Professionals Against Child Abuse

Here are links to two very important reports of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) for the protection of physically and sexually abused children and for the protection of those who report their suspicions.

The reports recommendations support safeguarding professionals who mostly feel greater protection is needed for those who in good faith report suspicions of abuse regardless of outcome.

The relevant reports of the 2 Special Rapporteurs have been discussed at the 16th sessions of the Human Rights Council at Geneva, this link leads to a list of the reports for the 16th session.

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/16session/reports.htm

1. The Committee of the Children Rights has adopted General comments n.13 on 17th February 2011 concerning the Article 19 of CRC: The right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence. This link is to a list again, but the top one is the one to click on, also see first attached file.

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/comments.htm

Page 20 paragraph 45. states

“In every country reporting of instances, suspicion or risk of violence should, at a minimum, be required by professionals working directly with children. When reports are made in good faith, processes must be in place to ensure the protection of the professional making the report.”

2. The joint report of the special Rapporteurs, The Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children on 7th March 2011.

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/16session/A-HRC-16-56.pdf

P22

Recommendations paragraph 112

(a) Mandatory reporting by professionals who work with children of sexual abuse and other acts of violence causing physical injury and psychological violence should be given due consideration by all countries. Rules that protect the identity of professionals and private individuals who bring cases of violence against children to the attention of the competent authorities should also be enacted into law;

(f) Safety and confidentiality should be safeguarded to protect children and their representatives from any risk of reprisal when complaints are lodged or incidents of violence reported, and to ensure that all actions are carried out in the best interest of the child and with children’s involvement and informed consent. Children must be confident that no information will be shared without their consent and their confidentiality will not be breached, unless there is a well-founded belief that doing so would be necessary to protect them or others from serious harm;”

then

Paragraph 54 – Reporting by professionals who work with young children is especially important; these children are more susceptible to injury and unable to make complaints, and early detection and intervention can help reduce the risk of repeated abuse and long-term health and social consequences.

Paragraph 55 – The authors of the present report consider that some form of mandatory reporting, including the reporting by professionals who work with children, of sexual abuse and acts of violence causing physical injury and psychological violence is appropriate for all societies.

Paragraph 60 – The authors of the present report consider that standards establishing an obligation to report violence should be incorporated into the regulations or rules of conduct of all institutions or agencies that deal on a regular basis with children at risk of violence, such as residential facilities, schools, medical services for children and law enforcement bodies.