Counter Pedophilia Investigate Unit

THE AUTHOR of a major review of child protection in the UK has warned that plans to introduce mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect in Ireland could end up doing more harm than good.

Under the Children First Bill published last month, professionals or organisations that work with children will have a legal obligation to report suspicions or allegations of abuse to social services.

Failure to do so could result in a fine or jail term of up to five years. (more…)

Thank you for bringing attention to the painful problem of child abuse and neglect during Child Abuse Prevention Month. Though the proclaimed month ended a few days ago, recent horrific stories of child abuse should wake us up to the ongoing need to prevent child abuse.

Our criminal justice leaders get it. I applaud the 12 chiefs of police, sheriffs and district attorneys from around New Mexico who signed a letter to Congress on behalf of Fight Crime Invest in Kids to support funding for voluntary home visiting to help prevent child maltreatment, cut crime and save taxpayers money. I have taken a personal pledge to do what I can to prevent more children from experiencing this life-changing trauma. (more…)

Syeda Aliya Azhar

The term childhood evokes images of little ones busy at play, or going to school or happily absorbed in lively chats with friends. Norm­ally, it is a time for playing, for learning and for slowly maturating into pro­ductive adulthood.

Ch­i­ldren are our most pr­e­cious resource, because they are the hope of our future and it is through them that mankind transmits its values, knowledge and skills. (more…)

Racism and sexism are understood as ideological prejudices, why don’t we have a similar understanding of the root of child abuse?

When we read in the newspaper that a child in New Jersey has died from neglect from an untreated broken leg, or that a child in Florida’s protective services could just disappear without a trace, or that molestation of children has been covered up in yet another diocese of the Catholic Church, we do not say “there is prejudice against children at work in each of these instances.” Abuse, neglect, sanctioned pedophilia — we don’t put these all together in our minds with stories about child abductions and enslavements, trafficking, inadequate schooling, malnutrition and junk-food induced obesity, advertising cigarettes to minors, child pornography, or the rising numbers of child soldiers worldwide. But we should. (more…)

Any sports club, society or voluntary organisation that works with children faces being shut down if they fail to implement official guidelines on how to handle child protection and welfare concerns.

It is one of a number of measures contained in two new pieces of legislation published today which are likely to have far-reaching implications for how the State, voluntary groups and wider society respond to children at risk.

Details of both Bills were published today by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald. (more…)

Children who are exposed to physical abuse may be at greater risk for suicidal behaviours in adulthood, a new study from the University of Toronto has revealed.

The study found that approximately one-third of adults who were physically abused in childhood had seriously considered taking their own life.

These rates were five times higher than adults who were not physically abused in childhood. The findings suggest that children exposed to physical abuse may be at greater risk for suicidal behaviours in adulthood. (more…)

A Regina judge has given a three-year prison sentence to a man and a woman whose three-year-old granddaughter was malnourished, injured and neglected while in their care.

“To describe the conduct of each accused as despicable, deplorable and horrendous is to use adjectives that do not adequately describe the conduct,” Queen Bench Frank Gerein said Tuesday in a written decision. (more…)

LUGOFF, SC (WIS) – Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews says a child abuse case recently investigated by his department is “horrific.”

24-year-old Catharine Ammons and 27-year-old James Watson of Lugoff were arrested by deputies after hospital officials at Kershaw Health notified law enforcement of possible child abuse.

Over several months of abuse, Sheriff Matthews says hospital officials determined Ammons’ 4-year-old daughter suffered two broken arms and a broken leg. (more…)

A record-high number of child abuse reports in Arizona has led the state’s child welfare agency to turn to a special investigative team to help with case management, officials said Wednesday.

Recent data showed Child Protective Services responded last year to more than 140,000 calls to its hotline — up from 131,000 in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, said the director of the Department of Economic Security, which oversees CPS. (more…)

Children have a right to be safe and live free from abuse and neglect. When a concern of abuse or neglect is determined, families are supported through activities that promote positive child development and assure safety of the children.

Children are entitled to enduring nurturing relationships that provide a sense of family, stability and belonging.

Children’s Division is involved with many families for a variety of reasons. (more…)