Advocacy, subjecting a child to assault
Assault is the act whereby one is occassioned to an offensive act or physical bodily harm by another person. It is an offensive act and a crime in law to subject someone to assault moreso a child. In criminal law assault is categorised into harm, maim or gravious harm depending on the degree of injury occassioned to the person.
In the case of children, actual and sexual assault are very common. As an advocate, child assault is an abuse to the child and it should be taken into consideration more seriously to reduce the crime against the children. It leaves the child with long lasting scars, emotional depression, child neglect, affect self-esteem, and future relationship of the child and assistance given to such childmay create a huge difference in the child’s life. A child found in this state is required to be protected by first reporting the matter to police. Whatever you can do to help the child, provide it with a lot of reassuarance and unconditional support (McNutt, 2007).
If the child is physically or sexually assaulted, first take the child to any nearby health centre for first aid treatment and referral if need be. The medical pratictional will advice on the short or long-term medical attention requirement to the child. Offer material support to the child by taking the child to the parents or children’s home for housing and protection (DeVita & Mosher-Williams, 2001). Throughout the process, let the child explain in his or her own words what happened but do not ask the child too many questions of what happened. In domestic violence the child may experience denial and threatened from those assaulted him or her. Safety of the child should come first to be sure that he or she is on the safe hands. Leave the child to the professional and provide the necessary support as it may be required from time to time.
DeVita, C. & Mosher-Williams, R., (2001). Who speaks for America’s children? Washington: The Urban Institute.
McNutt, J., (2007). Adoption of New Wave Electronic Advocacy Techniques by Nonprofit Child Advocacy Organizations. Chicago: Lyceum Books.
