Essay/Term paper: Protection from abuse and neglect

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Philosophy

Protection From Abuse and Neglect


I have recently been elected in a new statewide project in Minnesota to
create and provide leadership in a small scale voluntary association for
children . The focus of the small scale association is based on the United
Nations General Assembly that adopted a Convention on the rights of the Child.
It is a program to provide information and knowledge on the substantive right
for "Protection from abuse and neglect" designed specifically for children. The
right states that " the State shall protect the child from all forms of
maltreatment by parents or others responsible for the care of the child and
establish appropriate social programs for the prevention of abuse and the
treatment of victim".
The purpose of the new state-wide small scale association is to inform
children through first-hand knowledge and example on the protection from abuse
and neglect. The substantive right is very important for children to know and
understand in case they, or someone they know is ever involved in an abusive
situation. The small scale association is limited to children so they can feel
free to express their experiences and ask questions openly to others without
having to worry about adult supervision. This may interest children to comment
on situations and on general conversation that they normally would be scared to
ask their parents. I feel that this is relevant to children in today's society
because these situations of abuse and neglect occur in many households, and
children either do not know their rights or fail to take action to them.
The kinds of topics and issues discussed in the association and in
connection with children's rights will vary according to importance. The
beginning stages of the meetings will consist of examples and definitions of
what abuse and neglect constitute. We will then as a group apply what we know
to everyday situations in which these forms of maltreatment by parents or others
responsible for them. Next we would apply these situations to the substantive
right for Children according to what the United Nations Generally assemble
established. In connection with the "Bill of Rights" and through discussion,
children will learn that they might have been involved in a situation of abuse
or neglect and failed to realize it. This gets aback to the focus of the small
scale association which is to inform children what the "Protection from abuse
and neglect" really means and what they can do about it.
After the early stages of the meetings where we introduce the
substantive right, the group will become further involved in field trips and
activities. This will aid the children to learn through first hand experience
and in interactive activities what the State considers "Protection from abuse
and neglect." Once every two months, the group will take a field trip to an
area correctional abuse center where we will hear first hand from counselors who
help abusive adults deal with their problems. The counselors will provide such
useful information as warning signs for children in abusive and neglect
situations, advice on how to approach adults who abuse them , and who to tell
and talk to about there kinds of situations. Through experience with abusive
adults, counselors will stress the point to children that maltreatment is not
uncommon in households and is usually repetitive. Children need to learn that
it is not their fault in neglect situations and they should not blame themselves
for the harm they receive.
Another activity that the group will participate in is through
interactive group skits. Individuals will be assigned a role in which they must
respond actively to the situation. For example, a child may play a frustrated
adult who returns home after l long day of work. The adult might swear and then
strike the child, and the child will practice to act responsively by talking to
his parents and go as far as reporting it if the situation continues to occur.
After months of studying and learning, the children will take their knowledge to
the public.
The projects that the children will be involved in is a variety of
surveys of other peers and children to provide statistical information about
adolescents in the area. From there, children will be asked to pass out
information to parents and children in the neighborhood about abusive and
neglect situations, warning signs, and whom to contact in social programs for
the prevention of abuse and the treatment of victims. By doing this, will also
promote the strength of our program to other children in the area and convince
them to become involved in our small scale voluntary association.
II.

For those of you who may have missed last week's meeting, I have here an
overview of what we covered. The two hour meeting was broken down into six
different twenty minute topics about what have been covering lately.

1) The first block was designated to small group discussion about
everyday family disorders. In other words, we talked about what was going on at
home. Discussion questions included: " Are there any stressful situations that
your parents have been having that you've noticed?" " What sort of extra stress,
if any, have you been putting on your parents?" "Describe the relationship you
have been having with your family, is it open and comfortable?"
2) Large group discussion about defining abuse and neglect and the
rights we as children have. In this section we stressed that abuse and neglect
are common, however, not realized. We also discussed our rights under the
"Convention on the rights of the Child" and what that means to us.
3) Large group discussion of warning signs of abuse and neglect. Here
we talked about ways in which adults handle certain kinds of family situations.
Also how parents handle family crises. Discussion questions included: "Give two
examples of warning signs; are there ways of stopping the problem before it is
too late?"
4) Group discussion on how to approach abusive adults. We talked about
ways we can talk to parents and adults about what is it that they're doing that
bothers us. Also, how important it is that we do mention the problem to the
adult so the situation does not continue to occur.
5) A guest speaker talked about area social programs for the prevention
of abuse and the treatment of victims. Here we became more aware of people to
talk to or seek help if we are put in an abusive situation. The speaker
stressed the importance of telling someone else if something at home is
bothering us because there are others out there who are experiencing the same
thing.
6) The last twenty minutes was designated to questions and answers.
This was time set aside at the end for children to ask questions about things
covered during the meeting, or anything else.