His testimony came before the newly created Task Force on Child Protection. The Governor created the task force following lawmaker’s reactions to soft laws they say were exposed following the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

Sean McCormack is specifically talking about our state’s reporting laws, and how the penalty needs to match the crime.

The capitol saw a flurry of reactionary bills in the weeks following the allegations against Jerry Sandusky. Lawmakers from both house and senate either created bills or resurrected some that directly applied an umbrella of issues under child abuse laws.

But several focused on reporting. Allegations that Joe Paterno, Mike McQueary and PSU’s administration failed to report Sandusky’s allegations adequately fueled many new introductions.

“If you fail to report yet you’re required to it’s only a misdemeanor of the third degree,” explained McCormack to the task force. “From a prosecutor’s perspective, I think that’s too low really just a slap on the wrist.”

In Pennsylvania, professionals who come into contact with children must report the crime. McCormack says what he is asking for is vital.

“If someone were to commit a rape against a child, which is a felony of the first degree, the failure to report that rape should also be a felony of the first degree,” McCormack urged.

McCormack also suggests more training on how to spot abuse, and in order to fund programs, create license plates like the ones the state offers for other programs, like DARE, and sports teams.

The task force will present their findings in September.

Source: WHPTV

Following the telecast of the second episode of the show on child sex abuse on May 13, the city office of Childline has suddenly received two cases related to sexual abuse and others of children being beaten up by their parents and relatives, NGO director Archana Sahay told PTI today.

She said in the last three days, they received 12 cases related to children issues, while earlier the cases did not come in such high numbers.

In some cases, children being beaten up by parents or relatives leave their homes and come to Childline for help, she said, adding that one big change which Aamir’s programme has brought about is that now even parents approach her organisation to seek help for their children.

It has raised the people’s awareness on these sensitive issues, she added.

Source: Outlook India

Sources informed that senior officials who were at the meet included the financial commissioner and principal secretary of women and child development department, the Haryana DGP, and the deputy commissioners as well as senior police officials from Gurgaon, Rohtak and Faridabad. NCPCR chairperson Shantha Sinha and other members were also present in the meeting.

During the meeting, the NCPCR took a serious note of the violation of child rights, sexual abuse cases and physical tortures of inmates, majority of them being minor, at the home run by the Rohtak-based NGO, Bharat Vikas Sangh, and issued a list of directives to the authorities concerned to implement them in a time-bound manner.

The Commission had taken a suo-motu cognizance in the case after three girls, who had reportedly run away from the home, narrated their horrific tales of torture and abuse in the home.

A raid was conducted by the NCPCR in the presence of Rohtak administration on May 9. While NCPCR termed the affairs of the raid as “sickening and shocking”, Rohtak additional deputy commissioner was directed requested to conduct an enquiry and submit a report within in a month.

Notably, six girls from Gurgaon who had been transferred to the Rohtak home after sexual abuse case at Drone Foundation surfaced a few months back, informed that they had been engaged only in cleaning and sweeping of the home since the past two months of their stay.

NCPCR sought proper care of HIV+ children shifted from Drone Foundation along with other children having similar medical condition. District administrations were asked to map all Child Care Institutions (CCIs ) and forward a list of such mapped CCIs to headquarters and make arrangements for their registration under Section 34 (3) of the Juvenile Justice Act and also submit a report to the commission in 45 days.

Officials were asked to set up a mechanism to keep a tab on all the CCIs and ensure strict action by the administration in case of any false information. A confirmation in this regard has been sought by NCPCR within 30 days.

Sources said the panel raised several child abuse and sexual exploitation cases reported recently, mainly in the NCR, and the authorities’ failure to act on its earlier recommendations. The state was asked to streamline the functioning of Child Welfare Committees and proper coordination of various agencies involved while dealing with child cases.

A member said the panel would wait for an appropriate duration to see the state’s response in implementing its directives.

Source: The Times of India

The men were jailed yesterday at Leeds Crown Court after both pleaded guilty to systematically attacking the youngsters.

Now police and social services bosses are trying to establish whether any other children looked after by the family might have fallen prey to the men.

The court was told the father and son were arrested after police raided their home and found computer and camera images of one of the children being abused.

The father had been a registered foster carer for several years at the time of the arrest, the court was told.

After his arrest he told police the abuse had begun after he took indecent pictures of one of the children.

The son told officers he began abusing the children after discovering the images his father had taken.

Police later discovered the son had visited chatroom websites where he had discussed his child abuse fantasies and made a vile comment about Madeleine McCann.

Jon Gregg, prosecuting, said both children had suffered psychologically as a result of the abuse.

The father admitted a number of sex offences against children including four offences of rape of a child, two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one of making indecent images of a child. He was jailed for 10 years and eight months.

The son pleaded guilty to four offences of sexual activity with a child, five of sexual assault of a child and two of making indecent photographs of a child.

He was given an indeterminate prison after a report into his behaviour stated that he had “uncontrollable urges” towards children.

He was told he must serve a minimum of two years and four months before he a can apply for release. The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, warned him that he is likely to spend much longer in prison.

Both men were ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

West Yorkshire Police are now liaising with Leeds City Council’s social care service to establish whether there were any further offences.

Det Sgt Nick Hamer, of the child and public protection unit, said: “Both these men were responsible for a sickening catalogue of abuse against two vulnerable children who they exploited for the men’s own sexual gratification.”

Steve Walker, deputy director of children’s services for Leeds City Council said: “This is a very distressing case. We have made every effort to contact the other children and young people who we know were fostered by this man. Our inquires to date have revealed no further allegations.

“As a foster carer this man was subjected to the very clear process of checks and assessments set out nationally. He was also subjected to regular monitoring. However, this case highlights that despite rigorous checks being in place there are individuals determined to commit offences against children, so professionals must always be vigilant.”

Jane Held, chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board, said: “This was a deeply upsetting situation for the victims and all the professionals involved. We are satisfied that West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council acted promptly, decisively and appropriately as soon as they became aware of it.”

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

A 19-year-old man was arrested on child abuse charges after police obtained a video which allegedly showed him beating up two teens in the street.

Baron Ewing and another man, Jaraun Jarvis, from Orange County, are suspected of punching several teens on Kentwood Circle near Forest City Road earlier this month.

The incident was recorded with a cell phone camera and the video was posted to YouTube, investigators said.

The video shows the two men approaching the teenagers who are unaware of the imminent attack.

One of the men punches one of the teens in the face. The men throw more and more punches and kicks and the teens do not fight back.

Ewing was booked into the Orange County Jail on Friday. He has since bonded out.

He is said to have admitted to the beating.

Investigators are still searching for Jaraun Jarvis.

The video was posted to YouTube on May 2.

Authorities said the victims – who have not been identified because of their ages – were not seriously hurt in the fight.

WFTV spoke with a victim’s father who said he became angry when he watched the video.

‘They was horrible. I mean, when I saw it, I just come unglued. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at,’ said the victim’s father, who did not give his name.

Source: Daily Mail

“His arm was broken. His finger was broken. His ear, his nose, his chin was all covered with blood,” he says.“…And then I caught him and when I get angry I’m a disaster. And then I covered him and went on top of him and then I kept jumping on him. And then I didn’t feel him breathing anymore and I thought he was dead. After that he went to sleep.”

A teacher at the Al Razi Centre says Ahmad arrived with behavioural problems and denies he was beaten up saying he deliberately threw himself onto a wardrobe.

But Sharmain believes Ahmad’s teacher attacked his son. He sued him, without success. His lawyer, Bassam Al Dmor, says it’s very difficult to prove cases like his.

Director Dr Shaker Abu Hatab says an initial hospital report said Ahmad had a head injury after falling and any further injuries and bruises must have happened after he left Al Helal Centre. He says: “We have reports from the Ministry of Health that the child has the tendency to hurt himself.”

A BBC Arabic investigation has uncovered cases where children had been seriously injured in Jordan’s private care homes for the mentally challenged.

Khalid Yousuf Abu Dagga brought his 12-year-old son Yousuf from the UAE. He had searched the internet and was impressed with the Arab City Centre in Amman. It was expensive — 1,000 Jordanian dinars (Dh5,180) a month — but Abu Dagga wanted the very best for his son.

Abu Dagga wasn’t too worried when the centre rang him in the UAE and said Yousuf had spilt some hot water on himself. But he found his son had already been in hospital for more than two weeks with serious burns over half his body. He still faces extensive treatment, including the constant dressing of his wounds. Yousuf’s father commissioned an independent report from specialist doctors to try and get to the truth.

It found Yousuf’s injuries were so extensive they were caused by a chemical substance or burning and that it was difficult to believe that the burns were the result of an accident.

‘I thought he was dead’

The Government told reporters that complaints of abuse were rare, although there were no meaningful statistics. But the reporters spoke to numerous parents, former and serving care workers and experts and put together a dossier of cases. It shows that eight of Jordan’s 54 private care homes face recent allegations of abuse. It seems there’s a climate in which staff can act with impunity.

A teacher at the Al Razi Centre is filmed telling other staff about a boy in care: “I put him in bed last night. I left him for one minute. I came back and he’d taken off his cover and I covered him again. Then he got up again and refused to go back to bed and he wanted to go where I was and be with me. Then I said to him to sleep and he wanted to come with me because [he] is still awake.

“Then imagine he took the sheets off and then he turned his bed upside down and sat on bare metal. And then I caught him and when I get angry I’m a disaster. And then I covered him and went on top of him and then I kept jumping on him. And then I didn’t feel him breathing anymore and I thought he was dead. After that he went to sleep.”

In a classroom at the Al Razi Centre a young boy is tied to his chair for most of the day; ignored by staff. He has nothing to do but sometimes watch television or just stare into space.

At the same centre, a young blind woman is left alone on her bed most of the day. Staff come only at meal times or occasionally to take her to the toilet. Our reporter found her in exactly the same position a year earlier when she first visited the centre.

At Ibn Khaldoun a boy with a foot infection needs some acetone — a teacher says the head has “taken it home”. When this reporter asked about medical supplies she was simply mocked by the staff. A teacher at the Ibn Khaldoun centre said: “How do think they are going to stay in one place and be quiet? Not by calling them love and dear but by grabbing the kid like this… They are not normal.”

The man responsible for Ibn Khaldoun and Al Razi care homes refused to give an interview after being presented with a dossier of evidence. Owner Zaid Sakkijha denied there was any abuse.

Lack of regulations

The Jordanian Government is responsible for licensing private care homes and it sets out regulations for what they have to provide. But surprisingly most of the rules to get a licence are only about the building — such as the height of rooms and the size of the water tank. There is very little mention of how children should be treated or what education they should receive. The Ministry of Social Development says inspectors visit private centres regularly.

The government says of the abuse: “Even if there are only a small number, they are severe in terms of their significance because it is a matter of human rights. It is the disabled who need to be protected and therefore we have red lines. Even if the abuse is done by an employee we will not tolerate it and the court will have its say.”

Louay Esmail is a senior producer at BBC Arabic, and Hanan Khandagji, a Jordanian freelance journalist who worked on the story for more than six months, and who did most of the undercover reporting on the project.

Source: Albawaba

Adam Mayes, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering Jo Ann Bain and her daughter Adrienne, and committing suicide when police caught him with Bain’s two other daughters, was investigated for child sex abuse in 2010.

According to records from Madison County Sheriff’s Office in Jackson, Tenn., Adam Mayes was accused of child abuse and possessing child pornography. A family member claimed to have seen Mayes nude as he shaved the legs of a nude 7-year-old girl.

Mayes denied the allegations and he was never charged. An investigator concluded the claim about the abuse, as well as the allegation he had child pornography, were unfounded.

Mayes died Thursday night after authorities who tracked the 35-year-old to a wooded area Thursday evening said they repeatedly ordered him to surrender but he pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the head.

Mayes was pronounced dead and sisters Alexandria Bain, 12, and Kyliyah Bain, 8, were rescued. This ended a nearly two-week search that began when Jo Ann Bain and her three daughters disappeared from their Tennessee home April 27.

Mayes’ wife, Teresa Mayes, is now facing six felony counts in the case: two first-degree murder charges and four especially aggravated kidnapping charges. She told investigators that after she saw her husband kill the mother and oldest daughter in the garage at the Bain home. She then drove him, the younger girls and the bodies to Mississippi, according to affidavits filed in court.

Mayes’ mother, Mary Mayes, has also been charged with conspiracy to commit especially aggravated kidnapping. Mary Mayes’ attorney, Terry Dycus, said his client maintains she is not guilty.

CNN is reporting that three other people have been arrested in connection to the case.

Source: CBS News

Informed sources said that the Vatican was investigating seven priests from the movement, whose late founder Father Marcial Maciel was accused of having an illegitimate daughter and abusing eight seminarians.

“The relevant superiors (of the movement) followed the norms in force, signaling to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith some cases that have come to light from several decades ago,” Lombardi told AFP.

The Vatican spokesman said he did not have more detailed information.

The Legionaries of Christ movement expanded hugely under late Pope John Paul II and is now present in 22 countries, particularly in Latin America.

It has 800 priests, 2,500 seminarians and 70,000 lay people among its members and it manages 12 universities.

Maciel died in the United States in 2008 at the age of 87 and Pope Benedict XVI authorized a full review of the order in 2010.

The Catholic Church has been damaged by thousands of child abuse cases in recent years, as well as accusations of cover-ups by senior Church figures.

It established new rules for handling the issue requiring all suspected cases to be reported to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. —Agence France-Presse

Source: GMA News

It is widely recognized that verbal abuse of girl child is much prevalent and occurs in a range of relationships and social settings, all around the world. However, the intensity of such phenomenon is much higher in poor and developing countries, such as Pakistan.

Farhana Rasheed, a women rights activist, observed that, “It is really difficult to quantify or determine the prevalence of the emotional abuse of girl child in our society as very rarely girls report such cases. A major reason of lack of reporting is the involvement of family members in committing emotional abuse”. The women rights activist further remarked, “In many poor and developing countries, including Pakistan, people in general congratulate the parents, if the newly born baby is a boy; however, the birth of a baby girl has never been considered as an occasion of pleasure or distribution of food or sweets among relatives, friends and colleagues’’. Farhana Rasheed further said that a son means high dividend in future for present investment; while the girl is just a big responsibility and expense.

Advocate Ashraf Suleman informed that healthy emotional development is also as much important for children as healthy physical development. He added that UN Convention on the Rights of the Child under Article 19 stated the following:

1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.

2. Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.

Amber Naseer, a psychologist, informed that emotional abuse essentially is based on power and control. She informed that neglect, rejection, humiliation and degradation are the most recognized forms of emotional abuse. The Karachi based psychologist observed that a number of girls, who visited her clinic, informed that their parents give more importance to their brothers and they really feel inferior in the family. Amber Naseer further added that irrespective of their social or economic background; young girls are very sensitive about their status and identity in the family.

Haseena is a sixteen year old girl, living with her parents and three brothers in a densely populated squatter settlement in Karachi. She has been working as a domestic servant for last six years and the job requires her to work from 9.00 in the morning till 4.00 in the evening. Haseena said, “Since my childhood, I have great interest in getting education; however, my parents decided that my brothers are only entitled to get education. I love my brothers and really wanted them to become educated and successful in life but I believe that my parents should treat their children, boys and girls, equally and I should also have the chance to get proper education.”

Kashif Farooqui, a gender expert, observed that a large number of poor families in Pakistan consider their daughters as a heavy burden and therefore such thinking has resulted in the neglect of young girls. He further remarked not only education but girls child also face neglect and discrimination in getting proper and life-giving nutrition during their childhood. The gender expert also referred many surveys and researches that clearly explain that as compare to boys, girls receive less quality food, education and healthcare. Kashif Farooqui added that neglect is an obvious form of emotional abuse and such abuse is very much common in poor and developing countries, including Pakistan.

Kashif Farooqui informed that a seminar, organized by Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE), on “Gender Based Violence” was held in Islamabad, in February 2012. He added that during the seminar speakers identified different forms of gender based violence in Pakistan including traditional practices harmful to women, such as honor killing, burning or acid throwing, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, sexual harassment, stove burning, trafficking of women and girls and emotional abuse such as bullying and abusive language.

Masooma is twelve and she studies in sixth grade in a local private school. Masooma’s father works in a private company while her mother is a school teacher. The young girl has two brothers and two sisters. “My brothers are studying in one of the best schools in Karachi while I and my both sisters are studying in an ordinary private school, located in our neighborhood. Once, I had complained the low quality of education in my school; however, my mother clearly told that quality education is very expensive and only my brothers are entitled to get such expensive education because in future they will support the family. It was really very shocking for me because I thought that all siblings are equal in front of parents.”

Amber is also sixteen year old and she belongs to a very established family. She lives with her three brothers in a posh locality in Karachi. Amber informed that, “I am studying in one of the best schools of Karachi and enjoying a comfortable life in my parents’ house. However, the attitude of my brothers, two are younger and one is elder, is really awful. They always use very abusive language and try to degrade, insult and ridicule me, especially in front of other relatives. I have discussed the problem with my other friends but most of them also face the same problem, which is certainly not a good sign for the development of young girls, like I.”

Rukhsana, a fourteen year old girl, lives in a large family of twelve people in a lower middle class locality. She used to attend the school but after class V, the family didn’t allow her to continue the education. She informed that, “After leaving the school, I work almost ten to fourteen hours daily in my house. I am responsible to do all domestic chores, including cooking, washing dishes and clothes and cleaning the small house. Additionally, I also have to take care of my little nephews and nieces. Despite such tough daily routine, my father and elder brothers criticize and humiliate me without any reasons. They always taunt me about my weight and give me funny names such as ‘tank’ or ‘double decker bus’.” The dejected girl concluded that if she has the chance, she will certainly leave the house and family.

Maleeha Qureshi, a sociologist and staff member of an NGO, observed that emotional abuse of girl child is a serious problem, which is increasing in upward direction. She added that emotional abuse of children can cause serious problems, such as depression, isolation, lack of attachment with the family members, school dropout or low educational achievement and lack of socialization. Maleeha Qureshi added that girls’ ‘transitory status’ in parents house is a major cause of the prevailing neglect in South Asian societies and added that, “it is really unfortunate that many parents consider their daughters as ‘other people’s property’, and therefore, they don’t want to spend much on their development and education.”

There is no denying that emotional abuse of girl child is a routine rather than exception in the society. As discussed emotional abuse comes in many forms and not much information is available about the prevalence and different aspects of the issue; therefore, more structured and comprehensive researchers are required to understand the issue in totality. Furthermore, NGOs and media should create awareness about adverse affects of emotional on girl child.

Source: Asian Human Rights Commission

SAN ANGELO, Texas — On Feb. 6, the Houston Chronicle published an article stating that Darrell Prince-Tico Mitchell, 19, had been arrested for alleged child abuse by the Houston police.

Mitchell was accused of immersing his son under a running shower head, growling at him, squeezing the 1-year-old and biting his chest. Fearing for the well-being of the child, Mitchell’s neighbor called the police.

Whether we recognize it or not, each of us knows at least one person who has been affected by childhood abuse. According to a non-CPS study, it is estimated that 1 in 5 U.S. children has been subject to some form of maltreatment.

Physical neglect, emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse are all forms of maltreatment. Although each of these is important to recognize and report, physical neglect and physical abuse are the easiest to distinguish.

According to the experts, children are afraid to notify anyone about their situation and 90 percent of cases go unreported. It is our responsibility as family, friends and neighbors to protect otherwise helpless children from this terrible situation. Like the Houston neighbor who suspected abuse, we must take action against child maltreatment.

Although it is often cleverly hidden, child abuse can be identified by a few telltale signs. Children who are physically abused may have bruises above the knee, elbow and on the head and buttocks. These bruises are not common even among young children who engage in rough play or are clumsy. Burns of the hands and feet also are a common sign of physical abuse.

Some signs of physical neglect are rotten teeth, dirty clothes and untreated medical issues. Although it is often easier to assume that “it’s probably nothing,” in the situation where child abuse is a possibility we are better safe than sorry.

When child abuse is suspected it should be immediately reported. The authorities should be notified by calling 911. The San Angelo Children’s Emergency Shelter provides a safe, caring place to live for children who have been mistreated or abused. It provides support and tools children need to grow up to be successful, self-sufficient adults, despite their unfortunate circumstances

If you would like more information about this organization you can log on to conchokids.org.

Not surprisingly, social service organizations including the San Angelo Children’s Emergency Shelter endured funding cuts last year. Lifetime cost for each victim of nonfatal child maltreatment is $210,012, but the state continues to cut funding for these organizations.

Child abuse is much too common. For every reported case there are many more that go unreported. We can change this by being aware of the signs and speaking up when we suspect a problem.

Please support organizations such as the San Angelo Children’s Emergency Shelter by donating. More important, please contact elected state officials to support an increase in funding to these organizations.

Source: Go San Angelo