World is a beautiful place to live in. It is biggest blessing that we as human beings have got from Almighty. Thus, it is our duty to protect beauty and integrity of our world. One auspicious element of human life, as well as world, is childhood. Children are not only hope for future but also instrumental for maintaining our present happy status.

These young minds are source of betterment and newness in world today and time to come. Well, each one of us knows value of children and respects their individuality. But, few sick-minded people ill-treat children and take undue advantage of their credulity.

They not only make these children work under unhealthy conditions but also load them with hard work. It is looking at these dark truths of society that governing bodies passed certain laws to protect children’s rights. These rights stand against any act that supports child abuse or affects mental or physical health. Child abuse is one of major problem faced by many children around world and its take attention of all nations. Children can be abused by different people like parents, strangeness and member of their families, teachers and other children at school or in community. Regardless who are abusers, causes and effects are all same like any other abuse. Child abuse can be categorised into four types: physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Each type has different causes and different effects on child life and on community. In this paper I will highlight causes and effects of it. Causes can be due to poverty, family stress, abuse of substances (drugs, alcohol) and psychological problems. Effects depend on type of and it can be divided into three categories which can be seen in individual and reflect in community.

These are emotional effects, physical effects and behavioural effects. Treatment of child abuse after recognition of causes and its effect is important and before that prevention or stopping it is chief of all. There are several clear steps everybody especially family need or must to follow it. Children are a gift from Allah to every parents dreaming of having a child. They have right to be loved and treated will, unfortunately; still there are those who are suffering from abuse in extremely sense of word. It is also difficult to imagine that any person would purposely cause harm on any child.

There is no single cause of child abuse. Instead, it is usually result of a combination of factors. Some of most common causes of child abuse include: 1. FAMILY STRESS: Many families are under a lot of stress. This can be caused by financial problems, job loss, illness, or divorce. This stress can make it difficult for parents to cope, which can lead to them taking their frustration out on their children. 2. SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Parents who abuse drugs or alcohol are more likely to abuse their children. This is because drugs and alcohol can make people act impulsively and angrily. They can also make it difficult for parents to bond with their children. 3. MENTAL ILLNESS: Parents with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder are more likely to abuse their children. This is because these illnesses can make it difficult for parents to cope with everyday life. 4. Parental conflict: Parents who have a lot of conflict are more likely to abuse their children. This is because conflict can lead to stressful and angry interactions. 5. LACK OF PARENTING SKILLS: Some parents may not know how to effectively deal with their child’s behaviour. This can lead to them using physical or emotional abuse as a way to discipline their child. 6. ABUSE IN CHILD’S OWN LIFE: Children who have been abused or neglected are more likely to be abusive themselves.

This is because they may think that abuse is normal or they may not know how to effectively deal with their own emotions. Child abuse is a serious problem that can have lasting effects on its victims. Victims of child abuse are more likely to experience problems in adulthood, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide. If you suspect that a child is being abused, it’s important to report it to authorities. Social authorities should try to foster love for children among its inhabitants. There is a need to monitor psychological condition of a child as well. Although this has been becoming a huge challenge for society, it can be dealt with by thinking wisely and acting efficiently.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 18 2022

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