Child Sexual Abuse

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Introduction
The purpose of this project is discussing potential solutions for the problem plaguing the society
of child sexual abuse. To attain its objectives, the project postulates that guardians and parents
play a central role in fighting child sexual abuse. It makes the assumption that as a result of their
unique position, guardians and parents are supposed to have mandate of educating and protecting
children against victimization. Its focus is on establishment of awareness regarding the issue at
family levels and the community at large. Further, it also seeks to establish perception the
community has on their role in fighting against child abuse.
Goals set for this program include educating children and families regarding the subject matter,
monitoring and understanding risk activities taken by children in relation to fighting sexual
victimization, supporting practices and policies that address links among current norms, practices
as well as behaviors that lead to sexual discrimination of children. Once this project gets
completed successfully, cases that involve sexual child abuse will drop in a drastic manner. I
purpose to use this project to apply the research skills I have acquired in the classroom to solve
problems in real life. As a result of this, I will get the experience needed to not only save lives of
children but improve them as well.

Background information
Talk regarding sexual abuse in children is extremely difficult despite the fact it occurs in
everyday life. In recent days, there has been a sharp increase in the cases that involve child
sexual abuse. According to Childrens Bureau (1), there are over 3 million cases of child abuse
reported in the US involving approximately 6 million children. Estimates indicate about 4
children die daily as a result of child abuse. It is important to note the cases in question refer to
those ones that are often reported. Other research indicates that there are several cases of child
sexual abuse that are never reported while others go unnoticed (Understanding Child Sexual
Abuse 36).
The increase in the cases reported results in similar growth of children who get adjudicated at the
justice criminal systems. As a result of attention drawn from the phenomenon, there are
speculations which are renewed on crucial areas. First, there is the aspect of concern regarding
the trauma the victim experiences as a result of going through criminal justice systems.

Speculation is also rife on how the systems and the rules of investigatory agencies can be
modified for purposes of trimming down traumatic nature of the process followed (Olfman 8).
Practitioners who work with the families affected as such are supposed to beware of their needs.
They are supposed to have service systems that are protective as well in order to aid in reduction
of the trauma that these individuals experience.
Research indicates most cases that involve child abuse are often ignored. A recent article by
Associated Press (3) in Daily Post revealed there are more than 6,000 cases of child abuse in
Arizona that are reported but they are often ignored. Further, the report claims 125 cases out of
the 6000 that had been identified already, it was found after investigations that indeed, the
children were abused. The main basis the cases were ignored is as a result of increase in the
cases reported. People tended to classify the cases in accordance to their seriousness according to
the source hence giving attention to those cases deemed as serious while neglecting the rest. As a
result of this, attention was not paid to the childrens safety in cases not investigated which
raised concern.
The justice criminal system has limitations in administration of justice as well as fight against
child sexual abuse (Martin 28). Prosecuting cases of sexual child abuse involving children the
testimony of children can be difficult. First, evidence in these cases is dependent on extent to
which the testimonies of the children are believable. This is as a result of their age as well as
perceived testifying competence. The second is the belief many people have regarding sexual
abuse that it is the result of mental disorder hence mental health system needs to be dealt with in
such cases. They look at the criminal system as too punitive (Martin 28). The third reason is fear
that the process might traumatize the child in the process of the criminal justice system. The
fourth is that prosecutors are often reluctant when it comes to undertaking cases whose evidence
rests primarily on the childs evidence without any physical proof.
In the bid to solve problems related to criminal justice system and also protect children from
sexual abuse, these cases need to be addressed in courtrooms specifically set for children
(Education National Research Council 270). It is believed that this aids in reduction of trauma
for the children when it comes to testifying. However, this has some limitations as well and it
also proves difficult to deal with whenever the cases are not addressed effectively to protect the
child. To conclude, there is need to come up with a clear approach that is well coordinated to
address sexual child sexual abuse problem. The justice criminal system has proven not perfect
since it has more disadvantages for the victims.
This project is important due to the fact it provides a practical strategy of addressing as well as
eliminating the issue of sexual victimization in children. As it targets all parties involved in child
abuse, it is beneficial to support and implement it. Its focus is more on elimination of changes of
occurrence of cases on abuse through participation of the community. It seeks to address
unreported abuse case issues, ignored cases and also show how they can be addressed.

Methods
There are three phases of this project. The first phase will last for 2 weeks and is known as the
research phase. During this time, the research is going to be done in order to find information

that is relevant regarding child sexual abuse. The technique applied will be use of questionnaires
that are self-administered. Interviews will however be used for child participants and in some
cases, questionnaires will prove ineffective. Questions asked will be focused on determination of
awareness level of the topic of study. Some of these questions include: What is child sexual
abuse? Have you ever been involved in any case in which a child was abused sexually? What did
you do? How would you identify a child who has been abused sexually?
The second phase will run for an approximate 2 months and it will be known as the
implementation phase. It is the most important stage in this project and during this time,
education campaigns are going to be carried out in order to enlighten the community regarding
the impact and nature of sexual abuse. Parents and children will be educated as well on definition
of sexual abuse. Parents, children and caregivers will also get enlightened on characteristics of
perpetrators as well as the tactics they use to coerce children.
Children and parents will also be equipped with the necessary skills and language needed while
talking about the anatomy of the child. Additionally, they will be taught regarding inappropriate
skills employed in handling children. The education is going to aid increase the communication
level between the children and parents on sexual child abuse topic. This will be done via
conference organized in institutions like organized gatherings and schools.
The third phase is going to take 2 weeks and it is set to start 3 months after completion of the
second phase and will be known as the Survey Phase. It will aim at evaluation of the
effectiveness of the entire project in order to determine whether or not it was successful. The
techniques employed are going to be the same as those applied in the first phase. Information
comparison will be obtained as well and compared to information from the first phase.

Intended Audience
At the closure of the project, all information collected is going to be interpreted and analyzed.
The information will also be printed in articles that will be posted on numerous social sites so
that everyone can read them. The audience intended includes government agencies that deal with
protections of children, social community workers, children and parents. The information is also
going to be of great use to any potential granters.
Annotated Bibliography
Childrens Bureau. Child Maltreatment. Home. N.p., 2012. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/research-data-technology/statistics-research/childmaltreatment>.
This site provides all available statistics on child abuse. Cases that involve child abuse,
according to the site rise every year.

Education National Research Council. Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect.

National Academy Press, 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2013.<http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?
record_id=2117>.
The authors of this book attempt to explain the best techniques applied while carrying out
investigations involving child abuse. They insist it is always important to focus on symptoms.
Martin, Michael. Child Sexual Abuse: Preventing Continued Victimization by the Criminal
Justice System and Associated Agencies. JSTOR. National Council on Family Relations, 2012.
Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/585199>.
In this article, the author discusses role played by the criminal justice system towards the fight
against sexual child abuse.

Olfman, Sharna. The Sexualization of Childhood. Westport, Conn.: Pager, 2009. Print.
In this article, the author explains initiatives followed when dealing with the child victimized.

The Associated Press. 6,000 Cases O=of Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect Reported in
Arizona Went Ignored: Officials. NY Daily News. 21 Nov. 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/6-000-suspected-child-abuse-cases-azofficials-article-1.1525500>.
According to this article, reports on cases of child abuse do not necessarily guarantee the
victims will receive assistance. It claims there are more than 6,000 cases of children abused, that
were ignored in Arizona.

Understanding Child Sexual Abuse: Education, Prevention and Recovery.

http://www.apa.org.
N.p., 2012. Web. 2 Dec. 2013. <http://www.apa.org/pubs/info/brochures/sex-abuse.aspx#>.
This article offers definition of sexual child abuse and also explains some of the techniques that
can be applied in order to assist victims to recover from the problem.

Works Cited

Childrens Bureau. Child Maltreatment. Home. N.p., 2012. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/research-data-technology/statistics-research/childmaltreatment>.
Education National Research Council. Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect. National
Academy Press, 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2013.<http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?
record_id=2117>.
Martin, Michael. Child Sexual Abuse: Preventing Continued Victimization by the Criminal
Justice System and Associated Agencies. JSTOR. National Council on Family Relations, 2012.
Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/585199>.
Olfman, Sharna. The Sexualization of Childhood. Westport, Conn.: Pager, 2009. Print.
The Associated Press. 6,000 Cases O=of Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect Reported in
Arizona Went Ignored: Officials. NY Daily News. 21 Nov. 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/6-000-suspected-child-abuse-cases-az-officialsarticle-1.1525500>.
Understanding Child Sexual Abuse: Education, Prevention and Recovery.
http://www.apa.org.
N.p., 2012. Web. 2 Dec. 2013. <http://www.apa.org/pubs/info/brochures/sex-abuse.aspx#>.

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