Child Abuse

I. Definition of Children
According to R.A. No. 7610, Children refers to person below eighteen (18) years of age
or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from
abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental
disability or condition
II. Definition of Child Abuse
Child abuse is the maltreatment if a child. It includes the following:
1. Psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse, and
emotional maltreatment.
2. An act which debases, degrades, or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of
a child as a human being.
3. Deprivation of basic needs, such as food and shelter, for no reason.
4. Failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting in
serious impairment of his growth and development or in his permanent
incapacity or death.
III. Operational Definition
a. Physical Abuse defined as physical injury from harming a child. The injury resulted
from over discipline or physical punishment inappropriate for a childs age or condition
is another form of physical abuse.
b. Neglect described as the failure for basic need provision. It may also be physical,
educational, or emotional.
1. Physical Neglect Includes refusal of or delay in seeking health care,
abandonment, inadequate supervision and expulsion from home or refusing to
allow a runaway to return home.
2. Educational Neglect the failure to enroll a child, who is of mandatory school
age, and inattention to special educational needs.
3. Emotional Neglect actions such as spouse abuse in the presence of the child,
permission of drug and alcohol use by the child, and refusal or failure for
needed psychological care.
c. Sexual Abuse includes the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement or
coercion of child to engage in, or assist another person to engage in sexual intercourse
or lasciviousness conduct or the molestation or prostitution of, or the commission of
incestuous acts, on, a child.
d. Sexual Exploitation characterized as the hiring, employment, persuasion,
inducement, or coercion of child to perform in obscene exhibitions and incident shows,
whether live, on video or film, or to pose or act as a model in obscene or pornographic
materials, or to sell or distribute said materials.
e. Emotional Abuse Includes acts or omissions by the parents or other persons
responsible for the child's care and that have caused or could cause serious behavioral,
cognitive, emotional or mental disorder. It is the most difficult form of child
maltreatment.
f. Child Trafficking The act of trading or dealing with children, including but not limited
to, the buying and selling children for money, or for any other consideration, or barter.
g. Child Labor children below the age of fifteen (15) forced or suffered to work for
money or any consideration. Considerations include the endangerment of the life,
safety, health, and normal development of a child.
h. Abandoned The failure to provide for the care and support of a child for at least six
(6) continuous months for no valid reason shall be presumed as an intent to abandon
the child unless said failure is due to reasons beyond the control of the parent or is due
to financial reasons.
IV. Remedial Procedures
a. Filing a Complaint the following may file a complaint on unlawful acts committed
against children:
1. Offended party
2. Parents or guardians of the victim
3. Grandparents, or relative up to a first cousin
4. Barangay Chairman
5. Three (3) concerned citizens where violation was occurred.


References:
ABS-CBN Foundation. (2012). Understanding Child Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.abs-
cbnfoundation.com/bb163/childabuse.html
The LawPhil Project. (n.d.). Republic Act No. 7610. Retrieved from http://www.abs-
cbnfoundation.com/bb163/childabuse.html
Department of Justice. (n.d.). Child Protection Program. Retrieved from http://www.doj.gov.ph/child-
protection-program.html