Working group : Preventing child abuse

This module will focus on the prevention of childhood abuse, that is on interventions that help preventing abuse to occur. Several approaches can be used including training of parents to help them identifying risk, law, and guidelines to interfere with the perpetrator’s behaviour, global communication to acknowledge about these risks.

Therefore, we will present the guidelines that have been elaborated in the various countries to increase prevention such as parents' educational assistance and supervision of the children. Indeed, it is well established that abuse can be prevented if alarming signals are well identified, if parents have training that can help them in paying attention to it, if some situation at risk are avoided, if offenders can be identified and accompanied.

Further, we will present an overview of different laws that have been elaborated in this field. More precisely, the degree of interference in family life varies according to the severity of the risk for the child's situation. Educational actions within the family or placement measures for the child can be taken. Parenthood schools can be imagined too. Patrimonial and financial measures are also possible to stimulate parents to adopt the right behaviors.

When the mistreatment is not the fault of the family, the arsenal of penal sanctions is intended to be a deterrent for abusers. Teachers, neighbors are also subject to reporting obligations. Another approach useful to prevent the occurrence of abuse may be through communication. For example, online Sexual Exploitation of Children has become the current and latest form of sexual exploitation of children due to technological advancements.

Raising awareness of this form of exploitation and its mechanism that facilitate these types of abuse through webinars conducted globally will have worldwide impact and could likely prevent and help curb this form of exploitation of children.