Ways to Combat International Child Abuse

Developing effective methods of combating international child abuse is difficult and tricky because many countries do not maintain or enforce child abuse laws. One of the most common methods of child abuse prevention is education. Many international organizations that seek to stop child abuse, have developed educational programs in order to teach both the public and professionals about information related to child abuse.

This information includes the causes of child abuse, the detrimental effects of child abuse, and the treatment of child abuse. These organizations often invest in programs which focus specifically on educating professionals on the most successful methods of dealing with victims of child abuse, as well as teaching them about new information and research related to child abuse and neglect.

Education is one important step to stopping child abuse. However, it is not enough to combat international child abuse. Although education may be very successful in decreasing the occurrence of national child abuse, various countries throughout the world are facing different social, economic, cultural, and political problems that lead to increased instances of child abuse and neglect.

One of the major problems that leads to international child abuse and neglect is poverty. Many areas around the world, especially Africa, are experiencing severe and extensive poverty.

They do not have access to clean water or medical treatment. Mothers often cannot afford to provide their children with basic necessities, such as food, and these children will suffer from extreme malnutrition, as well as starvation. Children who are born into poor families are much more likely to experience physical neglect, emotional neglect, and medical neglect.

Millions of children die every year because they do not have access to food, clean water, or health care. Many of the diseases that these children are inflicted with are treatable or preventable with the help of antibiotics and vaccines. Many international organizations have helped to provide impoverished countries with financial assistance, relief in the form of food and supplies, and medical care as a way to stop child abuse and fatal neglect.

Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders travel to extremely impoverishment countries in order to provide children with the medical care that they need. Another means of combating international child abuse is by establishing quality educational centers. Many children are forced into child labor because they do not have access to adequate education. In order to remedy this, organizations such as the United States Department of Labor have funded projects to provide children with a proper education.

These projects often focus on providing at risk children with access to specialized training or non-formal education, as well as formal schools. If a child is given the ability to perform one or more skills, then they will be more likely to escape child labor and servitude.

One of the most important mechanisms needed to stop child abuse is an international legal framework that eliminates the worst forms of child abuse, including sexual exploitation and trafficking. Governments must cooperate with each other in order to create, maintain, and enforce international laws with the aspiration to stop child abuse and exploitation.

Many countries that are experiencing political unrest are rife with various forms of child abuse and neglect. In countries such a Somalia, where there is no stable government, violence is something that is expected and children are injured and killed every day. Countries must achieve political stability in order to end international child abuse. Combating international child abuse may seem impossible but if organizations and governments around the world work together, they can help to ensure a safe and healthy future for children everywhere.

NEXT: What are the Piercing Laws