Research Topics: Rights Of The Child

Is Marketing Research the Cure of Norton Healthcare Kosair Children’s Hospital’s Ailments

Norton Kosair Children’s Hospital Source: Norton HealthCare http://careers.nortonhealthcare.com/aboourloc.asp?c=koschihos Abstract The Norton Healthcare is a non-profit organization that operates Norton Hospital, Kosair Children’s Hospital, and the Norton Healthcare Pavilion in the Louisville Medical Center.  The healthcare society needs some agency to provide social goods, but because of their nature social goods are not compatible with the market mechanism. As there has been adverse effects of market power are offset by the provision of research in marketing for the children’s ailments that is representative of the public mind to allow the hospitals to make public decisions without consulting directly as there needs to be appropriate methods in order to achieve effectiveness of such purpose and goals in the presentation of the proposed study for Kosair Children’s Hospital per se. Literature Review ‘’Many people believe that the goal of a marketing research and its system should be to improve the ‘quality of life’, range, accessibility and cost of goods and the quality of the cultural environment. They would judge marketing systems not solely by the amount of direct consumer satisfaction that is created, but by the impact of marketing activity on the quality of the physical and cultural environment. Most people would agree that quality of life is a worthwhile goal for the marketing system’’. (Kotler, 1986, p. 21) There had been major change in the direction of the marketing development of the discipline and sometimes sole orientation was the managerial thrust. The discipline of marketing management evolved with its focus on company sales and profits by providing products and services that satisfy consumers in an efficient manner in arriving at marketing decisions as well as responsibilities in such areas as health and welfare, quality of life and civil rights are being investigated. Moreover, childhood is the time when important elements of self-esteem are established in personality. Numerous studies associate a strong sense of self-esteem with the child’s feeling of control over his environment. The inculcation of a sense of enforced helplessness may thus have more damaging results in a child than in an adult. Second, adult patients are beginning to act as their own advocates through the healthcare consumer movement and to seek changes in the system of adult health-care delivery. Thus, it is critical of the manner in which children are treated in hospitals to have an attempt to reveal the contradictions between the institutional goals and the caring goals of hospitals. The ailments that bring children to hospitals vary with the age of the child. Infants are particularly vulnerable to infections and respiratory diseases per se. Children’s hospitals are also wavered under present regulations. Nevertheless, the hospitals are responding to a number of pressures for change. Furthermore, Kosair Crippled Children’s Hospital opened on Eastern Parkway and rapidly established itself as the region’s premier orthopedic and polio treatment facility. For decades, the hospital’s doctors, nurses and therapists helped children benefit from advances in orthopedic treatment and polio care discovered elsewhere and by helping discover new treatments. Statement of the Research Problem During the year 1923 in the country Kentucky, poverty was commonplace with the rampant presence of diseases mostly affecting children such as typhoid fever, polio and smallpox often reached killing or disabling in their path. In the midst of despair, a group of Shriners shared an ambitious vision to prevent the ravages of these disabling diseases from the children of Kentucky to provide the highest quality health care possible for children who had nowhere else to turn. Thus, such issues carry marketing activities well beyond the usual bounds of marketing research action and have a host of interesting questions and challenges for investigation by marketing practitioners in the unfolding of the body of marketing knowledge, finding valid ways that marketing research is the cure for the children’s ailments at Kosair Children’s Hospital as the process calls for marketing research and the subsequent development of a well-conceived product and appeals moving through mass and specialized communication media through paid agents and voluntary groups to reach targeted audiences. Research Question Is Marketing Research the Cure for Norton Healthcare Kosair Children’s Hospital’s Ailments? Research Objectives Ø      to assess the topic in areas where market research has been applied and could be extended in the future Ø      to evaluate appropriate research methods which have been applied successfully and the trend towards interactive and participative methods Ø      to provide information which influence the opportunities and challenges for market research in health and social care for the children Ø      to discuss the relevance of market research within the changing health context and give details to research methods and how they should be used in planning and management for the Kosair Children’s Hospital Methodology Secondary Data In part of the methodology, Kosair need to adopt ample marketing planning approach and that research in marketing appears to represent a bridging mechanism which links the knowledge of human behavior with the useful implementation of what that knowledge allows. It offers a useful framework for effective social planning at a time when social issues have become more critical.  Moreover, physicians who work with children should be required to demonstrate a sensitivity to psychological and emotional needs just as they are required to demonstrate knowledge of physiological conditions. Therefore, the physician who will later work exclusively would benefit from the pediatric service, regardless of their ultimate career goals and must be prepared for their pediatric rotation and should incorporate material on the emotional side of children’s  illnesses and ways of dealing with children who suffer from specific ailments and taking procedures. Primary Data Marketing strategies are important in a form of an open interview as well as the use of questionnaire surveys as the hospitals will have significant efforts to help find basic ways in providing cure for the children with ailments as well as to develop marketing strategies that focused on procedures, populations, and services as hospitals are competing for patients through direct marketing and advertising activities. More often, hospitals today are encouraging doctors to form professional associations to provide specialized services for profit contract basis. In addition, hospitals have identified those diseases which are profitable under the DRG system, and they seek to increase admissions of patients with the ailments. The marketing research have implications for human resource usage in order to take steps to run the hospital more like a business. Survey Methodology The questionnaire instrument is crucial in several hospitals along with the matrix program. The accuracy of the informants’ recall was verified in two ways: comparing the answers of administrators and nursing directors from hospitals in which both responded and comparing informants’ responses to published descriptions of their matrix programs. The Questionnaire The purpose for this questionnaire is to be able to find out and collate useful views and ideas from the people affiliated to Kosair Children’s Hospital involving important information regarding marketing research as a cure for the children’s ailments  It is my honor to have your assistance to answer a series of questions.  It won’t take you more than 10 minutes to complete. Your views matter to each question is important in answering this questionnaire. Part A             Screening 1.                  What is your age? 1.1             Under 15 (End) 1.2             16 – 25 1.3             26 – 35 1.4             36 – 45 1.5             46 – 55 1.6             Over 55 (End) 2.                  Sex of respondent 2.1             Male 2.2             Female 3.                  On the average, how many hours you would spend on your work at the Norton Healthcare along with children? 3.1             Not watching (End) 3.2             Below 1 hours 3.3             1 – 2 hours 3.4             2 – 3 hours 3.5             3 – 4 hours 3.6             4 – 5 hours 3.7             Over 5 hours Part B                        Marketing Research 4.                  Do you consider  marketing research as a cure for Norton Healthcare? If yes, why? (can only choose ONE answer) Yes________ No_________ Why?______________________________________________________ For Questions 5, 6 and 7, please indicate the importance using “1” representing “VERY UNIMPORTANT” and “5” representing “VERY IMPORTANT” 5.                  Please evaluate the effects in engaging marketing research of the hospital? Importance of the healthcare provider functions Good Quality Health Services for children                                     Convenience claimed                                                                       6.                  Do the above data affect your decision in choosing Norton Healthcare Kosair Children’s Hospital?                                                                                  Yes_____________            No______________ 7.       Do you agree that Kosair Children’s Hospital Hong should impose  marketing strategies to increase the number of admissions?                                                                       Yes_____________             No______________ <li class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%">What practical suggestions do you have for solving marketing research issues? Mention only three </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%">Could the idea of goal setting required by the higher organization on a quarterly basis be a contributing factor for helping children with ailments? Explain your view.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 200%">Is there a proper research program for nurturing providing discussions of the areas of concern?</li> Yes______________            No_______________ Briefly describe how helpful the program is in the space provided below. % Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Is Marketing Research the Cure of Norton Healthcare Kosair Children’s Hospital’s Ailments

Norton Kosair Children’s Hospital Source: Norton HealthCare http://careers.nortonhealthcare.com/aboourloc.asp?c=koschihos ...

The concept of child protection

I.       Introduction It is a universally accepted fact that it is the right of every child to be free from being subjected to any harm. This is the basic premise of the concept of child protection. To date, issues pertaining to the encroachment of the rights of the child has consistently piled up as manifested in the cases stock up all over the world. Such issues like child prostitution and child labor are mere examples of the tumultuous environment on which a child could encounter. It is only appropriate that nations all over the world recognize the immediate concern regarding this phenomenon. Unless this issue of abuse and neglect has consistently been impressed on the individual child, its troubling consequences shall continue to rise as well. Some of these consequences include a significantly reduced life span of the child which is manifested in fluctuating mortality rates. Other issues like poor education, homelessness and the trickling effect of poor parenting in the future are only a few that has been pointed out in the existing literature on the protection of the rights of the child. Hong Kong is one of the states of the world that adheres to the protection of such rights. However, there may well be a problem in this regard as there certain instances that still reflect the infringement of such rights. To some extent, this may indicate a possibility that a good number of individuals have no clue as to the existence of such rights and that its actual violations are tantamount to felonies, offenses and even crimes against the law. II.    Abuse of the Child Child abuse has accumulated numerous definitions throughout the years. Generally, it is considered as the maltreatment that comprise of every types of physical, emotional, sexual, and negligent management of the child. Essentially, the common denominator in this extent is the presence of danger and the potential harm on which the child is subjected. Normally, it is said that the adults are the ones who have directly or culpably responsible for such maltreatment. Whether or not there is intent in causing the harm is immaterial. Consummation of such acts is tantamount to abuse. The following parts shall define the common acts of child abuse recognized by the international community. A.   Physical Abuse This is characterized as the acts committed by the parent or the guardian of the child that triggers actual injury or the possibility of injury on the child. In the study by UNICE from 1980-2005, there are current adults who have suffered from abuse when they were children. In a 2002 study of the same, there were approximately 1.2 million children that were subjected to child trafficking all over the world on a yearly basis. In countries in East and West Africa, Yemen, and some parts of Southeast Asia, female children are subjected to the abhorrent practice of female genital mutilation. The UNICEF indicated in their website that there were over a hundred and thirty million women, young and old, who have undergone the repulsive act. B.   Sexual Abuse There is danger on the life and limb of the child with the existence of actual offenders that pinpoint young individuals as prey. The problem is that this is expounded by the inherent possibility that these types of offenders may come in the form of trusted individuals. The context of sexual abuse is characterized as any act whereas the parent, guardian, or any adult employs the child as a means of gratifying his/her sexual urges. The UNICEF conducted a survey to male and female adults and found out that majority of the respondents experienced sexual abuse as a kid. The same organization also indicated that there are over 1.39 million individuals in the entire world engaging in forced commercial sexual exploitation. If that figure is not troubling enough, it is then imperative to highlight that 40%-50% of these individuals are children.   C.   Emotional Abuse This abuse is rather abstract in nature. It refers to the failure of the parent or guardian to supply the needed emotional support and the environment on which the psychological development of the child is structured. Since it is abstract, there is a considerable difficulty in defining and measuring the actual extent as to what constitute emotional abuse. However, there have been studies that indicated that certain states in the Southeast Asian region indicate that adults constantly use the threat of abandonment as a tool for disciplining a misbehaving child. According to the UNICEF, this form of disciplinary measure is considered as the lesser evil as compared to corporal punishment or hitting the child. D.   Neglect The concept of neglect points the failure of the guardian or the parent to give the necessary elements for the development of the child. Such elements may include education or shelter among others. It must be emphasized that the presence of neglect is not akin to poverty, though a huge possibility of this taking place. Neglect is primarily seen in the rate of child labor all over the globe. In a 2004 study of UNICEF, there were 317 million children from five years old to seven years old who are actively earning money in exchange of labor. The said figure further added that of the said statistic, over 126 million are supposedly engaged in what has been classified as hazardous work.   III.  Child Protection in Hong Kong Traditionally, child welfare in Hong is determined whether or not the child is healthy. A child is considered healthy if it is not emaciated or constantly ill. What was given importance is the well-being of the child with regards to its health. On the other hand, the skewed perception of abuse as a form of discipline is considered as a domestic problem, hence the state could not meddle with. It is only in instances when the child is in a deplorable state that the public take cognizance of the matter. Therefore, in olden times the child must have to incur mortally threatening injuries in order for the state to take action. From the early part of the 90s to the turn of the millennium, the problems regarding child abuse and the encroachment of the rights of the child have consequently increased exponentially. This is apparently because of the fact that there are some cultural constraints that held back the state and civic groups in addressing the issue first hand. The following discussions shall take into account the state actions in Hong Kong with reference to the child abuses described in the earlier part of this paper. A.   Role of the State   B.   Existing Legislation for Child Protection   C.   Civic Society’s Share   IV.Possible Adverse Effects of the Environment   A.   Acts of God   B.   Economic Implications   C.   Reforms in Education   V.   Conclusion   VI.Bibliography       Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

The concept of child protection

I. Introduction It is a universally accepted fact that it is the right of every child to be free from being subjected to...

The Family

Has the ideology of Children’s Rights affected Parenting Styles?   Introduction:   Modern history has found the birth of Children’s rights where the rights the parents may have over their children is put into scrutiny by the state.  There is an attempt to balance out both parties.  This is perhaps brought by the growing awareness of the abuse and violence experienced and witnessed by children.  Their circumstances had been so much ignored and disregarded by the authorities that the children began to be perceived as less a human being, and denied of their rights.  The children inevitably suffer and what people tend to forget is how these children are the future of humankind.  As civilization progresses, more people realize that the children needed to be protected, recognized and acknowledged as important as adults.  This is especially required in Northern Ireland where children are exposed to the cruelties of Corporal Punishment and the dangers of Political Violence.  This is about to change especially in the arrival of the 21st century as governments begin to make moves to acknowledge children’s rights and the need towards adjustment of parental styles in order to give way to this.    Children’s Rights: An Overview    (2004) proposes that the rights are understood in two manners: moral and legal, natural or given by the law.    To allow children to have rights remain to be a controversial topic.  It is generally recognized that they cannot, by their limited level of growth and development, be allowed to hold and decide.  Children are deemed incapable of making a choice or a decision to a certain matter and thus cannot be provided rights.  This is not to say though that children should not be given rights.  It only means that they must have other people deciding for them.  The people responsible for them should exercise a decision as though the children would be making them.  This remains a topic of debate as it may mean control over the children.  Thus the suggestion is that children should still possess a certain kind of right that will be solely their own, and which the adults do not own (as though saying the women have reproductive rights that men cannot essentially have).  This is because children could already possess their own interests ( 2004).   To sort this out,  (1980) tried to identify children rights through three divisions: A-rights which are solely adults, A-C rights which both Adults and Children share, and C-rights which are solely the children’s possessions.  A-rights would be the Liberty and welfare rights would be the Freedom of expression, suffrage and religion while welfare rights means the right to look after oneself and sustain oneself through employment.  This is problematic especially if one would recognize children to have their own interests versus children as incompetent decision-makers.  In this manner, one can define C-rights as possessed during their time as children or through the rest of their lives to adulthood (and thus rights that will be recognized of the future adult).  The latter may be recognized as “A-rights-in-trust” or as “developmental rights”.    The United Nations Convention of the Rights of Children   All of those are merely moral rights.  There are still the cases of legal rights which is provided by the law.  One obstacle there is that children do not virtually become children forever.  They grow up too and will have a change on rights (the A-rights.)   (2004) sees the need towards the inclusion of children rights in laws because their very exclusion exposes and endangers them to accountability and lack of coverage and protection that adults have.  This is especially true in juvenile crimes.  The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Children in particular recognizes the need to include children as among the liberal rights (1992).   “The CRC gives children rights to, inter alia, freedom of expression, association, thought, conscience and religion, protection against abuse and violence, enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, education, rest and leisure, protection from economic exploitation and hazardous work.” (2004, )   Thanks to the United Nations, the children are recognized as rights holders and thus are, by mandatory, involved in major organizations especially as among subjects of human rights (who are once solely adults).  The CRC has given children an opportunity to be among and involved in actions which goes to suggest how important Children’s Rights are.  It involves Children in moral and legal discussions, and to put it more simply, they are acknowledged to exist in this world as citizens and recognized as subjects.  Children are given a voice and an organization they could air their side to.   This will flat out illegalize the child labour, prostitution, recruiting to armies, and among other abuses through-out the world because children are perceived as less than adults.  Some parents see it perfectly fine to abandon their children, as some adults would pay no heed to orphans and refugees.  Children are clearly powerless as they are denied rights.  It is so easy to victimize them in the absence of rights and the permissive ignorance going about.  There is no effort to monitor or intervene to enforce their rights (1988).  Because of the CRC, it is clear that the children cannot be treated so untowardly, without utter or significant regard or through inequality with respect to adults.  Legal punishments and penalties now await those who attempt violence and abuse against children.  However the CRC remains insufficient to combat and minimize the millions of children abused at this writing.  Another point of the CRC is not only that they recognize children as human beings, but also the fact that they are younger human beings and thus they would require special attention towards care and protection even prior to after their birth ( 2004).     Protection then becomes an important C-right as children are provided a special kind of coverage that adults do not have especially in terms of exploitation, abuse, or neglect.  This acknowledges the incapability of children to protect or care for themselves due to an inherent defenceless-ness, vulnerability, weakness and dependence.  To describe children as such, becomes another issue as children are now perceived to be unable to hold individual rights.    The existence of Children’s Rights would surely determine parental treatment of children.  Children’s rights will be enacted and balanced by their parents.  Critics would contest that parents, as possessing steward roles, should enforce their own rights.  After all, it was the parents who executed to right to rear children and establish a family.  There is the question of safety and the teaching of values and beliefs that will equip the child.  By being in a family, the children and parents share each other due to the intimacy suggested in being a family.  What Children’s Rights encourage above all is diversity and versatility of modes in parenting styles.  For as long as the parent recognizes that the child has an open future and does not ignore his or her nature which will be the prerogative of the parents rather than the state.  (2004)   Generally, parents are given two choices: protection versus participation.  It is question of whether or not parents are going to allow freedom (democracy or participation) or if they are going to limit freedom and take over their welfare (control or protection).  Freedom also means the Laissez Faire style or the democratic permissiveness.   In such a style, the parent is not too judgmental and in fact tolerant and accepting of the child’s actions, wants and spontaneity.  The child is expected to exercise thought and reason in order to reach one’s desired ends.  The ideal set-up, according to  (1992), is to allow more freedom by allowing children to have a voice in the family and the right to choose in its activities.  To do this overly though is to possibly make aggressive, delinquency, cruel and resistance.  They would demand attention to their needs and wants as well as immediate satisfaction.  Because their emotions are uninhibited, they may tend to be extreme and poorly maintained.  On the other hand, if parents would be domineering, children will be seen as obedient and fearful, but at the same time, the lack of individualism will also lead to a lack of creativity and curiosity.  Purdy would cite another study that would say otherwise, and would suggest in fact that submissive children will tend to be more rebellious, unruly and lazy.    The Irish Context   Ireland is plagued with warring factions that would bring a history of migration.  Children have been victims of poverty and violence brought by conflict and famine.  Irish children in the past have been deprived of educational opportunities while becoming orphans due to the circumstances.  Irish children’s choice of religion and values were ruled by an iron hand (2000).       Needless to say Irish children had been the brunt of political violence and abuses.  Children who reside in homes that have been ran by religious orders have been reportedly abused sexually and had been neglected of their education and even, sustenance.  Clearly there is a lack of protection and coverage on these children and they are well exposed to harm from parents and teachers.  There is a certain view that proceeds as: “a good beating never hurt anyone” in order to instil a fear on authorities, to instil discipline and to mold the children as ideal moral citizens.  Ireland still allows Corporal Punishment in its children following this philosophy.  Parents were not confronted as to why they harm their children.  Despite the fact that Corporal Punishment has been limited in homes and schools, Ireland continues to receive cases and complaints of punishment taking place.  The government is not taking a wary eye on the proceedings.  Teachers are not held accountable to their actions or are they reprimanded for blatantly violating the law.  Ireland generally does not talk or discuss about the corporal punishment taking place at home and at school.  To them it is a way of life.  Nobody complains or speaks about being punished at home even during the 20th century when the world has been establishing children’s rights.  It was still an ideal method to teach a lesson among children despite the establishment of a law that would protect them from abuse and assaults.  The rule states that: If any person over the age of sixteen years [amended to 17 years in  1957], who has the custody, charge or care of any child or young  person, wilfully assaults, ill-treats, neglects, abandons, or exposes  such child or young person or causes or procures such child or young  person to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned, or exposed  in a manner likely to cause such child or young person unnecessary suffering or injury to his health (including injury to or loss of  sight or hearing, or limb, or organ of the body, and any mental  derangement), that person shall be guilty of a misdemeanour ….( 2005)               Once a person is convicted, the penalty ranges from a fine or imprisonment.  The problem is that parents are also by law, mandated of a legal protection over their children that permit such abusive actions in the name of discipline.  The law fails and is insufficient to protect the children of incurring physical harm.  The law will even recommend or encourage beating in order to discipline the child and in fact, the lack of a punishment was frowned upon.  Judges are satisfied if parents do beat their children in the name of correcting a crime and they would advise it.  Punishment, in the form of a stick or a rod, was hereby authorized so the children may realize the error that they have done.  In fact the child may be legally whipped by a constable with the inspecting or a high ranking police watching by, until the year 1997 when the 1997 Criminal Law finally eradicated the law which had apparently only taken effect because a child had died of a father’s severe beating.  In the particular trial, the father, who beat a girl several times, defended himself saying that the girl was lying to him although it had been clear that it was not the first time for the girl to be beat up.  This suggests how severe beating can still be justified.  The verdict of 1 year imprisonment was already seen as severe and too much for a father’s attempt to legally punish the child in the name of discipline.  Corporal punishment has also been occurring without supervision, intervention or care by others.  It is apparently a private affair.  It was so much private that nobody wanted to attempt to question its legalities or extents.  Schools are ambivalent are would refuse to abolish corporal punishment thus contributing to the permission of such act in Ireland.  The Irish student is clearly deprived of rights to protect him/herself as s/he is exposed to the danger of corporal punishment in his/her daily school affairs.  Education then is not about the interest or passion in a subject, but through the fear of Corporal Punishment if s/he is to break a rule or a law or at the very least, if s/he is unable to do the assigned task for the day.  This had become so common in the life of an Irish student that it has been accepted and normalized (2005).                   As mentioned above, another aspect of Ireland’s children violence is brought by the casualties of war that affect women and children the most.  Children have been inflicted violence, social disorders especially through orphaning.  This too has become so normal to see an unaccompanied child and trying to help him/her adjust with the trauma.  If Children do not experience the violence, they would most likely witness it, especially in the case of rape.  There is an estimate of 150 children younger than age 14, between the years 1969-1983 who have been killed due to the political violence in Northern Ireland.  Last 1998, the number has soared to 257.  Children who have experienced or witnessed such violence had exhibited poor antisocial or even psychotic behaviour.  Needless to say, the children will be scarred forever due to the fact that they are not sufficiently protected by rights in Ireland (2004).                     Novelist  in his book  would liken a miserable childhood to an Irish childhood, and even worse, is the Irish Catholic childhood.  According to , an Irish childhood has the mixture of poverty, the alcoholic father, the religious but submissive mother who cannot do anything but weep, the arrogant priests and the oppressive schoolmasters (1997).   With the Corporal Punishment in mind, it is unimaginable how an Irish child would withstand childhood without becoming criminals or insane.               But today, the government is starting to move on.  The 21st century brought about hopes in Northern Ireland as the Human Rights Commission Bill has taken effect last June 2001.  The Human Rights Commission was established last March 1999, tasked to promote Children’s rights.  In the year 2000, the government introduced the statutory Children’s Rights Commissioner 2001).      Conclusion               Parental style would inevitably change brought by such developments.  As the government and the school are now realizing the dangers of Corporal violence by establishing a Human Rights Commission that will protect the children, and above all discourage such abuses and violence to be enacted without a grave punishment waiting the adults who attempt so.  As the provision is just early enacted, it is too early to say whether or not parenting styles have truly been changed.  What remains certain is that change is about to take place, and the situation in Ireland is looking optimistic as far as children rights go.    Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

The Family

Has the ideology of Children’s Rights affected Parenting Styles? Introduction: Modern history has found the birth of Children’s r...

Child Protection

Protecting Children Many children are at a risk of being abused, making it a debatable subject as it can be defined in different contexts with inexplicable views. The (Working Together 1999:5:2.3) publication sets out the definition of child abuse as, “Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting; by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger”. This signifies that abuse can be classified into categories of physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. All abuse result in long-term damage affecting a child’s well being; creating a negative impact on their lives as adults; while in extreme cases a child may even die if concerns are not acted upon. This essay will provide a brief overview of the historic development and the cases that have had a massive impact with regards to provision and legislation that strengthens it; in terms of existing attitudes, social policy and any other major influences, which are believed to be prevalent. It will also include the aims and objectives followed by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and contemplate on the Child Protection Policies of the setting where the practitioner works. Munro (2002:p28) indicates that, “The protection of children from harm at the hands of their parents and carers occurs within a social context that shapes every stage of the process.”This proved significant as a number of prosecutions and complaints to the SNSPCC, the Children Act 1908 broadened the definition of neglect. The legislative momentum from the 1880′s up to the 1950′s including the Children and Young Persons Acts of 1932 and 1937 accentuated the free rights of the child to be safeguarded from brutality and cruelty and be protected by the state. The outcome of this approach to child protection resulted in children being taken out of their homes and rehabilitated in residential care where they were seen as troublesome and difficult. WW11 brought about the awareness of children’s conditions to the public and it was recognised that there was an absolute need for a strategic and comprehensive policy in relation to the welfare and safety of children. Abrams (1998, pg. 207) states that “Local authorities were urged to coordinate child protection services in order that all possible assistance from statutory services were made available to support families”  This resulted in the implementation of the Children Act 1948 and additional importance was placed on family orientated support work during the 1950′s and 60′s.   Since then, a considerable change in services to safeguard children has evolved over the decades. Monro(2002:p38) further states that, “The quality of children’s life came under more scrutiny as it became more public in the 19th century and so, revealed the effects of poverty and deprivation.” This led to the awareness of placing emphasis on families in bringing up healthy and honest children. Ill-treatment and neglect could result in destruction, leading to death or serious problems and this gave rise to the NSPCC, based on the American pattern. Kempe (1979:p9) indicates that, “society’s recognition of abuse to children progress over time…… by psychotic, drunken, or drugged parents or foreign visitors. This is evident from the death of Maria Colwell at the hands of her stepfather in 1970 which spotlighted the commencement of child protection procedures and an interest in the treatment of children, increasing an awareness of child abuse. Local authorities were required to establish inter-agency child protection committees and preventative social work was beginning to take form. The deaths of Jasmine Beckford, (1985), Tyra Henry, (1987) and Kimberley Carlile, (1987) and inquiries into child abuse/protection in the 1980s and 1990s brought a chain of child protection investigations, which projected child protection into the limelight.   The removal of children from their homes in Cleveland had an impact on the Children Act –1989, which for the first time gave a distinct designation of children in need. Tisdall et al(1999: p28)denotes that “Lord Clyde’s report made 194 recommendations, suggesting considerable reform in the procedures of child protection, children’s hearings and social work training.” This Act stressed upon the importance of the welfare of the child, whether living at home or under the care of the local authority. It also emphasised the importance of parental responsibility and encouraged family entity by providing a support network for families in need, and working in ‘partnership’ with the parents. According to the Children Act 1989 the child’s best interest is paramount, which implies that children should be treated as individuals, ensuring they are safe and their needs catered for. It places a duty on local authorities to work with social services acting on behalf of children in need who are afflicted from what the act calls “significant harm” which incorporates any kind of abuse or ill treatment. Enquiring into allegations of child abuse England and Wales later produced Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999), which emphasised the responsibilities of professionals towards children who are at risk of harm and strengthen requirements to work in partnership with families. Clear and rigorous guidelines were given for professional workers insisting on the configuration of assessment when undertaking an investigation and the appropriate action to be taken.   In spite this, in 1991 a similar situation occurred in Orkney, where nine children were removed from their homes because of suspected sexual abuse and other cases. The Children Act 1989 implemented in 1991 provided much needed transparency in many areas of the policy claiming that the social services were failing in many areas of management and confirmed the urgent need for change within the system. Following the Orkney Inquiry, New Child Protection Orders for emergency situations and Child Assessment Orders have been introduced. New Exclusion Order means that where it is deemed necessary to protect a child from a suspected abuser, the abuser can be excluded rather than remove the child from home and “such a provision respects the child’s right to remain with (the rest of) his or her family, rather than feeling doubly victimised – by the abuse itself and also from being separated from familiar and supportive surroundings” (Tisdall, 1996, p. 35). This means that the Children Act 1989 helped children to live at home with their loved ones rather than separate them from their parents, siblings and friends. It safeguarded children by getting rid of the perpetrator and leaving the innocent child from being victimised.   Annan (2002:p12-Cited in Storey, K. Presentation handout) points out that, “The idea of children’s rights may be a beacon guiding the way to the future-but it is also illuminating how many adults neglect their responsibilities towards children and how children are too often the victims of the ugliest and most shameful human activities.” This goes to portray that despite all the legislations to protect children, Victoria Climbie suffered brutal physical and mental harm and finally died in February 2000 at the hands of her carers. During the inquiry Lord Lamming got in touch with all those concerned in the services that Victoria came into contact with. It was found that her death was preventable on twelve separate occasions. Lamming found that services were not collaborating with each other and had problems due to staffing levels and resources and failed to deliver their statutory rights under certain acts. In a speech by Lord Lamming in January 2003 he says that “the staff involved in this work have to tread a careful line between respecting the rights of parents and acting to protect a child from harm” http://www.victoriaclimbieinquiry (Accessed 4th Dec,2007). The inquiry made 108 recommendations for change in local services, which had to be acted on promptly. The death of Victoria Climbie led to the Green Paper- Every Child Matters agenda which in turn led to the Children Bill 2004. The overall aim of the Children’s Act 2004 according to Pugh & Bernadette is to develop outcomes for children and narrow the gap between the ones that do well and those who don’t through reconfiguring services between children and families. Looking into the new philosophy of the Children Act 2004 it can be established that ‘prevention is better than cure’ which means that to prevent abuse and neglect is to protect a child. As spotted out from the website http://www.womensaid.org.uk. (Accessed 5 January 2008) This Act intends to “maximise opportunities and minimise risks for all children and young people.  It follows the consultation on the Green Paper, Every Child Matters, and also Lord Laming’s Inquiry Report into the death of Victoria Climbie.  It focuses on creating clear accountability for children’s services and enabling better joint working, particularly amongst statutory agencies.” This indicates that the Act stresses on working together and prevention, which is a new way of working within child protection. It does not replace the Children Act 1989 but has been built to revise what is seen to be deficit in it. The Children Act 2004 has implemented a national database, known as the Child Protection Register (CPR). The Act sets out to amalgamate services to children so that every child can attain the 5 outcomes laid out in the Every Child Matters Green Paper; introducing the star ratings system for social services in local authorities. The new database works using a flagging system, where all children in the UK have their basic details on the database. It also ensures that social care workers are appropriately trained and qualified. Following the Soham murder case, Sir Michael Bichard led an independent inquiry into child protection measures, record keeping, vetting and information sharing. This gave rise to securing a CRB – where an enhanced disclosure check by the police is an absolute compulsion for any adult working with children. Ofsted, the official body for inspecting schools stipulates that “The registered person complies with local child protection procedures approved by the Area Child Protection Committee and ensures that all adults working and looking after children in the setting are able to put the procedures into practice.” The Bristol Area Child Protection Guidance states that, “children might disclose concerns to staff as a good rapport of trust is built between them due to daily contact. This will enable staff to identify concerning changes of behaviour or physical injuries which can be looked into.” (The Bristol Standard Self Evaluation Framework: March 2004). This brings to mind that teachers were not officially permitted to play a significant part in the prevention of child abuse until the publication of The DHSS Working Together paper in 1988 (DfES, 1995) which instructs the education service on its responsibility in helping to protect children from abuse. It also goes further to acknowledge that teachers are in a unique position to distinguish and hence report any signs of child abuse. The school’s role is to examine and refer and keep children safe thus having a definite role to play in primary prevention.(See Appendix 1- Referral sheet from the setting). In 1999 the update of the DHSS Working Together Paper outlines the school’s role very concisely. “They can play a part in the prevention of abuse and neglect through their own policies and procedures for safeguarding children and through the curriculum” (Working Together,1999 : p14) School policies and procedures as mentioned in the Working Together Paper (DHSS, 1999) greatly assist in keeping children safe and in preventing child abuse. The setting where the practitioner works has considered this and places the highest priority to the protection and welfare of all children and states this in the Child Protection Policy. (See Appendix -2&3) Staff have completed training in Foundation Child Protection in 2006 and this training is updated regularly. Area Child Protection Committees (ACPCs) have now been replaced by Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs). Swindon has its own Swindon Local Safeguarding Children Board- Safeguarding Swindon’s Children. The Swindon LSCB “believes that keeping children safe and young people safe is everybody’s business.”  Its aim is “Working together to keep children safe in Swindon.” The LSCBs put the work of the ACPCs onto a statutory footing which is set out in the Children Act 2004 and includes local authorities, health bodies, the police and others. The objective of the LSCBs is to coordinate and to ensure the effectiveness of their member agencies in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children being a part of an interlocking set of guidance supporting the Children Act 2004 “whilst reflecting the principles of the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights.” (Cited in handout by Howe, A. 2007). The provision made available by the LSCB is produced through assistance issued by the Department for Education and Skills, the department of Health and the Home Office, notably Working Together to safeguard Children (2006).   In conclusion, Lindon (2003) suggests that “Protecting children from harm is the responsibility of parents and professionals working with children right through to senior managers and politicians. And this is particularly so for early childhood workers, who are working with the youngest and most vulnerable children on a daily basis.” But this was not the case with Jasmine Beckford, (1985), Tyra Henry, (1987), Kimberley Carlile, (1987) Maria Colwell (1970) and Victoria Climbie (2000) who lost their lives due to abuse, neglect and problems of inter professional communication which is a downfall on the child protection laws and legislations. Allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse within care homes are still surfacing. The question lies with -Do all local authorities maintain an efficient child protection procedure and sufficient support for families in need? Despite the massive overhaul of child care law, children are still suffering and dying, which is apparent that it is not entirely full proof.  However, child welfare reforms are constantly being reviewed and campaigned for, coming under scrutiny in areas seen to be lacking in appropriate policy, bringing about an enormous change in child protection services. Policies and procedures are constantly implemented placing the responsibility on all professionals working with children to work collectively to safeguard children. Lessons were not learnt from the Cleveland Inquiry and were repeated once again in the Orkney inquiry. Professionals did not consider whether the alleged abuse had taken place or not and proceeded to go ahead and remove the children from their home. Multi agencies involving social workers, the police and other agencies as appropriate did not consider looking into the Children Act 1989 which clearly states that “The welfare of the child is paramount” and this should have been the overriding consideration before making any decision. In this scenario no consideration was taken about the grief, anxiety and guilt that go with removing a child from their home as if they were objects without feelings.  Holmes G. (2007) states that, “Despite the work of the NSPCC and other organisations, roughly the same number of children are killed each year.” This is because some parents and carers might not realise the impacts of their actions and how it can have an adverse effect on a child’s life. According to Wood (2007), “In Swindon alone, there are 105 children on the child protection register.” Parliament has tried to curb the abuse and neglect of children, which led to the Children’s Charter, enabling the state to intervene for the first time in relations between parents and children. Even after the implementation of policies and legislations to protect children from all harm, there is still a lot of hindrance in the service offered to children. The interest and wishes of the child are usually ignored when carrying out an assessment by the people involved in making decisions about them, either by failing to consult or involve children in proceedings. This implies the fact that we are losing the idea, that the welfare of the child is paramount by damaging little children who will go into society emotionally and mentally disturbed.  It must be noted that these inquiries and reports have made constructive progress in helping to eliminate child abuse. However, to get it a 100% right is next to impossible as human judgement is often erratic. Finally, it can be perceived that, the aim of enquiries is not to blame, but to learn lessons which will help protect children from abuse and neglect in the future. The Government is endeavouring into promoting better welfare for young children. The Children Act 2004 makes it clear that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. New laws are put in place where CRB checks make it absolutely sure, about who should and shouldn’t work with children. Abuse seems to occur irrespective of status, religion, colour or ethnic background. Legislations have evolved to help children and parents find better ‘quality’ welfare and childcare ,with the hope that there will come a time when society can provide an overall service for children, protecting them from all harm and realise the true meaning in,                                                 ‘Every Child Matters’.   References Bross, D. , Krugman, M., Lenherr, Rosenberg, D. eds. (1988) The New Child Protection Team Handbook. New York: Garland Publishing. Children Act 1989 (www.hmso.gov.uk accessed on 11/11/2007)   Children Act 2004 (www.hmso .gov.uk accessed on 11/11/2007)   Corby,B.(2000) Child Abuse Second Edition:Open University Press.   DHSS (1999)  Working together to Safeguard Children HMSO DfES (2003) Every Child Matters.   European Convention of Human Rights (www.hrcr.org)   Flynn,H. (2004) Protecting Children. Working together to keep children safe. Oxford: Heinemann. Handout by H.Andrea (21 .09.2007)   Handout by Wood J. (28.09.2007).   http://www.bichardinquiry.org.uk/pdf/Bichard_report.pdf. Accessed 29/12/2007.   http://www.childrens-hearings.co.uk/pdf/krcy.pdf (Accessed 10/11/2007)   http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/safeguarding Accessed 11/11/2007)   http:www.swindonlscb.org.uk (Accessed 10/11/2007) http://www.womensaid.org.uk. (Accessed 5 January 2008)  Hobart C. & Frankel J. (1998) Good Practice in Child Protection Lindon J (2003) Child Protection: British Library Cataloguing.   Munro, E.(2002)  Effective Child Protection: Sage Publications, London. Presentation Handout by Woodwards B. (30.11.2007) Presentation Handout by Storey K. (30.11.2007)   Reder,P et al (1993) Beyond Blame:Child Abuse Tragedies Revisited Rouledge.   Rights of the Child (www.unicef.org)   The Bristol Standard self evaluation Framework (March 2004) TSO (2006) Working together to Safeguard Children: A Guide to Inter agency Working to Safeguard & Promote the Welfare of Children.   Wilson K. et al. (2007) The Child Protection Handbook   Working together 2006 :Local Safeguarding Children Boards.(find book)                              Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Child Protection

Protecting Children Many children are at a risk of being abused, making it a debatable subject as it can be defined in different c...

Law of the child protection/abuse issues in Hong Kong

I.     Introduction It is a universally accepted fact that it is the right of every child to be free from being subjected to any harm. This is the basic premise of the concept of child protection. To date, issues pertaining to the encroachment of the rights of the child has consistently piled up as manifested in the cases stock up all over the world. Such issues like child prostitution and child labor are mere examples of the tumultuous environment on which a child could encounter. It is only appropriate that nations all over the world recognize the immediate concern regarding this phenomenon. Unless this issue of abuse and neglect has consistently been impressed on the individual child, its troubling consequences shall continue to rise as well. Some of these consequences include a significantly reduced life span of the child which is manifested in fluctuating mortality rates. Other issues like poor education, homelessness and the trickling effect of poor parenting in the future are only a few that has been pointed out in the existing literature on the protection of the rights of the child. Hong Kong is one of the states of the world that adheres to the protection of such rights. However, there may well be a problem in this regard as there certain instances that still reflect the infringement of such rights. To some extent, this may indicate a possibility that a good number of individuals have no clue as to the existence of such rights and that its actual violations are tantamount to felonies, offenses and even crimes against the law. II.   Abuse of the Child Child abuse has accumulated numerous definitions throughout the years. Generally, it is considered as the maltreatment that comprise of every types of physical, emotional, sexual, and negligent management of the child. Essentially, the common denominator in this extent is the presence of danger and the potential harm on which the child is subjected. Normally, it is said that the adults are the ones who have directly or culpably responsible for such maltreatment. Whether or not there is intent in causing the harm is immaterial. Consummation of such acts is tantamount to abuse. The following parts shall define the common acts of child abuse recognized by the international community. A.  Physical Abuse This is characterized as the acts committed by the parent or the guardian of the child that triggers actual injury or the possibility of injury on the child. In the study by UNICE from 1980-2005, there are current adults who have suffered from abuse when they were children. In a 2002 study of the same, there were approximately 1.2 million children that were subjected to child trafficking all over the world on a yearly basis. In countries in East and West Africa, Yemen, and some parts of Southeast Asia, female children are subjected to the abhorrent practice of female genital mutilation. The UNICEF indicated in their website that there were over a hundred and thirty million women, young and old, who have undergone the repulsive act. B.  Sexual Abuse There is danger on the life and limb of the child with the existence of actual offenders that pinpoint young individuals as prey. The problem is that this is expounded by the inherent possibility that these types of offenders may come in the form of trusted individuals. The context of sexual abuse is characterized as any act whereas the parent, guardian, or any adult employs the child as a means of gratifying his/her sexual urges. The UNICEF conducted a survey to male and female adults and found out that majority of the respondents experienced sexual abuse as a kid. The same organization also indicated that there are over 1.39 million individuals in the entire world engaging in forced commercial sexual exploitation. If that figure is not troubling enough, it is then imperative to highlight that 40%-50% of these individuals are children.   C.  Emotional Abuse This abuse is rather abstract in nature. It refers to the failure of the parent or guardian to supply the needed emotional support and the environment on which the psychological development of the child is structured. Since it is abstract, there is a considerable difficulty in defining and measuring the actual extent as to what constitute emotional abuse. However, there have been studies that indicated that certain states in the Southeast Asian region indicate that adults constantly use the threat of abandonment as a tool for disciplining a misbehaving child. According to the UNICEF, this form of disciplinary measure is considered as the lesser evil as compared to corporal punishment or hitting the child. D.  Neglect The concept of neglect points the failure of the guardian or the parent to give the necessary elements for the development of the child. Such elements may include education or shelter among others. It must be emphasized that the presence of neglect is not akin to poverty, though a huge possibility of this taking place. Neglect is primarily seen in the rate of child labor all over the globe. In a 2004 study of UNICEF, there were 317 million children from five years old to seven years old who are actively earning money in exchange of labor. The said figure further added that of the said statistic, over 126 million are supposedly engaged in what has been classified as hazardous work.   III. Child Protection in Hong Kong Traditionally, child welfare in Hong is determined whether or not the child is healthy. A child is considered healthy if it is not emaciated or constantly ill. What was given importance is the well-being of the child with regards to its health. On the other hand, the skewed perception of abuse as a form of discipline is considered as a domestic problem, hence the state could not meddle with. It is only in instances when the child is in a deplorable state that the public take cognizance of the matter. Therefore, in olden times the child must have to incur mortally threatening injuries in order for the state to take action. From the early part of the 90s to the turn of the millennium, the problems regarding child abuse and the encroachment of the rights of the child have consequently increased exponentially. Types of Abuse 2002 No. of Case (%) Physical abuse 292 (56%) Gross neglect 17 (3%) Sexual abuse 179 (35%) Psychological abuse 11 (2%) Multiple abuse 21 (4%) Total 520 (100%)   Table 1. Reported Child Abuse Cases by Types of Abuse in 2002 This is apparently because of the fact that there are some cultural constraints that held back the state and civic groups in addressing the issue first hand. The following discussions shall take into account the state actions in Hong Kong with reference to the child abuses described in the earlier part of this paper. A.  Role of the State The figures provided in Hong Kong indicates that there are indeed those who are given parental authority that inflict harm on children or place them in harm’s way. Decade ago, the state has taken a rather passive approach in handling the issue of child protection. This took place despite the exponential increase in sexual abuse among children, physical abuse and neglect. These are said to take place in the household or either in the nuclear or extended family setting. On the other hand, psychological abuse and emotional abuse are hard to identify however studies have established that these malfeasances are incurred normally outside the household setting. This could be manifested highly in educational facilities. Up until now, the role of the state is virtually inexistent as it limits itself in debates and rhetoric regarding the issue. Instead of acting on the said social problem, the cultural ascendancy of the privacy of family affairs prevailed. This existing social structure changed when the state realized that the situation is really getting out of hand. Though the manifested actions of the government to deal with the situation still lacks the necessary teeth to address the issue of child protection, it still reflects action on the part of the state regardless on its piecemeal characteristics.   B.  Existing Legislation for Child Protection The legislation with regards to the protection of children’s rights doesn’t a strong concrete foundation as compared to the other top economies of the world. Concomitantly, the existing technologies and systems to support a veritable child protection programme. This is attributable to a considerable number of reasons. One of these includes the possibility that the legislature of Hong Kong were all too occupied with ratifying laws that would cater to its economic standing or are too busy bickering with their political differences.   However, the state did not entirely look away from the protection of children’s rights in their territory. A stated in the earlier parts of the paper, the development is incremental. For instance, the Hong Kong government put an end to the whipping of delinquents under their custody. After a long standing norm in the penal system of the administrative region, flogging is abolished only several years ago. It is also established in the earlier parts that the abuse of the child is not limited to the home. Abuse is also inflicted by those given special parental authority.  In 1991, the Hong Kong government recognised this reality and infused in the Educational Ordinance the prohibition of inflicting corporal punishment in schools. It took away the rights of the educators and administrators to inflict bodily harm on their students as a form of punishment or discipline. The laws of Hong Kong also showed some level of development, particularly with its existing laws protection juveniles. For instance, the ordinance entitled Protection of Child & Juveniles Ordinance was repealed by the Protection of Child & Juveniles Ordinance. The major element of the repeal is the addition of state intervention initiatives that attempt to amplify the protection of the rights of children. It is in this piece of legislation that physical and psychological welfare of the child are taken into consideration. This is compounded by the Child Care Services Ordinance which seeks to establish a stable and reputable system that connects childcare groups who also assists in addressing the need of abandoned or neglected children. They are also consulted by the government in recognising the suitable individuals who could be given parental control over these children.    C.  Civic Society’s Share Other than the existing policies and statutes in Hong Kong, the protection of the rights o the child is consequently acquired by other sectors. For instance, the Social Welfare Department of Hong Kong instituted the Child Protective Services Unit which was one of the first establishments in the administrative region to offer refuge for abused children. On the other hand, the police department has also taken steps to ensure the protection of the rights of the child. This is seen in their creation of the Child Abuse Policy Unit and Child Abuse Investigation Unit in the middle part of the 90s. In the context of non-government organisations, they were the ones who took the time to inform the state of the issues that the children of Hong Kong are experiencing. It is also these civic groups that established the necessary public consciousness on the universally recognised rights of the child. Normally, these organisations are the 1st choice of the public in asking assistance in the instance that abuse is manifested. To some extent, the rule of law appears to be feared as being too strict and highly punitive so as the public shies away to find alternative areas for assistance. IV.Conclusion The issue of child abuse is apparently a real social problem. Universally, it has been regarded as an illness of society. The discussions above have effectively presented the types of abuse present in a modern society and how the special administrative region of Hong Kong is taking the social problem at hand. Among the god points presented above is the actual recognition of the government of Hong Kong of the existence of this social problem. Thanks to the civic society, their drive on information and constant lobbying for better child protection rights served as an impetus to create the existing regime on child protection. The case of Hong Kong presents an archetypal manifestation of a state dealing with the universal problem of child abuse. It shows that mere recognition alone that there is in fact a problem with reference to child abuse is not sufficient to address it. As seen in the discussions above, dwelling on such a stage will only establish endless rhetoric devoid of actual drive to change. Addressing the problem of child abuse through child protection requires the concerted efforts of all the elements of society. Recognition of the problem is essential, but it doesn’t actually find solution on the problem. The protection of children’s rights as well as the prevention of child abuse requires civic society, the state, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole to effectively establish a firm regime and an incorruptible series of programmes.  V.  Recommendations The following recommendations are based on the observations, arguments and conclusion provided in the earlier parts of this paper: Improve the process of assessment and monitoring The primary player in this context is the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In this context, they have to be constituent and vigilant to deal with their assessment and monitoring schemes. They may accomplish this by acquiring a verifiable set of case reports from their departments and ministries. They can also seek the help of academic institutions as well as health institutions in determining the actual state of the young generation in Hong Kong.   Establish an improved response system As stated above, Hong Kong has an established response system in their police department and in the health department. However, there appears to be lack of conscientiousness on the community level. Mandatory reporting should be established as doing so would only be complementary to public policy, good customs and morals of the administrative region.   Review the government policies for improvement It is the task of the government to provide for the basic needs of the people. In line with the discussions pertaining to the protection of children’s rights, it is only necessary for the state to ensure that those directly involved in the departments as well as the agencies that deal directly with the actual protection of rights and prevention of abuse acquire the necessary training. It is also the task of the state to place a respectable funding for the care of children who have found to have gone abuse from their parents or guardians. Moreover, the justice system must make sure that in cases where they have such instances of child abuse, the law should be strictly construed against the accused and liberally in favour of the children.   Find ways to maintain a verifiable set of data To effectively measure the success rate of the government initiatives in protecting the rights of the child, proper data should be acquire. This shall establish the actual status of society. The local government units may be charged to establish this data acquisition and recording tally.   VI.Bibliography     Browne, D. (2002) “Coping Alone: Examining the Prospects of Adolescent Victims of Child Abuse Placed in Foster Care.” Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 31(1), 57. Lai, Y. (2006) “A Preliminary Study of Teachers’ Perceptions of Sex Education in Hong Kong Preschools.” Australian Journal of Early Childhood. 31(3), 1. Mceachern, A., Aluede, O., Kenny, M. (2008) “Emotional Abuse in the Classroom: Implications and Interventions for Counsellors.” Journal of Counseling and Development. 86(1) 3. Social Welfare Department. (2002) Newly Reported Child Abuse Cases by Types of Abuse in 2002. Available in: http://www.swd.gov.hk/vs/stat.html [Accessed 05 December 2008] Stewart, J. (1997) “If This Is the Global Community, We Must Be on the Bad Side of Town: International Policing of Child Pornography on the Internet.” Houston Journal of International Law. 20(1), 205. Tang, C., Cheung, F. (1997) “Effects of Gender and Profession Type on Definitions of Violence against Women in Hong Kong.” Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. 36(11-12) 837. Unicef. (2007) Child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse. Available at: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_35903.html [Accessed 05 December 2008] Yip, K. (2004) “The Empowerment Model: A Critical Reflection of Empowerment in Chinese Culture.” Social Work. 49(3), 479.       Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Law of the child protection/abuse issues in Hong Kong

I. Introduction It is a universally accepted fact that it is the right of every child to be free from being subjected to ...