What is considered violence against children and young people?
Violence against children and young people refers to any non-accidental action or omission, practiced by parents, caregivers or others, that threatens the safety, dignity and biopsychosocial and affective development of the child or young person.
There are several forms of violence, including:
- negligence
- physical abuse
- psychological/emotional maltreatment
- sexual abuse
- Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Is violence against children and young people the same thing as neglect?
Neglect is considered a form of violence since it is a failure to meet a child's basic physical and emotional needs.
Studies show that neglect is as harmful as explicit violence, with regard to the child's physical, psychological, and emotional development.
How is child neglect defined?
Negligence is understood as the inability to ensure the satisfaction of the basic needs of the child or young person, which are indispensable for their proper growth and development
Child neglect encompasses:
- lack of basic needs, such as hygiene, food, affection, education, health, security, housing
- Abandonment of the child
- begging (begging for money on the street)
This form of violence against children and young people can occur in the following ways:
- intentional, when there is an intention to cause harm to the victim
- unintentional, due to the incompetence or incapacity of the person who should provide the care
What situations may indicate neglect in child care?
Situations that may indicate negligence in child care include:
- lack of hygiene (taking into account cultural norms and family environment)
- clothing that is inappropriate for the season and injuries resulting from adverse weather exposures
- lack of routines, namely eating and sleeping
- presence of bruising or other unexplained injuries and frequent accidents due to lack of supervision of dangerous situations
- developmental and learning disorders (language, motor skills, socialization) without proper monitoring
- non-compliance with health surveillance within the scope of scheduled consultations of the National Program for Child and Adolescent Health
- presence of a chronic illness without proper care (care and treatment)
- Poisoning and recurrent accidents
What are the consequences of violence against children?
Children who are victims of violence are always negatively affected in their growth, development, health, well-being, safety, autonomy and dignity.
The consequences can be varied and can appear immediately and/or be reflected throughout life:
- Physical
- abdominal, thoracic, brain, central nervous system, ocular lesions
- Fractures
- wounds, bruises, cuts, scrapes
- scalds and burns
- Physical disability
- sexual and reproductive disorders
- sexual and reproductive problems
- Sexual dysfunctions
- sexually transmitted infections
- unwanted pregnancies
- psychological and behavioural
- abuse of toxic substances, such as alcohol, tobacco and drugs
- cognitive impairment or developmental delays
- depression and anxiety
- eating and sleep disorders
- Poor school performance feelings
- of shame and guilt
- delinquent, aggressive, suicidal, or self-harming behaviors
What is considered physical maltreatment in a child?
Physical abuse is intentional actions, isolated or repeated, that cause physical harm (or may cause) the child. In the practice of this form of violence, there may even be attempted or even murder of the victim.
Physical violence includes: pushing, kicking, slapping, throwing objects, twisting, burning, spitting, hair pulling, pinching, stabbing, beating, strangling, among others.
What are the signs of physical violence?
It is important to be alert if your child presents:
- wounds, black, cuts, burns, bites in places uncommon to accidental injuries (face, ears, mouth and neck, genitals and buttocks)
- Shaken Child Syndrome (Shaken or Rattled)
- hair loss caused by injury (traumatic alopecia) and/or prolonged standing in one position with deformation of the skull
- Injuries causing marks e.g. from buckle, rope, hands, whip, ruler
- sequelae of old trauma (bone calluses resulting from fracture)
- fractures of ribs and vertebral bodies, fracture of metaphysis
- delay or absence in seeking medical care
- inadequate history or refusal to explain the mechanism of injury by the child or the different caregivers
- severe changes in nutritional status
How is psychological/emotional abuse characterized?
Psychological abuse is a type of violence that does not guarantee an environment of safety and affective well-being, which is essential for the balanced growth, development and behavior of the child/young person.
Actions of psychological violence include: insults, threats, criticism, humiliation, devaluation, intimidation, social isolation, deprivation of contact with family and friends, denial of access to health care, among others.
What signs can indicate psychological maltreatment?
Some signs and symptoms can be a warning for psychological/emotional maltreatment in children, namely:
- repeated urgency episodes due to headaches, muscle and abdominal pains with no apparent organic cause
- aggressive behaviour towards oneself (self-harm) or others
- excessive anxiety or difficulty in emotional relationships with other people
- eating disorders
- changes in control of bowel movements or urination (withholding the urge for some time)
- uncontrollable crying in the first year of life
- suicidal behavior or ideation
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child or adolescent in activities for the purpose of sexual gratification of an adult or other older person.
Sexual abuse can occur in different ways, namely:
- harassing the child or young person
- to compel one to become aware of or witness obscene conversations, writings, and spectacles
- use the child in photo shoots and filming
- practice of intercourse (copulation, anal or oral)
- vaginal or anal introduction of body parts or objects
- manipulation of sexual organs
What are the warning signs that may indicate sexual abuse?
It is important to be on the lookout for signs that may indicate child sexual abuse, namely:
- external lesions on the genitals
- behavior changes, such as:
- Sexualized behavior
- non-age-appropriate sexualized knowledge and language
- compulsive masturbation
- Exhibitionist behavior
- depressive symptoms
- irritability
- insulation
- changes in school performance
What is Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy?
Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy is a form of violence against children and young people characterized by the attribution of signs and symptoms to a child. The aim is to convince a clinical team of the presence of a disease, insisting on tests and treatments.
What are the characteristics of children that can increase the risk of violence?
There are personal conditions and circumstances of children that can increase the likelihood of maltreatment, particularly when the child's physical and psychological characteristics do not meet the expectations of parents regarding sex, health, temperament and behaviour.
Are there life and family contexts at risk for violence against children and young people?
yes. The likelihood of violence against children and young people may increase in the following risk contexts:
- caregivers who have been victims of child abuse
- a deficit of parenting skills
- emotional, mental, or physical disturbances of caregivers that prevent them from recognizing and responding appropriately to the child's needs
- overly rigid and authoritarian or inconsistent discipline
- history of violent and/or antisocial behavior
- psychosocial maladjustment or addictive behaviours, such as substance abuse, crime and prostitution
- Lack of housing conditions
- inability to seek or use community resources
- prolonged absence of a caregiver and family support
- Economic insecurity and poverty
In addition, there are also risk aggravating factors, namely situations of:
- Family breakdown and reconstitution (separation, divorce, conflict, etc.)
- mourning
- severe sudden illness
- Initiation of care for the dependent person
- unemployment
- migration
- sudden change in employment/economic situation
- Entering an institution
- Arrest/Imprisonment
- natural disaster
- Armed conflict
What can I do to prevent violence in children?
As a community and society, we can prevent violence against children and young people by:
- Disseminate and promote children's rights
- promote healthy relationships in families and healthy parenting
- act to change beliefs, taboos and cultural values involving gender roles and power relations in the family
- promote new patterns that favor breaking the cycle of family violence
- Encourage strategies and attitudes of respect and justice in conflict resolution
- develop skills for non-violent conflict resolution
- encourage respect for and legitimacy of divergent interests as part of the democratic process and recognition of and tolerance of differences
- stimulate attitudes of flexibility and responsibility in affective and family relationships
- promote the elevation of victims' self-esteem and empowerment
Who should I contact if I suspect a case of violence against children and young people?
Child and youth abuse and domestic violence are public crimes and should therefore be reported to the competent authorities (security forces and the Public Prosecutor's Office).
In health services, there are the Support Centers for Children and Youth at Risk (NACJR), multidisciplinary teams whose main responsibility is the promotion of children's rights and the prevention of maltreatment.
If you need support or information:
- access the list of the National Network of Health Centers and Hospitals
- get in touch with the Support Center for Children and Young People at Risk team in the child/young person's area of residence
If you are dealing with a child in danger, contact the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People (CPCJ) in the child/young person's area of residence.
Who can I contact for more information about violence against children and young people?
For more information on child and young people's abuse, you can access the list of the National Network of Centers and contact the Support Center for Children and Young People at Risk team of the health center in the area of residence of the child/young person.
You can also contact any of the following services:
- SNS 24 – 808242424
- Children in Danger Line 961231111– National Commission for the Protection of the Rights and Protection of Children and Young People
- Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV) – 70720077
- CIAV – Antivenom Information Center – 808250143
- Information Service for Victims of Domestic Violence – 800202148
- National Social Emergency Line – 144
- SOS Drug Lifeline – 1414
- Sexuality Online – 808222003
- SOS – Child – 800202651 – 217931617
- SOS – Pregnant – 808201139
Source: Directorate-General for Health – National Program for the Prevention of Violence in the Life Cycle