Al Diyafah High School-Reviewed policies- September 2023 AT&L23-24 many reasons, as they move through the stages of childhood or their families experience changes. It is nevertheless important to know what could indicate that abuse is taking place and to be alert to the need to consult further. Someone can abuse a child by actively inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Abuse can take place within a family, in an institutional or community setting, by telephone or on the internet. Abuse can be carried out by someone known to a child like the parent, sibling, relative, and teacher or by a stranger. 1.1. Physical Abuse Physical abuse can involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, drowning, suffocating. Symptoms that indicate physical abuse include: • Bruising in or around the mouth, on the back, buttocks or rectal area • Finger mark bruising or grasp marks on the limbs or chest of a small child • Burn and scald marks; small round burns that could be caused by cigarette • Fractures to arms, legs or ribs in a small child • Large numbers of scars. P.S – According to the Dubai Police Department any visible sign of injury is physical abuse and will be recorded as an offence. Failing to or being unwilling to prevent physical hard to a child can also be considered as Physical Abuse. 1.2. Emotional or Psychological Abuse Emotional abuse happens when a child’s need for love, security, praise and recognition is not met, in turn abusing their psychological state causing severe to permanent hard to thus affecting their psychological growth and development. It usually co-exists with other forms of abuse. Emotionally abusive behaviour occurs if a parent, teacher or authority figure is consistently hostile, rejecting, threatening or undermining. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of someone else. Symptoms that indicate emotional abuse include: • Excessively clingy or attention – seeking behaviour • Very low self-esteem or excessive self-criticism • Excessively withdrawn behaviour or fearfulness; • Lack of appropriate boundaries with strangers; too eager to please • Eating disorders 1.3. Neglect The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical or psychological needs, mental and moral safety against danger, causing damage to their health and development. It could also mean protecting the rights of the child.
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