Protecting our children

The "Platform for Children" initiative launched a few days ago is an important step in continuing to raise our awareness on children's rights and the issue of child abuse. Nine local NGOs dedicated to the welfare of the child have decided to join forces with the specific intent of employing their expertise and resources in strengthening the work carried out in this delicate field. For this, I wish them the very best.

One sometimes feels that children's rights and particularly child abuse remain a particularly sensitive issue in our sometimes insular society. Child abuse is a complex problem which has multiple causes and side effects both in the short and long terms. I believe that many of us still equate child abuse strictly with child molestation and particularly sexual abuse. Of course the latter abuse is possibly the most despicable of such heinous behaviour. Yet beyond this there is a much wider discussion.

Child abuse can take several forms. Neglect, physical abuse, psychological abuse and bullying all constitute an integral part of what one understands by child abuse. Although local awareness of the magnitude of the problem has vastly improved in the last 10 to 15 years, much is still to be done to address some of these pressing issues.

Of course child abuse is not a modern phenomenon. Children have been subjected to exploitation since time immemorial. What we consider as despicable, such as child slavery, prostitution and child soldiers, still remains a reality especially in some "developing" nations. Statistics show that up to one million children are sexually exploited each year in this multi-billion flesh industry. According to reports by Unicef, studies have shown that around two million children have died as a direct result of war and armed conflict over the last decade. At least six million children are suffering from serious injuries or are permanently disabled. It is almost unbelievable that in this day and age over 300,000 child soldiers, some as young as eight, are exploited in armed conflicts in more than 30 countries around the world.

Of course our situation vis-à-vis child abuse is far removed from the realities just mentioned. Yet we should not be mistaken about some home truths. This year alone police arraigned no less than 44 people on child abuse charges which almost in their entirety (38) involved sexual molestation. This is not an insignificant figure. In a study carried out in 2007 (Child Abuse In Malta: A Review) Prof. Simon Attard Montalto and Dr Mariella Mangion quote another worrying statistic. Between 1993 and up to 2006, Aġenzija Appoġġ recorded 6,442 reports under the Child Protection Services involving some form or other of child abuse. Here again this is not an insignificant figure when one considers that it is highly probable that under-reporting remains a distinct possibility if not a reality. Referrals to child protection during the period 1993 and 2004 were strongly concentrated around the Harbour districts and the South.

International studies (Unicef) relating to child abuse suggest that the trend towards problems with child rearing tends to increase in families outside the traditional nuclear family. The reasons for this are manifold and extremely complex. Economic and social factors are among the identified sources. Here again this does not bode well for us. The increasing trend witnessed in Malta especially the rise in teenage pregnancies, births outside marriage and the "unknown father" syndrome are all volatile ingredients that may stoke such possible abuse. One must never generalise in these cases, but these figures again provide food for thought.

Much can be done in our Maltese context regarding child abuse. Identifying the local causes and prevalence are still tasks that we need to engage in to deepen our understanding of this problem. This also applies to the apparent and not-so-apparent effects that this is leaving on children that have been or are being abused. Undoubtedly prevention is better than cure. I believe that the government must continue through its agencies, schools and even the police to work closely with significant organisations such as the Church in raising even higher the awareness on child abuse. Furthermore, together they should raise the profile of the available services that the State and NGOs offer to possible victims.

One final point I would like to raise is the possibility of a sex offender register. I understand that developments are in process as regards a national register such as is already in place in many European countries. Studies are conflicting as regards rates of recidivism, especially where child sexual molestation is involved. Disclosure will always remain a complex matter. Undoubtedly anyone found guilty of such crimes should absolutely and under no circumstance be given the opportunity to work with children again. I believe there is a complete consensus on this matter and hence we should move on with this register as quickly as possible.

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