It can be daunting for children and young people to speak up about abuse. Some may not even know how to recognise abuse in its many forms. That’s why teaching and empowering our children to report any instances they may encounter confidently is so important.
Understanding Abuse
Unfortunately, there are many different types of abuse that children can experience, such as:
- Physical: This involves an individual hurting or harming a child on purpose. It can include slapping, punching, kicking, burning, or biting a child.
- Emotional: Emotional or psychological abuse refers to the continual emotional mistreatment of a child. It can involve the deliberate attempt to scare, humiliate or isolate a child.
- Sexual: A child may be forced or tricked into sexual activities, and they may not understand what is going on. Sexual abuse can happen in person or online, and it’s never the child’s fault.
- Neglect: An individual’s ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs. This may result in the child being left hungry or dirty or without suitable clothing, shelter or supervision.
Recognising signs
It can be hard to understand the various warning signs of abuse. Some are easier to identify than others. For instance, with physical abuse, you may notice a pattern of injuries with little to no explanation. These could include bruises, broken bones, burns, or bite marks.
Emotional abuse signs can be a little trickier to spot. However, we recommend staying aware in case someone feels unconfident, struggles to control their emotions, or has difficulty making or maintaining relationships.
Sexual abuse victims might be scared to speak out or are struggling to understand that what is happening is wrong. Check to see if someone is avoiding being alone or displaying changes in their mood. In addition, they may be having nightmares or have started to self-harm. Or, they may be showing bruises, bleeding, or have fallen pregnant, which are all warning signs of sexual abuse.
If you believe someone is experiencing abuse, it’s important to trust your gut instinct when something doesn’t seem right. Encourage your child to report abuse as soon as possible.
Safe and Unsafe Touch
Simple conversations with your child about staying safe occur often, whether about crossing the road or dealing with strangers. The same goes for sexual abuse.
Statistics show that 1 in 3 women experience sexual violence in their lifetime. We must educate our children on the concept of “no means no” while emphasising the importance of personal boundaries.
Have open discussions with your child about appropriate and inappropriate physical contact, and teach them that their body belongs to them.
Try to create a safe space for your child to express their feelings and concerns without fear of judgement. Open and honest dialogue is so important, and they should never feel shame in coming to you with their problems.
Reporting Mechanisms
While understanding the signs of abuse is important, your child must know how to report it. You can encourage them to approach you if they want to communicate their concerns. Alternatively, they should call 999 in an emergency.
Ensure they are aware of the various helplines available for abuse victims. For women and children experiencing domestic abuse, they can call National Domestic Abuse on 0808 2000 247. Men can call Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327.
If you’re experiencing abuse, you can seek expert legal advice from domestic abuse solicitors who will be on hand to offer support and guidance, as well as protection from the court. It’s so important to speak up, and a specialist team of solicitors will treat your situation with empathy and care.
