Child abuse can be identified as conduct or act impairing or endangering emotional or physical development of the child; this category of victimization covers any damage suffered by a child, which cannot be clarified or reasonably explained and providing a series of intentional or deliberate injuries.
It is necessary to underline the fact that child abuse covers such crimes as an emotional, sexual, and physical offense, affecting further development of the child as a personality. This category of victimization is not observed as a single event; its violence is increasing nature has a direct connection to the person related to an abused child; for example, parents, or caregivers.
There are some characteristics identifying the harm degree received by the abused child; they are connected with the age and environment in which the child is brought up. According to the statistics, about 50 per 1000 children are reported to be abused.
It is necessary to underline the fact that 70% are sex offenses containing juvenile victims. The example of the problem of child abuse is often faced in ‘difficult’ families, where the parents are not biological and suffer alcohol or drug abuse. Despite the obligations of the parents to keep their children in safety, they are the most frequent abusers in accordance with the statistics. (Child Abuse Victimization. 2000).
The term ‘sexual assault’ is characterized through illegal, unwanted sexual acts; in most cases, this victimization category is called as raping and determined as ‘the threat of force penetrating victim’s anus, mouth or vagina.’
Some people consider that forcing to unwilling sex is impossible, though the threat of death or injury can become the key forcing tool. The victims of sexual assault are usually feared, and as a result, they cannot resist the attack of the offender. According to recent statistical data, every hour, about 80 women are raped; it makes about 1871 women daily.
The rate of sexual assault among males is not so frequent; nevertheless, the research center investigated that one in every six men suffer sexual assault during his life. The harm of sexual assault victimization usually leads to psychological trauma suffered by the victim over the whole life period.
This type of victimization is one of the most frequent in modern society; the problem is that victims are usually scared and refuse to report to the police, stimulating further crimes. (Sexual Assault Victimization. 2000).
The third type of victimization to be analyzed is considered to be domestic violence; this category covers public health concern, including emotional, psychological, physical, or sexual abuse committed by one intimate partner to the other. The age, race, or educational background of domestic violence victims can be different; besides, this crime is never influenced by religious concepts or interests of the person.
It is necessary to underline the fact that this type of crime is not preserved in a single form; it is a series of abuse aimed at the partner, which is caused by unreasonable motivations of the abuser. There are some factors that can impact or stimulate the abuse; for example, the psychological state of the abuser or his disability to control personal behavior or emotions; sometimes, it is a desire for power connected with personal family background.
Besides, such factors as drug and alcohol abuse can lead to violent behavior and result in domestic violence. It is necessary to underline the fact that the effects of domestic violence are really shocking for the victims; they can lose their links with close people and isolate themselves in their personal world. (Domestic Violence Victimization. 2000).
References
Child Abuse Victimization. (2000). The National Center for Victims of Crime.
Domestic Violence Victimization. (2000). The National Center for Victims of Crime.
Sexual Assault Victimization. (2000). The National Center for Victims of Crime.