CSSM MB Summer Missionary Manual - Abuse 4
Understanding Abuse
Some general definitions include:
1. Abuse is defined as a non-accidental physical or mental injury or mistreatment caused by the acts or omissions of parents or caregivers.
2. Abuse is categorized as physical, emotional, verbal or sexual.
a. Physical abuse means any physical force or action which results in non-accidental injury to a child and which exceeds that which could be considered reasonable discipline.
b. Emotional abuse is the failure to provide the praise, love, nurturing and security essential to the psychological and social development of a child. This neglect is likely to produce long-term serious emotional disorder.
c. Verbal abuse is difficult to specify due to the ongoing nature of intimidation and manipulation. It destroys an individual's self-worth and esteem.
d. Sexual abuse means any sexual exploitation of a child, whether consensual or not, which includes touching, intercourse or any behaviour of a sexual nature toward a child. In determining whether this behaviour is of a sexual nature, one should ask whether a reasonable observer, looking at the behaviour in its context, would conclude that it is. This would exclude normal affectionate behaviour towards children and normal health or hygiene care."
The Law Reform Committee of Canada defines child sexual abuse as:
"Exposure of the child to sexual stimulation inappropriate for his age and role - the sexual exploitation of a child who is not developed mentally, capable of understanding or resisting the contact, or a child or adolescent who may be psychologically or socially dependent upon the perpetrator." Canada's Law on Child Sexual Abuse from the Department of Justice has a listing of 16 sexual offenses in the criminal code.
Some of these include:
• sexual interference
• invitation to sexual touching
• sexual exploitation of a young person
• exposing genitals to a child
• corrupting children
• indecent acts
• sexual assault
Children under 12 are never considered able to consent to sexual activity. Children between 12 and 14 are deemed unable to consent to sexual acts except under specific circumstances involving sexual activity with their peers. Young persons between 14 and 18 are protected from sexual exploitation. Their consent is not valid if the person touching them for a sexual purpose is in a position of trust or authority over them or if they are in a relationship of dependency with that person.