Understanding Child Abuse

Definition of a child
A person who is below 18 years of age.
A person who is above 18 but can not take care of himself due to certain circumstance.

The rights of every Filipino child

It is my right

To be born. To have a name and nationality.

To be free. To have a family who will take care of me.
To have a good education.
To develop my potentials.
To have enough food, shelter, a healthy and active body.
To be given the opportunity for play and leisure.
To be given protection against abuse, danger and violence brought by war and conflict.
To live in a peaceful community.
To be defended and assisted by the government.
To be able to express my own views.

Definition In Philippine Law R.A. 7610

The Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act or
Republic Act 7610 (Art.1 Sec. 3) defines child abuse as maltreatment, whether habitual or not.

A person who is below 18 years old or those over but are unable to fully take care of
themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of
physical or mental disability or condition.
By a person who is responsible for the child's welfare. Under circumstances which
gravely threaten or endanger the survival and normal development of children.
Operational Definition

Physical Abuse
Is characterized by physical injury (e.g. bruises and fractures) resulting from punching, beating, kicking,
biting, or otherwise harming a child. The injury may have resulted from over discipline or physical
punishment that is inappropriate to the child's age or condition. The injury may be the results from over
discipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child's age or condition.
An injury resulting from physical punishment that requires medical treatment is considered outside the

realm of normal disciplinary measures.

Neglect
Child neglect is characterized by failure to provide for the child's basic needs. Neglect can be physical,
educational or emotional.
Physical Neglect
Includes refusal of or delay in seeking health care, abandonment, inadequate supervision and expulsion
from home or refusing to allow a runaway to return home.
Educational Neglect
Failure to enroll a child of mandatory school age and inattention to a special educational need.
Emotional Neglect
Includes such action as chronic or extreme spouse abuse in the child's presence, permission of drug abuse
or alcohol use by the child and refusal or failure to provide needed psychological care.
Sexual Abuse
Includes wide range of behavior; fondling of a child's genitals, intercourse, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism
and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials.
Sexual Exploitation
Children whether male or female, who for money, profit or any other consideration or due to the coercion
or influence of any adult, syndicate or group, indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are
deemed to be children exploited in prostitution and other sexual abuse.
Emotional abuse
Includes acts or omissions by the parents or other persons responsible for the child's care and that have
caused or could cause serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional or mental disorder. It is the most difficult
form of child maltreatment.
Child trafficking
The act of trading or dealing with children, including but not limited to, the buying and selling children for
money, or for any other consideration, or barter.
Child Labor
The employment of children below 15 years of age who force, suffer to work for money or any other
consideration.

The condition of employment endangers the life, safety, health and normal development of the child.
Abandoned
The failure to provide for the care and support of a child for at least six (6) continuous months for no valid
reason shall be presumed as an intent to abandon the child unless said failure is due to reasons beyond
the control of the parent or is due to financial reasons.
The failure to report to a law enforcement agency or to the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) that the child is missing within seventy-two (72) hours after his disappearance is
discovered.
READ: R.A. 7610
There are other types of abuse such as street children, children in conflict with the law, children in
indigenous communities, and children in situations of armed conflict. However, the definitions specified
above are the common abuses that is being reported and handled by Bantay Bata 163. Networks and
partner agencies is tap to respond to abuses outside its scope.

http://www.abs-cbnfoundation.com/bb163/childabuse.html