Dramatic data on child abuse in our country: 1 in 5 children will experience an incident of sexual violence

Child abuse is a global public health problem with immediate and long-term consequences for health, it is pointed out in a resolution of the Social Paediatrics of Northern Greece, which will be delivered to the Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia-Thrace), Stavros Kalafatis, on November 19, International Day against of Child Abuse.

The resolution states that according to the WHO, globally 25-50% of children have been physically abused, while 20% of girls and 5-10% of boys have been sexually abused.

In our country:

*7500 children under the age of 5 suffer some form of violence each year,

*1 in 5 children will experience at least 1 incident of sexual violence by the age of 18,

*1 in 2 Greeks witnessed the abuse of a minor,

*7 out of 10 abuses are committed by parents or relatives,

*In 90% of cases the abuser is someone the child knows and trusts,

*3-5% of severely abused children die or acquire severe permanent disabilities,

*Over 3000 children are involved in sexual exploitation in the capital alone,

*45% of victims do not speak for at least 5 years, while hundreds of victims never reveal their experience.

The resolution notes that according to Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which entered into force on 2/9/1990 and which by 2020 had been ratified by 196 countries, each country is obliged to protect children from all form of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, neglect, exploitation for commercial or other purposes).

The resolution proposes:

1- Strengthening of legal framework related to the change of social conditions (prohibition of alcohol, work for minors, compulsory education of all children in primary and secondary education and inclusion of skills strengthening courses).

2- Strengthening of social services so that they can record and deal directly with the needs of vulnerable families and potentially abusive ones (substance users, etc.).

3- Financial, mental, educational support for young parents who have difficulty raising their children.

4- Sex education course in schools by experts.

5- Health Education for university students, especially Schools involved in dealing with abuse, such as Law, teachers of all levels, health scientists and police officers.

6- Training in the diagnosis and management of abuse of the professionals involved in the management of abuse (health professionals, teachers, police, etc.).

7- Psychologists in all schools.

8- An interdisciplinary team, trained in the management of abuse, and consisting of a psychologist, social worker, pediatrician or child psychiatrist and a police officer, in each Municipality.

9- Interdisciplinary team for the reception and management of the abused child in at least one hospital or health structure of each Prefecture of the Country, consisting of a child psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, medical examiner on a 24-hour basis.

10- Creating a safe environment for abused children by creating new accommodation structures and strengthening the institution of the foster family.

11- Continuous campaign by the media with the aim of a) informing the citizens about the prevention of abuse, b) lifting the suspensions of disclosing abuse as an obligation of every citizen even anonymously, c) informing the citizen about the agencies where they can to turn to for help or to report abuse.

RES-EMP

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