The day of today is 27th 09.2007. The day that all the blogger post something about ABUSE including ;
* Animal Abuse
* Domestic Abuse
* Child Abuse
* Political Abuse & more..
All of this is about CHILD ABUSE. Got it from Online Local News Paper at Malaysia. Let read it..
First
NST Online [29.07.2007] Local News
Abuse and the emotional factor
WHY do some men and women abuse their children?
The factors for women vary from post-natal depression, family problems or financial problems to inability to cope with stress, poor anger management, drug addiction or alcohol abuse. In the case of men, it could be jealously of the attention a mother gives to a newborn. "Physical abuse of a young person usually occurs when the caregiver is in a crisis situation and it usually happens in a moment of anger or stress," says Dr Irene Cheah, head of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) Paediatric Unit. The chairman of the HKL Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect team says the caregiver, in most cases, only wants to discipline the child. But this sometimes ends up in severe injuries. In cases of sexual abuse, it is usually pre-meditated as the perpetrator would have targeted his victim. Dr Cheah says the frame of mind of the one meting out punishment determines when punishment becomes abuse. "Corporal punishment should be such that the child knows what she is being punished for and the person meting out the punishment should be calm. "But when the physical punishment does not commensurate with the degree of misconduct, then it can lead to abuse. "If an adult treats a child as someone with rights, then they are less likely to abuse them." Dr Cheah says the public and caregivers such as school and nursery teachers should be encouraged to report all suspected cases of abuse. "You may not be right, but better safe than sorry." Child and Adolescent psychiatrist Assoc Prof Dr Aili Hashim of the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) stresses that emotional abuse of a child is as bad as physical abuse. "When a child is constantly ignored or put down and made to feel inferior, rejected or unappreciated, they grow up treating others the same way as they think this is how a child should be treated." Dr Aili, who counsels children with behavioural problems, says in many cases, the problem stemmed from emotionally cold parents who had an unhappy childhood or were abused. "We see children as young as 6 or 7 or who have been emotionally abused. People tend to minimise this issue and if it’s not dealt with, it can be as bad or worse than physical abuse."
Second
NSTOnline [29.07.07] Frontpage
MOM-STER IN THE HOME: The ugly spectre of growing child abuse
P. SELVARANI and TAN CHOE CHOE
Mothers and fathers are doing the unthinkable: Abusing their children and scarring them for life. In some cases, they have sent them to an early grave. What drives such insanity? P. SELVARANI and TAN CHOE CHOE examine the social phenomenon that is leaving Malaysians shaken to the core
MOTHERS are said to have been created by God as He could not be everywhere.
But some are committing the ultimate betrayal by abusing their own flesh and blood — their children.
This is a phenomenon puzzling to the authorities and the average Malaysian alike, that the very people charged with raising and nurturing children — parents — are hurting them beyond belief, sometimes to death.
There is no escaping the ugly spectre of worsening statistics: Child abuse cases have increased by 60 per cent in the past five years, from 1,242 in 2002 to 1,999 last year.
It paints a frightening outlook for the future.
Mothers were responsible for 493 of the 1,999 cases of child abuse last year, according to Welfare Department statistics.
Fathers, their children’s supposed hero and protector, came in a close second. They were responsible for 441 of the cases.
Collectively, parents were responsible for nearly five out of 10 cases of child abuse last year.
Police statistics show that of the 26 child murder cases reported in the first five months of this year, five were committed by fathers and two by mothers.
Some of the victims were newborn babies.
At least two out of 10 victims were less than 4 years old.
Those between 7 and 15 made up the majority of reported cases.
Statistics also show that in 214 cases, the boyfriend or girlfriend of the victims had a hand in the abuse.
Other abusers were friends, relatives, step-parents, babysitters and neighbours.
The figures were so alarming that police set up the Sexual Crimes and Children division, or D11, to handle them.
According to the department, the reasons for abuse vary but family problems were the main cause cited (659 cases).
In 116 cases, the abusers were found to be mentally disturbed.
There were also abusers who were alcoholics (83), dadah addicts (81) and those who were abuse victims themselves (28).
Living apart from the family in their early growing up years was also cited as a reason for abuse, especially among parents.
There were abusers who blamed the child for being hyperactive, making it difficult for the parents or guardian to watch over them. Exhaustion led to frayed tempers and in 101 cases, violence.
A small number of abusers cited financial problems, superstitious beliefs and the intention of disciplining children.
To 33 abusers, the fact that a child was born out of wedlock was enough cause for abuse.
In about 10 per cent of cases, no one could identify a reason for the abuse.
Urbanisation may also be a factor as the incidents mostly occurred in more developed states, such as Selangor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
"This is a possibility as city dwellers usually work long hours and are generally stressed.
"From our data, higher density areas generally have more reported cases," said Welfare Department director-general Datuk Rafek Reshidullah.
Some 50 per cent of cases reported to the department last year came from government hospitals.
The 24-hour Teledera helpline, a dedicate telephone line to report child abuse, referred only 37 cases to the department over the same period.
"The number is not big but Teledera is very effective, especially in reaching out to those who need advice or immediate help."
During office hours, the department will handle the telephone calls. Calls outside office hours are routed to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
Most cases reported are new cases, said Rafek.
"We have a registry that keeps track of victims and abusers. We know who they are, and repeat incidents are rare."
However, he said not all abuse cases were reported to the police, with reported cases being the very severe ones.
Once an abusive parent or guardian is referred to the department, a welfare officer will separate the child from him (or her) and place the victim in a temporary shelter.
The parent or guardian will then be counselled.
"We will investigate the case and the findings will be presented to the Children’s Court.
"The court will decide if the child remains with the parent or guardian or is placed in the care of a more fit and proper person.
"In most cases, the child is usually returned to the care of the family, providing the parent or guardian who abused the child is repentant."
Otherwise, the child may be placed in foster care or, as a last resort, sent to a welfare institution or orphanage.
The sorry episode does not end there. The abused victim may go on to become an abuser.
Third
NSTOnline [21.09.07] NewsBreak
Police set up sexual, abuse and child unit
BERNAMA
But some are committing the ultimate betrayal by abusing their own flesh and blood — their children.
This is a phenomenon puzzling to the authorities and the average Malaysian alike, that the very people charged with raising and nurturing children — parents — are hurting them beyond belief, sometimes to death.
There is no escaping the ugly spectre of worsening statistics: Child abuse cases have increased by 60 per cent in the past five years, from 1,242 in 2002 to 1,999 last year.
Mothers were responsible for 493 of the 1,999 cases of child abuse last year, according to Welfare Department statistics.
Fathers, their children’s supposed hero and protector, came in a close second. They were responsible for 441 of the cases.
Collectively, parents were responsible for nearly five out of 10 cases of child abuse last year.
Police statistics show that of the 26 child murder cases reported in the first five months of this year, five were committed by fathers and two by mothers.
Some of the victims were newborn babies.
At least two out of 10 victims were less than 4 years old.
Those between 7 and 15 made up the majority of reported cases.
Statistics also show that in 214 cases, the boyfriend or girlfriend of the victims had a hand in the abuse.
Other abusers were friends, relatives, step-parents, babysitters and neighbours.
The figures were so alarming that police set up the Sexual Crimes and Children division, or D11, to handle them.
According to the department, the reasons for abuse vary but family problems were the main cause cited (659 cases).
In 116 cases, the abusers were found to be mentally disturbed.
There were also abusers who were alcoholics (83), dadah addicts (81) and those who were abuse victims themselves (28).
Living apart from the family in their early growing up years was also cited as a reason for abuse, especially among parents.
There were abusers who blamed the child for being hyperactive, making it difficult for the parents or guardian to watch over them. Exhaustion led to frayed tempers and in 101 cases, violence.
A small number of abusers cited financial problems, superstitious beliefs and the intention of disciplining children.
To 33 abusers, the fact that a child was born out of wedlock was enough cause for abuse.
In about 10 per cent of cases, no one could identify a reason for the abuse.
Urbanisation may also be a factor as the incidents mostly occurred in more developed states, such as Selangor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
"This is a possibility as city dwellers usually work long hours and are generally stressed.
"From our data, higher density areas generally have more reported cases," said Welfare Department director-general Datuk Rafek Reshidullah.
Some 50 per cent of cases reported to the department last year came from government hospitals.
The 24-hour Teledera helpline, a dedicate telephone line to report child abuse, referred only 37 cases to the department over the same period.
"The number is not big but Teledera is very effective, especially in reaching out to those who need advice or immediate help."
During office hours, the department will handle the telephone calls. Calls outside office hours are routed to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
Most cases reported are new cases, said Rafek.
"We have a registry that keeps track of victims and abusers. We know who they are, and repeat incidents are rare."
However, he said not all abuse cases were reported to the police, with reported cases being the very severe ones.
Once an abusive parent or guardian is referred to the department, a welfare officer will separate the child from him (or her) and place the victim in a temporary shelter.
The parent or guardian will then be counselled.
"We will investigate the case and the findings will be presented to the Children’s Court.
"The court will decide if the child remains with the parent or guardian or is placed in the care of a more fit and proper person.
"In most cases, the child is usually returned to the care of the family, providing the parent or guardian who abused the child is repentant."
Otherwise, the child may be placed in foster care or, as a last resort, sent to a welfare institution or orphanage.
The sorry episode does not end there. The abused victim may go on to become an abuser.
Third
NSTOnline [21.09.07] NewsBreak
Police set up sexual, abuse and child unit
BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri: The Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department has established a new unit known as the Sexual, Abuse and Child Investigation Division or D11 to specially deal with such cases.
Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee said the unit, comprising women officers, was to beef up and enhance police efficiency in handling cases related to child abuse and domestic violence. “The division has 101 women personnel who are well-trained to handle sexual, abuse and child cases,” he told reporters after a briefing for MCA Wanita at the Bukit Aman auditorium here. He said police were concerned with the increase in rape cases, 26 per cent from 1,931 cases in 2005 to 2,431 last year, adding that most of the victims were students. Selangor recorded the highest number of rape case which also included incest cases. On domestic violence, he said the number of cases increased by six per cent, from 3,093 in 2005 to 3,264 last year, with financial problems being the cause in most cases. Child abuse cases dropped by 25 per cent, from 189 cases in 2005 to 141 in 2006. With the increase in crime, Wan advised parents to be more careful in monitor their children’s activities.
