Jones, Adele

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University of Huddersfield RepositoryJones, AdeleTowards Social Transformation, Let’s talk about CSA: The Silence is DeafeningOriginal CitationJones, Adele (2008) Towards Social Transformation, Let’s talk about CSA: The Silence is Deafening. In: Forum to promote child friendly budgeting in the British overseas territories, 4th September 2008, Bridgetown, Barbados. (Unpublished)This version is available at http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/9623/The University Repository is a digital collection of the research output of theUniversity, available on Open Access. Copyright and Moral Rights for the itemson this site are retained by the individual author and/or other copyright owners.Users may access full items free of charge; copies of full text items generallycan be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in anyformat or medium for personal research or study, educational or not-for-profitpurposes without prior permission or charge, provided:• The authors, title and full bibliographic details is credited in any copy;• A hyperlink and/or URL is included for the original metadata page; and• The content is not changed in any way.For more information, including our policy and submission procedure, pleasecontact the Repository Team at: E.mailbox@hud.ac.uk.http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/The Silence is DeafeningNCH & UNICEF FORUM TO PROMOTE CHILD FRIENDLY BUDGETING IN THE BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES'Invest in Our Children Today. . . Change Our Tomorrow'Barbados, September 2008Professor Adele JonesUniversity of  Huddersfield, UKTowards Social TransformationLet’s talk about CSAAdding in the costs of CSA Intangible  Costs Low self-esteem Interpersonal relationship difficulties Family dysfunction Direct Costs Psychological trauma Early sexual initiation - teen pregnancy HIV- transmission Family disruption Indirect Costs Crime Violence in society Poverty Lost productivityKey QuestionsHow can we enumerate costs when there are so many intangiblesWho bears the cost (families, individuals, public, government)How are the costs distributed; variation by gender, age, socio economic statusHow do costs change over development transitionsAre these prevalence costs (relating to recent/current events) or incidence costs (relating to costs over time regardless of when event occurred)Certainties - prevalenceCanada – estimated 61% of the population of children have experienced CSAColumbia – Approximately 11,000 children sexually abused annuallyNepal – Between 13-18% of children have experienced CSANicaragua – Police records show 60% of sexual violence crimes are committed against childrenSpain – 23% of girls and 15% of boys under the age of 17 have been sexually abusedUganda – Estimates 75.8% of children have experienced CSAEngland – 10% of the recorded 570,200 child maltreatment incidences were sexual abuseAustralia – 10% of the 198,355 recorded child maltreatment incidences were sexual abuse(NSPCC, 2004)Worldwide consensus – CSA under-reportedWorldwide consensus CSA affects children, destroys families and contributes to violence, crime, ill-health and societal dysfunction in multiple waysNo single pathway for the experiences and outcomes of CSA – there are multiple pathways and multiple social and economic costsPsychosocial Costs - Young Person ARepeatedly sexually abused by step-fatherFearful of disclosure (he is a policeman, family financially dependent, close relationships with his children, fear of disbelief)Dropped out of school, history of depression & self-harmUsing drugs – boyfriend supplies – has been drawn into drug/crime subcultureBecame pregnant at 15Neglect & poor parenting of her two children aged 3 & 5Currently serving a prison sentence for drug-related crimeDiscovered one of her children was abused by her boyfriend –this was followed with a suicide attemptChildren being cared for by maternal grandmother (still lives with the stepfather)Economic Costs What %age of mental illness is associated with CSA, what does MI cost your societiesWhat does teen pregnancy cost you (what are the outcomes for children of teen parents in your communities)What are the costs of drug use & addiction - is drug use linked to CSA in your communities?What are your prisons & justice systems costing you –what % of prisoners have experienced CSA & what % of crimes are linked to CSACan these costs be reduced by better CP prevention & protection systems?Probability What are the statistical probabilities of these events really happening to this young person? How can we know that it is CSA and not some other variable that is the cause of, for instance, her drug abuse? What are the chances of improving the outcomes for her own children?Statistical probabilities are not the same as truthsThe smallest offer of help for a child being abused can reduce the probability of a negative outcome in some instances and equally, the most sophisticated & costly interventions might notLet us explore some truths about the effects of CSA…Likelihood of ‘A’ having mental health problemsCSA can increase susceptibility to a wide variety of mental health and destructive behavioural problems. Repressed memories, feelings of guilt, internalised shame and low self-esteem are all contributing factors towards mental illness(Spilla et al., 2008).Likelihood of ‘A’ abusing drugs Drugs, alcohol and prescription medication are consumed as a solution to anaesthetize feelings of despair and to shut out painful past memories of molestation and, or, rape.(Fergusson et al., 2008).Links with teenage pregnancyEarly unplanned pregnancy for young girls who have a history of CSA is twice that of female adolescents who had a childhood free of sexual abuse (Erdmans & Black, 2008). In a US study an estimated 60% of teenage mothers were sexually abused during their childhood (Martin et al., 2004). The path from sexual abuse to teen pregnancy follows a familiar trajectory:Sexual abuse as a child ▼Overly sexualised behaviour and risky sexual behaviour as an adolescent ▼Withdrawal from school ▼Abuse of alcohol and drugs ▼Pregnancy and adolescent motherhood (Erdmans & Black, 2008)Likelihood of ‘A’ being involved in crime Victims of CSA are at increased likelihood of adult criminality. CSA has a long term impact on anti-social behaviour (Cernkovich et al., 2008)Up to 50% of women prisoners in one UK study report being victims of childhood abuse or domestic violence(HM Prison Service 2008)Likelihood of ‘A’s children being abused Male sex offenders with a history of sexual abuse throughout childhood more liable to sexually abuse children than those who have not been abused (Whittaker et al., 2008).  Study of women sex offenders showed recurrent incidences of sexual abuse as children, more than non-sex offenders (Christopher et al., 2007).Dangers of sensationalismLimitations of taking one individual case and producing generalisationsHow can we possibly know that the cause CSA is directly linked to the outcomesWhat accounts for the children whose lives don’t follow this patternAbuse Child Abuser FamilySource Age Age Make-up of familyType Gender Gender Gender rolesrelationshipsMeasures used Place in family Relationship to childEconomic circumstancesFrequency Disability Views about sex History of abuseWhereWhen Status in family Status in family Social statusEffects of abuse Resilience factors Risk factors Social (risk) factorsUse of CT Personality History of abuse Protective factorsChanging OutcomesResponses on Disclosure Response of non-abusing parent/care-giver Response of wider family Response of perpetrator Mandatory reporting Policy requires/facilitates inter-agency cooperation  Locus of responsibility clearly understood Agencies work effectively together Society capacity to deal appropriately with fall-out  Skilled sensitive response by professionalsProtection & Post-disclosure Responses Effective counselling services  Accountability for CP Treatment services for perpetrators Balance re: criminal justice/support Family/community-based prevention & support services address wider social factors Training (professionals, parents & communities) Professionals supported Local/national cooperation Skilled sensitive policingSocietal Factors Gender inequality Policy gender informed & child-centred Societal taboos - sexual abuse hidden Status of children Imbalance in policy/legislative approach (systems loaded towards criminal justice rather than child protection)  Migration trends National disasters/eventsDeveloping effective CP Systems –Learn from the West?(CP System: laws, protocols, procedures, assessment tools, inter-professional agreements, guidance, services) Costly and overly complex to administer. In the USA the child protection ‘industry’ costs over $US100 billion annually, yet child abuse is said to be increasing. Similarly in the UK, the cost of maintaining child protection systems is over a £1 billion a year CP systems increasingly being seen as ineffective at best and at worst, sometimes simply substitute one form of abuse for another –the subjection of children to invasive and insensitive institutional procedures which themselves may be harmfulBankrupt economically and in terms of helpfulness to children & families(Lonne et al 2009) Investigation & surveillance driven Procedure-led, overly bureaucratic and complex to administer Focus on risk rather than on beneficial outcomes for children As ideas run thin there is an increasing emphasis on risk assessment tools - reduces professional skills to the ticking of boxes Spend our resources searching for perpetrators and have little left for victims and healing families Procedure led, institution-based approach fuels adversarial relationships  Children feel failed by the system not protected –often the outcome is worse than the situation the child was inMaking Economic Sense of CSA Business Partners – if your business is the protection of children then your partners are children and families Accounting – this is about accountability – we are accountable to children when we fail them Cost-effectiveness – should be determined by beneficial outcomes for children  Deficit – abused children carry a heavy deficit that can roll over year on year  Maximising Resources – children and families are resources too –utilise their knowledge and strengths Savings - there will be savings by putting effective CP systems in place but these may seem distantly removed from the outlay – the effects of CSA are often only apparent over time, be provide to take the time to see the benefits of investing in CP Financial Crisis – don’t be diverted – children are in crisis Balancing the Books – balance the future with the present (future social capital & healthy societies vs. present inactivity on abuse and consequent costs)Transforming Child Protection1. Convince the public that protecting children is necessary (avoid punitive, blame-laden language)2. Secure families embedded in secure communities provides the greatest source of CP3. Design your CP systems based on the inclusion of children, parents, community organisations and FBOs4. Collectively craft the values & principles 5. Make sure your solutions are culturally relevant 6. Ensure that your CP systems maintain children’s connections with families & help to heal families7. Involve the media proactively8. Don’t only focus on CSA (neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment)9. Think carefully about the role of mandatory reporting in your system10. Accept that the court is not the only form of justice for CSA – retribution or restoration?11. Where you can, identify the most harmful & persistent paedophiles – isolate them from children but treat them humanely12. For the many other child abusers look to principles of restorative justice for solutions13. Learn from what works in your own communities and from examples in the regionSome approaches to consider Code of Conduct for Child-Safe Tourism (ECPAT) Family Group Conference Model  Confidential Doctor System  Restorative Justice Will the Child Protection System you envisage lead to children and families referring themselves for help?If the outcomes of your system are not beneficial to children and families then question the inputFinally…Can we/should we put a value on children’s right to grow up free of sexual abuseWhat is society willing to payHow do we direct resources to more effective, cost effective interventionsSocial transformation is imperative – do we  believe it is possible?ReferencesCernkovich, S.A., Lanctôt, N. & Giordano P. C.(2008)  ‘Predicting Adolescent and Adult Antisocial Behaviour Among Adjudicated Delinquent Females’Crime & Delinquency, vol 54:1, pp 3-33Christopher, K., Lutz-Zois, C.J, & Reinhardt, A. (2007) ‘Female sexual-offenders: Personality pathology as a mediator of the relationship between childhood sexual abuse history and sexual abuse perpetration against others.’ Child Abuse & Neglect, vol 31, pp 871-883Erdmans, P. & Black, T. (2008) ‘What they tell you to forget: From Child Sexual Abuse to Adolescent Montherhood’ Qualitative Health Research, vol 18:1, pp 77-89Fergusson, D.M., Boden, J.M, & Horwood, L.J. (2008) ‘Exposure to childhood sexual abuse and physical abuse and adjustments in early adulthood.’Child Abuse & Neglect, vol 32, pp 607-619HM Prisons (2008) Female Prisoners. [online] Available at :< http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/adviceandsupport/prison_life/femaleprisoners/> [Accessed 20th August 2008]Laylor, K. (2008) ‘Child Sexual Abuse and HIV Transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa’ Child Abuse Review, vol 17, pp 94-107Levy, A. (2004) ‘Stigmatised, marginalised and criminalised’: An overview of the issues relating to children and young people involved in prostitutionLondon: NSPCCLonne, B. Parton, N. Thomson, J. and Harries, M. (2009). Reforming Child Protection. Routledge: London and New York.Noll, J.G. (2008) ‘Sexual abuse of children – Unique in its effects on development?’ Child Abuse & Neglect, vol 32, pp 603-605NSPCC (2004) Prevalence and Incidence of Child Abuse: International Comparisons.London: NSPCCSave the Children (2005) 10 Essential Learning Points: Listen and Speak out against Sexual Abuse of Girls and Boys. Norway: Save the Children NorwaySave the Children UK (2008) No One to Turn To: The under-reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers. United Kingdom: Save the Children UKSpilla, B., Makara, M., Kozak, G., Urbanska, A. (2008) Abuse in Childhood and Mental Disorder in Adult Life. Child Abuse Review, vol 17, pp 133-138U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2007) Child Maltreatment 2005. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing ServicesWhittaker, D.J., Le, B., Hanson, R.J., Baker, C.K., McMahon, P.M., Ryan, G., Klein, A., Rice, C.K. (2008)’Risk factors for the perpetration of child abuse: A review and meta-analysis’ Child Abuse & Neglect, vol 32, pp 52-548Women in Prison (2008) Prison causes damage and disruption to the lives of vulnerable women, most of whom pose no risk to the public. [online] Available at: <http://www.womeninprison.org.uk/> [Accessed 20th August 2008]

Towards Social Transformation, Let’s talk about CSA: The Silence is Deafening

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