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Child abuse as an international issue.
1Family Research Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824.
Child Abuse & Neglect
|January 1, 1988
Summary
This paper proposes a universal definition and international strategy to combat child abuse. It emphasizes prioritizing national issues and focusing globally on parental battering, neglect, and sexual abuse to protect vulnerable children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- International Relations
Background:
- Child abuse is a global issue with varying cultural definitions.
- Vulnerability to maltreatment is influenced by factors like health, gender, and socioeconomic conditions.
- Existing policies often lack a unified, cross-cultural approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a cross-culturally applicable definition of child abuse.
- To propose a dual-pronged international strategy for policy development.
- To identify key areas for global and national focus in combating child abuse.
Main Methods:
- Cross-cultural analysis of child maltreatment definitions and contributing factors.
- Review of existing international approaches to child abuse policy.
- Development of a proposed two-part international strategy.
Main Results:
- A proposed definition of child abuse: harm resulting from proscribed, proximate, and preventable human action.
- Identification of vulnerable child populations across diverse cultural contexts.
- A strategy advocating for national prioritization and international collaboration on key abuse types.
Conclusions:
- A unified, cross-cultural definition is essential for effective international policy.
- Addressing child abuse requires both tailored national strategies and coordinated global efforts.
- Focusing on parental battering, selective neglect, and sexual abuse is critical for international impact.