Ngozi Comfort Omojunikanbi
Section 277 of the Child Rights Act of 2003 defines a child as “a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years”. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child of 1999, provides that children must be protected from all forms of torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment, physical, mental or sexual abuse, and neglect or maltreatment. The Child Rights Act of 2003 also provides that children must be protected from child marriage, child betrothal, tattoos, and skin marks, exposure and use of narcotic drugs, abduction, removal or transfer of the child from lawful custody, and child labor, and unlawful sexual intercourse. Despite these protections that have been put in place to protect the child, they are still continuously subjected to various forms of abuse, degrading treatment, cruelty and violence. The Bible says that children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Children are also described as arrows in the hand of a mighty man…Child abuse is not new, it is as old as human history. It is an issue that has long elicited a variety of definitions and reaction.
Child abuse as a conscious maltreatment of a child due to fault(s) or no fault of a child. Child abuse is one of the world’s social problems. It is the dehumanizing treatment melted out to a child, which jeopardizes his or her normal development. Ifenyinwa (2002) stated that in Nigeria, all forms of abuse abound but sexual abuse is overriding with trafficking of female children for prostitution and disregard for child’s right.
Child abuse is physical, sexual, emotional and psychological harm, maltreatment or neglect of a child especially by a parent or caregiver. It is also defined as a failure by a child’s caregiver to meet a child’s physical, emotional, educational or medical needs (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012). It is a form of child’s maltreatment and it continues to be a severe problem for many children. Child abuse impact the physical development, mental development and emotional development of the child causing or leading to a long-term results, like poor academic performance, depression (mood) and personality disorders. These consequences also affect the society, since it is more likely that the child who went through child abuse might have substance disorder challenges and educational failure when they get older.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is collaborating with the various international organizations and the government of Nigeria, one of the results is the recent launch of a survey on child abuse in Nigeria (UNICEF, 2014). Though child abuse has raised a global concern and is considered a global problem, it has been an under- researched area and under-reported in the developing countries. In Nigeria’s national survey on the violence against children, it was found that about 50% of the respondents have been subjected to some form of physical abuse, 50% have reported to someone but only 5% received help. This buttress the under reporting of cases of child abuse in Nigeria (UNICEF 2014).
Types of child abuse
- Physical abuse – this includes excessive flogging, bullying, stoning, pushing, kicking, hitting, slapping, assault with weapons, destruction of victims personal property/possessions or threats to do so. It also includes the failure of caregivers to provide a child with basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care or education for a child when such a parent has the ability or the wherewithal to do so.
- Verbal abuse – this includes verbal threats or intimidations to gain compliance, instilling fear, yelling or screaming, constant harassment and name calling.
- Sexual molestation/ abuse/ violence –this is forcing the child to participate in unwanted/unsafe or degrading sexual activity, sex hawking. There are also cases of child hawking.
- Child marriage – this is where a child is forced into marriage outside his/her will/wish.
- Psychological abuse; this type of abuse include mocking, isolating, imitating, threatening, exclusion from meaningful events.
- Emotional violence – this is described as an ongoing failure or inability to meet a child’s emotional needs. Emotional neglect is traumatic and can overwhelm a child’s developing system, potentially resulting to symptoms or signs of trauma. Examples of emotional abuse in children include;
- Rejection, b. Pretending not to notice one’s presence., c. Withholding affection–constantly avoiding physical touch or verbal expression of love towards a child
- Failing to listen – parents/guidance/caregivers refusal to listen to their child may frequently stop or alter the subject when their child tries to discuss his/her feelings or concerns. This lack of attention by parents/caregivers can result dismissing or ignoring expressions like distress, joy or confusion.
- Minimizing achievements – this is downplaying or dismissing a child’s achievement. The caregiver may respond to the child’s accomplishment with lack of interest or critic their achievements as not relevant. This attitudes can lead to depression, anxiety and other psychiatric or behavioral disorder in the child.
- Avoiding difficult conversations – avoiding challenging conversations or discussions in the context of emotional abuse can make parents/caregivers to important5 discussions about feelings, conflicts or difficult life occurrences. A neglectful caregiver might alter the subject of discussion or put away the child’s emotions rather than engage the child in a meaningful discussion or conversation
- Neglecting to provide comfort – this is where the caregiver/parent(s) lack the ability to give soothing words or reassurance during times of difficulty or anger. For example, a child falls or hurt himself/herself, the abusive parent may respond with lack of interest saying things like ‘ you are fine, don’t cry’ without giving physical comfort or emotional support, etc.
- Economic abuse – this includes withholding economic resources such as money.
- Child labor – parents/caregivers send their children or ward out to hawk wares or sell items like food stuff, pure water, fruits and other things in the street before they go to school in the latter part of the morning while counterparts or mates have already gone to school to learn.
- Medical abuse – this relates to treatment of injuries and illnesses.
- Female genital mutilation – this is a procedure that involves partial or total removal of the female external genitalia, or other injuries to the female genital organs.
- Kidnapping – this is the unlawful detention of a person for ransom, usually by force or fraud. The person is taken to an undisclosed location against their will.
Causes of child abuse
Some immediate causes of child abuse include:
- Stress, b. Provocation by the child., c. Economic hardship such as prolonged unemployment., d. Parental mental health problems, e. Substance use/ alcohol/drug intakes (Stone, 1998), f. Emotional/psychological issues (depression, desperation)., g. Character defects/anger., h. Failed expectations, I. Family background/environmental factors, j. Spiritual attacks/generational curses
Consequences of child abuse on the child
1.Isolation, disassociation and absent mindedness., 2.Hatred, 3. Trauma, 4. Depression and psychological stress., 5. Loss of self-esteem/confidence, 6. Decreased productivity, 7. Health related issues, 8. Loss of life “murder or suicide, 9. Loss of property
Some Laws put in place to protect the Nigerian Child
National laws
- The 1999 Nigerian Constitution – this constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights to children. Even though the constitution does not make any distinction between the rights of adults and children, as citizens of Nigeria, they are to also enjoy those rights. These rights includes : the right to life, freedom of thought, conscience, religion and expression, fair hearing, dignity of the human person, personal liberty, the right to a private life, peaceful assembly, as well as the right of association and freedom of movement. Specifically, under Section 17(3)(f), children should e protected against exploitation, as well as moral and material neglect. Additionally, Section 18(1) provides that the government should ensure its policies provide for equal and adequate educational opportunities’ at all times.
- Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN, 2004 –The Criminal Code has many provisions which deal with the rights of children in Nigeria. Section 216 deals with the indecent treatment of boys under fourteen years of age. Section 218 provides that any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of thirteen years is guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for life with or without canning. Section 219 makes it an offence for a house-holder to knowingly permit the defilement of young girls on his premises. Section 295, which provides for the correction of a child, states that no correction that is unreasonable can be justified; however, the age, physical, and mental condition of the child should be considered; before corrections are inflicted on children. Other provisions relate to the offense of infanticide, which is the killing of the unborn child, concealing the birth of the children and abortion.
- Child Rights Act. 2003 The Federal Government of Nigeria enacted the Child’s Rights Act (CRA) in December 2003. This Act is a comprehensive legislation which enacts the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 1989, and is aimed at protecting and promoting the well-being of all children, improving the quality of relationships between children, families and communities and establishing the use of facilities to improve the quality of children’s lives. It incorporates all the rights and responsibilities of children and specifies the duties and obligations of government, parents, organizations and other authorities. The Act , divided into twenty-four parts, has provisions regarding the following: rights and responsibilities of the child, prohibitions of various forms of child abuse, care and supervision orders, custody, ward ship, child justice administration, family courts, state government support for children and families, community homes, voluntary homes and organizations, registered children homes, supervisory functions and responsibilities of the minister.
- Trafficking in person (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 – The purpose of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act is to establish the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Related Matters. This agency has the responsibility to enforce laws against human trafficking in persons, investigate and prosecute persons, and coordinate the rehabilitation and counseling of trafficked persons and other related matters. A person convicted of an offence under this Act shall forfeit, to the victims of Trafficking Trust Fund, all assets and properties derived from any proceeds the person obtained directly or indirectly, as a result of such offense.
Effects of child abuse on the society
- High rate of crime: studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between child abuse and a higher rate of crime. Children who are exposed to abuse and neglect from a young age are more likely to develop behavioral problems, aggression, and delinquent behaviors. This negative experiences can also lead to lower academic achievements and a lack of social skills, making it difficult for these individuals to succeed in society. As a result, they may turn to criminal activities as an outlet for their emotions and frustrations. This cycle of abuse and crime perpetuates , further contributing to the overall rate of crime in a community/society. It is crucial for society to address and prevent child abuse in order to decrease the prevalence of crime and create a safer environment for everyone.
- High rate of violence – while there are numerous factors that contribute to violence, studies have shown a strong correlation between child abuse and an increased likelihood of violent behavior. Childhood experiences, such as experiencing or witnessing abuse can have long-lasting effects on an individual’s mental and emotional well-being. This can manifest in a multitude of ways including an increased risk for aggression and violent tendencies. Victims of child abuse may also struggle with impulse control and have difficulty regulating their emotions, making them more prone to aggressive outburst.
Additionally, the lasting trauma from abuse can lead to negative self-image and distorted thinking, causing individuals to believe that violence is an acceptable way to cope with struggles. Also, child abuse can significantly contribute to a higher rate of violence due to the lasting impact it has on an individual’s psychological and behavioral development.
Conclusion and recommendation(s)
Child abuse has become one of the biggest challenges faced by human society today. Unfortunately, while our society is said to have evolved into a modern one, human behavior does not appear to have improved, at least, not in the way humankind inflicts injuries on one another. One of the ways that humans inflict injuries to another is through child abuse. Family is meant to reflect Gods love. When a home turns into a place of pain, violence, child abuse, God is not happy. If there is no peace in the home, the society will also be void of peace. The family is the foundation of the process of socialization (Onyido, J. A, 2022). Hence, family should initiate change, positive change. It is also important to identify the root cause of child abuse in the families and deal with it. The media also has a great role to play in creating massive awareness of the implications or impacts of child abuse in the society and engage on campaigns to discourage such attitudes. Public enlightenment programs should be implemented in order to help correct the misconceptions related to child abuse in Nigeria. Public awareness is important. People also need to be aware of the laws on child abuse, and its consequences. More efforts need to be made to protect children from child marriages, kidnapping, genital mutilation, child labor etc. there is need to identify access to help.***
