Curled up in the foetal position, a child cries herself to sleep and dreams of escaping the life of abuse at the hands of her father, and she is not the only one.
Child abuse is a crime which is often hidden in the shadows of society, its victims enduring regular abuse, and dealing with their pain silently.
Child Welfare social worker, Farieda Mia said addressing abuse was not an easy task.
“The increase of substance abuse does play a role in physical and sexual abuse cases.”
The reason Mia equated child abuse with substance abuse was due to the effect drugs and alcohol had on a person’s inhibitions and attitudes.
“The person isn’t in his or her right mind, which is when abuse is most likely to occur,” she said.
Yet, substance abuse wasn’t the only reason sexual and physical abuse took place.
Mia said lack of anger management also played a pivotal role.
“This is where a person has an issue with anger and doesn’t have the means to deal with it in situations where anger management was necessary.”
In households where a parent suffered with anger problems, Mia said the house would be filled with pent-up tension, waiting to be released.
“The family won’t want to trigger the person, he will normally target his or her partner, or the child who is different.”
The side-effects of a child growing up in a house where abuse is as a result of anger issues, can be a streak of rebellion, compliance to an instruction where they will do almost anything to please the abuser or in turn develop anger issues of their own.
“When incidents are reported, Child Welfare will intervene and assess the situation.”
While the child will not be removed from the household, Mia said the organistion’s aim was to help the family resolve the matter and assist the caregivers in developing a method of resolving issues without resorting to violence.
“Some families don’t change though, and if they don’t, we will then remove the child,” Mia said.
Removing a child from the parents care is done through Children’s Court and the case history will be researched thoroughly.
The Child Welfare offices can be contacted on 034 312 6228 or Childline on 08000 55 555.
Mia also emphasised the importance of children and adults coming to report abusive situations and saving a life.
“There is the problem where children tell a trusted adult about the abuse, but these people don’t come forward either because they do not want to get involved, or they are too scared,” she said.
