What is child abuse?

Child abuse is defined as

• “any act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical, psychological, spiritual or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm to any individual referred to as a child.”
• "any act of commission or omission that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health and development. Child abuse includes any damage done to a child which cannot be reasonably explained and which is often represented by an injury or series of injuries appearing to be non-accidental in nature."

Most child abuse happens in a child's home, mostly from its parents, siblings and close relatives, with a smaller amount occurring from neighbours, community, society, organizations and schools where they interact.

Child abuse is heightened by the fact that, children are vulnerable, very dependent on their parents and/or caregivers and do not have any capacity to fend for or defend themselves. Therefore, to any person or individual who has any ulterior motive to do harm to a child, these factors provide the best opportunity.

A child may be experiencing abuse if he or she is:

• frequently dirty, hungry or inadequately dressed
• left in unsafe situations or without medical attention
• constantly "put down", insulted, sworn at or humiliated
• seems afraid of parents or carers
• severely bruised or injured
• displays sexual behaviour which doesn't seem appropriate for their age
• growing up in a home where there is domestic violence
• living with parents or carers involved in serious drug or alcohol abuse

What most people/individuals forget or tend to ignore is the fact that whatever kind/type of abuse inflicted on a child, lingers on to their adulthood and they too end up becoming child abusers. In a society or community infected with child abuse of any sort or form and action is not taken to stop the vise, the consequences and/or after effects implant themselves and become part and parcel of that community/society.

Remember, this list does not cover every child abuse possibility and that Abuse is always wrong and it is never the child's fault.

There are various forms of child abuse, but the four major forms are categorized as, Physical, Emotional, Sexual and Neglect.

Nakuru Youth Foundation denounces any form of child abuse irrespective and regardless of any reason or excuse. We request that anyone who witnesses or even suspects a child being abused or undergoing abuse from anyone, to report the matter immediately to

• the nearest police station (Child Help Desk) or
  
• the government children's department in their locality (District or Provincial) or
  
• call the Kenya national child help line,  0800-221-0800 (Toll free).