What is Childhood Domestic Violence?
CDV is when a person grows up living in a home with violence between their
parents or violence towards a parent
Domestic violence is behavior that is learned through observation and
reinforcement in both the family and society.
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impact of violence
Violence against children has lifelong impacts on
health and well-being of children, families,
communities, and nations. Violence against
children can:
Result in negative coping and health risk
behaviors. Children exposed to violence and other
adversities are substantially more likely to smoke, misuse
alcohol and drugs, and engage in high-risk sexual behaviour.
They also have higher rates of anxiety, depression, other
mental health problems and suicide.
Contribute to a wide range of non-communicable
diseases as children grow older. The increased risk for
cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and other health
conditions is largely due to the negative coping and health
risk behaviours associated with violence.
Impair brain and nervous system development. Exposure
to violence at an early age can impair brain development
and damage other parts of the nervous system, violence
against children can negatively affect cognitive development
and results in educational and vocational under-
achievement.
Impact opportunities and future generations. Children
exposed to violence and other adversities are more likely to
drop out of school, have difficulty finding and keeping a job,
and are at heightened risk for later victimization and/or
perpetration of interpersonal and self-directed violence, by
which violence against children can affect the next
generation.
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Types of violence
Violence against children includes all forms of violence against
people under 18 years old. Although different states have
different terms and definitions, child abuse usually
falls under four main categories:
Emotional or psychological violence includes restricting a
child’s movements, denigration, ridicule, threats and
intimidation, discrimination, rejection and other non-physical
forms of hostile treatment. Psychological abuse involves
isolation from others, excessive jealousy, control of his or
her activities, verbal aggression, intimidation through
destruction of property, harassment or stalking, threats of
violence and constant belittling and humiliation.
Bullying (including cyber-bullying) is unwanted aggressive
behavior by another child or group of children who are
neither siblings nor in a relationship with the victim. It
involves repeated physical, psychological or social harm,
and often takes place in schools and other settings where
children gather, and online.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is one of the first forms of violence people think of
when they hear the words domestic violence. Examples of physical
abuse include slapping, shaking, beating with burning, kicking and threats
with a knife.
Physical abuse occurs when behaviors are clearly intended to
render the victim powerless and to gain control in the relationship.
Depression
Depression is a common problem for children who experience domestic
violence. The child often feels helpless and powerless. More girls
internalize their emotions and show signs of depression than boys.
Post traumatic stress disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result in children from
exposure to domestic violence. Symptoms of this are
nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, increased alertness to the environment,
having problems concentrating, and can lead to physical symptoms.
[15]
When children are exposed to domestic violence, it shows ((
(1) Every year, hundreds of millions of children are exposed to domestic
violence at home, and this has a powerful and profound impact on their
lives and hopes for the future. These children not only watch one parent
violently assaulting another, they often hear the distressing sounds of
violence, or may be aware of it from many tell-tale signs.
(3) Increased levels of anxiety and confusion when they witness the
violence in the family they may feel confusion, stress, fear, shame, or think
that they caused the problem.
Children often feel responsible for the violence and do not understand that
it is a problem between adults.
It leaves the child with a feeling of confusion in particular when they feel
close to both parents.
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Risk and Protective Factors
Risk factors are those characteristics linked with child abuse and neglect,
but they may or may not be direct causes. A combination of individual,
relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of child
abuse and neglect.
Individual Risk Factors
Parents’ lack of understanding of children’s needs, child
development and parenting skills
Parental history of child abuse and or neglect
Substance abuse and/or mental health issues including
depression in the family
Parental characteristics such as young age, low education,
single parenthood, large number of dependent children, and
low income
Parental thoughts and emotions that tend to support or
justify maltreatment behaviors
Family Risk Factors
Social isolation
Family stress, separation or divorce, and violence, including
intimate partner violence
Parenting stress, poor parent-child relationships, and
negative interactions
Community Risk Factors
Community violence
Concentrated neighborhood disadvantage (e.g., high
poverty, high unemployment rates, and high density of
alcohol outlets), and poor social connections.
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Strategies for ending violence against children
Implementation and enforcement of laws
While South Africa has outstanding legislation and policy pertaining to
children, accessing justice is often extremely problematic. We advocate
for the right to protection and legal services for each individual client
survivor of crime.
2. Norms and values
Through our community activations, training and counselling services we
promote positive cultural values of our country and child rearing
practices. Providing information and alternatives to the harmful
practices of: all forms of abuse or violence
Safe environments
Safety tips for caregivers and children and public calls for communities
to be aware of vulnerable youth aid in the co-creation of safer
environments.
4. Parent and caregiver support
We offer comprehensive positive parenting workshops and public talks
at clinics and schools within communities as well as individual telephone
and face to face counselling sessions.
5. Income and economic strengthening
This is promoted by sharing information and referrals for social grants
and identification documents.
6. Response and support services
Face to face and telephone counselling, foster care services and
overnight emergency care for those in life threatening circumstance
promote healing for children and families.
7. Education and life skills
Provided in our awareness and prevention project in primary schools.
What children need
Children can be better protected from the effects of domestic
violence and better supported in healing following exposure
to this violence.
Children need a safe and secure home environment.
Every child has the right to grow up safe from harm. They should
feel that their loved ones are also protected. Violence in the home
shatters a child’s basic right to feel safe and secure in the world.
Children need the violence to stop.
Children need to know that there are adults who will listen to
them, believe them and shelter them.
Adults who work with children, including teachers, social workers,
relatives, and parents themselves. They all need the awareness
and skills to recognize and meet the needs of children. Those
who are exposed to violence in the home must be referred to
appropriate services. Close, dependable relationships can also
help children reduce the stress of living in a violent home.
Children need a sense of routin.
Violence in the home can turn a child’s world upside down.
Routines such as going to school and participating in recreational
activities are vital for children’s development and well-being and
should be maintained.
Children need support services to meet their needs.
Responses to children exposed to domestic violence should be
comprehensive and holistic, taking into account the range of
effects and needs of different children. Children must have places
to go that are safe and supportive. Whether it be with extended
family or at a domestic violence shelter.
Conclusion:-
Domestic Violence is an act of indecency, coward-ness and
sheer barbarity.
There should be certain serious and implementable laws,
action plans, programs and strategies to control the rate of
domestic violence not only in Pakistan but all around the
world.
Educational programs should be introduced in all societies
and culture both for women and men at the same level.
Another suggestion is that awareness programs should be
created which should include birth direct and indirect
teaching. Direct teaching should include teaching and
counseling. Indirect teaching should involve use of media,
pamphlets, role play, drama, talk show.
that one way to help stop child violence before it starts is to help
reduce stress on families. Lend a helping hand and be a friend to
parents who need it. Get to know neighbors and families of your
kids and show them that you are there for them.
