Since opening its doors in January 2000, Child Safety Services have been referred 465 individual cases of child abuse - 173 of which were cases of alleged sexual abuse. With the new scholastic year just weeks away, educators are preparing themselves to spend endless hours watching over Malta's schoolchildren.
Set up by the Education Division, Child Safety Services supports the Child Protection Procedures published by the Education Ministry in 1999. These procedures provide practical step-by-step guidance to school employees who may suspect that abuse is taking place.
Michelin Sciberras, the official in charge at Child Safety Services, stressed that the policy binds all school staff and professionals at all educational establishments without exception.
The procedures, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), stipulate that educators and others working in a school setting are in duty bound to observe and refer cases of child abuse and are obliged to be familiar with the Child Protection Procedures. They are also to refer suspected or confirmed child abuse cases to the appropriate services through the correct channels.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Ms Sciberras, who has a Master's in Counselling from Durham University, highlighted the statistics gathered by the Child Safety Services.
A very striking fact is that the majority of referrals were cases of sexual abuse. "People tend to be more shocked by the notion of sexual abuse. But we need to be aware that the other forms of abuse are just as traumatic and leave just as many scars. We live in a society where hitting your children [to reprimand them] is still accepted by many."
Experience and research show us that that physical abuse leaves long-term scars and repercussions that are just as worrying as the effects left by sexual abuse. Whatever form of abuse is committed, the scars are lifelong.
Out of the total referred cases of abuse, 273 of the alleged victims were females, while 192 were male. Child Safety Services dealt with 127 cases of physical abuse, 103 cases of neglect and 36 of emotional abuse. There were also cases in which the different genres of abuse - physical, sexual, neglect and emotional - overlapped.
What is emotional abuse? Ms Sciberras explained that in a nutshell, emotional abuse takes place when a child is a victim of incessant negative comments, continuous verbal abuse, threats, mockery, and constant scolding, witnesses domestic violence regularly, and has to shoulder excessive responsibility. Emotional abuse is the most difficult to prove because it is so vast and physical signs of the effect are not present. It is also the least reported, but not necessarily the least perpetrated.
Ms Sciberras emphasised that in most cases the perpetrator was a very close family member or close family friend. In fact, 116 fathers and 101 mothers were alleged perpetrators in the cases referred to the Child Safety Services.
"This is why the child takes ages to disclose. They are often afraid, are threatened, bribed, may be anxious about what will happen to their loved ones or what the consequences of revealing the truth may be. The cases in which perpetrators are strangers are very minimal. It destroys the myth that children ought only to beware of strangers," she said.
"Statistics can be dangerous and misleading. For example, the majority of our referrals come from state and Church schools. The referrals from independent schools can be counted on the fingers of one hand. It does not mean that children attending these schools are less likely to be abused. There is no correlation between abuse and social class or regional area.
"As a service, we commit ourselves to build stronger links with all types of schools to offer the services to children. We need to offer our children prevention programmes, awareness-raising sessions for parents and adequate training for staff to battle against abuse. Any child, from any school, emerging from any type of family can be abused."
So how does the unit find out about the existence of child abuse cases? "The educator may have a nagging suspicion, evidence or disclosure of abuse. The school head must be informed without further delay because he or she has the ultimate responsibility for referral. The head usually seeks consultation from Child Safety Services. If a referral is required, this is made to the Child Protection Services of Agenzija Appogg."
All that goes on remains behind closed doors. The head of school must not disclose information on alleged child abuse to the child, to the child's family or to anyone else.
Once social work investigation has taken place and every attempt has been made to protect the child, a case conference may be called where a plan is drawn up on the services the child needs to heal from the traumatic experience. Counselling may also be offered by Child Sefety Services.
Ms Sciberras pointed out that so far, schools have co-operated with the policy. "It is essential that schools act even on a suspicion. All it takes is a phone call. A case is discussed confidentially and then the necessary action taken. We encourage people to look out for sudden changes in behaviour such as seductive behaviour, physical changes, such as lack of hygiene, constant hunger, sudden stammering, children wetting themselves, constant headaches or stomach pains.
"Emotional changes such as aggression, withdrawal, fatigue, depressive moods and self-mutilation may also be witnessed. These are only a few of the signs and symptoms. There are also children who may not manifest any signs and also those who do, but these are not read or understood by adults.
"When a child discloses, an adult's initial reaction may be denial and the child may not be believed. This is a common reaction - when faced with such a problem, it is all too much to be taken in at once. In the majority of cases the child would be telling the truth. It is advisable for adults not to discuss their doubts with the child but with competent professionals. It is traumatic enough for the child to experience abuse. Let us not add on to the trauma by not believing them."
Child Safety Services reopen their doors at the start of the scholastic year. (tel. 2122-6361).