the children belong to God – and you don’t want to mess with Him!!!

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